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The Sweets scored an important series opening victory on Thursday night over the league-leading Bend Elks. (Photos: Sean Parsons) |
Walla Walla – A 7-run 6th inning by the Walla Walla Sweets was all the offense they would need on Thursday evening, as the Sweets took down the league-leading Bend Elks, 7 - 5.
Bend took a 5-0 lead on ainsgle run innings in the 1st and 3rd and a 3-run 5th, but helped the Sweets back into the game in the 6th inning. Elliot Stewart (Cal-Poly) started the inning off for the Sweets with a standing double into the left-center field gap. After Andy Matthews (L-C State) was hit by a pitch, and Dennis Holt (UCLA ) walked, Matt Comer (Treasure Valley) stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. A struggling Elks’ pitcher walked Comer, scoring the first run of the game for Walla Walla. Gottschling doubled and Christian Ramirez (UC Irvine) grounded into what was destined to be a double play. But a Bend throwing error sent Ramirez to second and brought another run across for the Sweets. The Anteater duo drove in 3 runs to cut the defecit to 5-4.
After two more Sweets were hit by pitches, and two more were walked, Walla Walla suddenly found themselves ahead of Bend, 7 - 5, after actually only recoridng 2 hits in the frame. The 7 run rally marked the highest scoring inning in Sweets fanchise history.
That was all the offense the Sweets would need, as ace pitching from closer AJ Burke (Linn-Benton) and a dashing diving catch from centerfielder Scott Gottschling (UC Irvine) with the bases loaded and 2 outs finally shut out the visiting Elks in the top of the 9th inning, but only after Bend pushed a run across and threateed to not only tie the game, but retake the lead.
1,411 watched the Sweets beat the West Coast League leading Elks, who are managed by Sean Kinney, an assistant at Whitman College along with Sweets pitching coach, Mark Michaud.
The Walla Walla Sweets take on the Bend Elks on Friday July 22nd at 7:05 PM. Can’t make it to the game? You can always follow on 1490 ESPN with Andrew Allegretta, or online at www.wallawallasweets.com
