THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A grand few games for Lakeland High rising frosh Crateau

There are stories of players being focused in the batter’s box in baseball.

And there’s stories of being locked in.

We can call this one Cashing in.

LAKELAND HIGH rising freshman Cash Crateau, while playing for the Sandpoint Sasquatch U14 club baseball team during a tournament at the Meadowdale Athletic Complex in Lynnwood, Wash., hit a grand slam in three consecutive games.

“I just went up and it kept happening,” Crateau said. “Everything just clicked. It happened once, and that was crazy. Then the second and the third, it was crazier. I’d never seen the ball that well before.”

Crateau was quick to compliment his teammates for doing a good job of getting him into that spot.

“That was a whole other thing,” Crateau said. “They had some really good at-bats and did a good job of setting me up. I’ve never seen the ball that well.”

Crateau, who bats left-handed, hits third in the lineup, was just approaching each at-bat the same.

“Honestly, I wasn’t trying to change my approach and trying not to hit home runs,” Crateau said. “And it worked out and I got the outcome that I wanted.”

That feeling walking back into the dugout after each was also a special feeling.

“There was a lot of ‘Holy Cow, this is insane,' comments,” Crateau said. “Some of my teammates were telling me after the second one that I couldn’t do it again, even if you tried.”

Crateau drove in 17 runs in five games over the tournament.

“There were some coaches that came up and told me I was a heck of a ballplayer,” Crateau said. “There was a lot of respect. They just told me to stay hot and keep doing whatever you’re doing.”

Crateau admitted that he wasn’t so sure he’d see anything else to hit after the second slam.

“I thought I’d just get walked at that point,” Crateau said. “But that third one was high and inside, right where I wanted it.”

THERE HAS never been a documented case of a player hitting a grand slam in three consecutive games in Major League Baseball.

But plenty of players have done it — Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. to name a few — in two straight.

Crateau added his favorite players to watch are Seattle Mariner catcher Cal Raleigh and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

“Since I was little, I just fell in love with catching,” Crateau said. “Playing there, you either love it or hate it.”

Crateau also played football and basketball growing up, but has focused on baseball more recently.

“I play baseball 12 months a year,” Crateau said. “I’ve played so many different sports, but baseball has always been my love. And that hasn’t really changed.”

This weekend, Crateau is playing for the Sandpoint Sasquatch U17 team in the Palouse Summer Series in the Pullman area.

“It’s a fun community to play for,” Crateau said. “I’m just happy to have found a team that has that, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress. 

    Courtesy photo Cash Crateau, a rising freshman at Lakeland High, swings at a pitch during a recent tournament in Lynnwood, Wash. Crateau, playing for the Sandpoint Sasquatch U14 club baseball team, hit a grand slam in three consecutive games.