Sweets Seal Victory on 2018 Opening Night at Borleske Stadium

Walla Walla, Wash. – The Sweets came away with the win on Opening Night at Borleske Stadium by a final score of 2-0 against the Corvallis Knights. Walla Walla’s pitching staff has now allowed just two runs over the last 31 innings.

Darius Vines (RHP) got the start for the Sweets and pitched to the same caliber that had him tabbed as the #8 prospect in the West Coast League following the 2017 season with W2. He went six strong innings allowing just three hits, no runs and struck out three batters.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Zach Penrod (Utility) drew a walk and stole second base to advance into scoring position with one away in the inning. That brought to the plate three-year Sweet and two-time WCL All-Star Nick Nyquist who drove a base hit into left field to plate Penrod for the first Walla Walla run in the ball game.

Then in the bottom of the seventh inning, Mitch Lesmeister (IF) drew a walk with two outs and stole second base to give an RBI opportunity to Jack Filby (IF), and he delivered. On a two-strike count, Filby ripped a single back up the middle to drive in Lesmeister and give the Sweets a 2-0 lead.

Brayde Hirai (LHP) and Sean Sullivan (RHP) threw back-to-back scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth inning respectively to give the Sweets a chance to win it in the ninth.

Carson Woolery (RHP) then came on for his second save opportunity of the season and kept Sweets fans on the edge of their seats before closing the door.

Woolery would walk the leadoff man, strike out the next, bean the next batter, then strikeout the next. So with two outs and runners on second and third following a double steal, Woolery would get Trace Tammaro (IF) to ground out to Walla Walla’s second baseman Jordan Hovey (IF) for the final out of the ball game and give the Sweets the victory on Opening Night at Borleske Stadium by a score of 2-0.

The Sweets will take on Corvallis again on Saturday night for the second game of the series with first pitch slated for 6:35 PM.

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By: Brandon Pavlina

Date: June 9, 2018