After going down early the Sweets responded and did not waiver to win their second straight game and improve to above .500 on the year.

In the top of the first inning things did not go according to plan in front of the Sweets faithful. Ridgefield jumped out fast as Taylor Takata led off with a single and quickly advanced on a wild pitch. Dawson Downs put the Raptors on the board with an RBI single, followed by Jose Mariano and Evan Jaquez each driving in runs with base hits of their own. Ridgfield finished the frame up 4-0. 

But the Sweets were not going to go down without giving the fans a show. Third baseman Trevor Tse worked a walk, advanced on a wild pitch, and was advanced to third by catcher Isaiah Chacon’s single. First baseman Tanner Kern then kept the party going with a blast out towards right field and immediately got within one of the Raptors. It is Kern’s second home run of the season. Designated hitter Dominic Cadiz immediately followed with a solo shot of his own, capping a four-run surge and back-to-back homers for the Sweets. Both teams combined for nine hits and eight runs in a wild opening frame on opening night.

The second inning brought more fireworks as Ridgefield threatened once again. After Taylor Takata struck out to open the frame, Jordan Hockett laced a double to left. Dawson Downs came through once more with a clutch RBI double, scoring Hockett to retake the lead 5-4.

Walla Walla wasted no time answering back in the bottom half. Tse led off by launching a solo home run to left on the first pitch of the at bat. It was his first of the season. The Raptors then switched things up on the bump as Connor Cox finished his day through just one inning and allowing five earned runs. But a pitching change couldn’t cool off the Sweets’ bats as catcher Isaiah Chacon walked, Kern was hit by a pitch, and shortstop Landon Young singled to load the bases. Johnny Backus then roped a two-run double into right field, and left fielder Cole Rogers followed with a two-run double of his own. The Sweets tacked on five more runs, extending their lead to 9-5. 

The Sweets kept the offense rolling in the third. Tse reached base for the third straight time with a walk and quickly swiped second. Kern followed with a clutch RBI triple to right-center, bringing Tse home. After a flyout, Young worked a walk and left fielder Johnny Backus delivered an RBI single, scoring Kern and keeping the inning alive.

With runners on, the Raptors made a pitching change, but Walla Walla wasn’t done. Rogers punched a two-run single to left, plating both Young and Backus to stretch the lead further. Second baseman Nigel Fahland struck out on a dropped third strike to end the frame, but not before the Sweets pushed across four more, making it a 13-5 ballgame and putting things out of reach.

On the hill the Sweets got the job done as well. Walla Walla starter Morse battled through four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out six. Out of the bullpen, Rowan Haynes tossed three innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Trevor Stowe closed it out with a clean two-inning effort, retiring all six batters he faced and striking out two to finish the night strong for the Sweets staff.

When all was said and done the Sweets tore up the diamond with 15 hits and 16 runs both season highs. The Raptors did end up with 7 runs but it was not enough and the Sweets won their second straight game. 

The Raptors return to Borleske tomorrow for a 6:35 first pitch. The Sweets can clinch the series off with a win.