The Sweets won their third straight game and jumped the Bend Elks into the first wild card spot. In today’s ballgame just like yesterday both teams threw their best punch with the Sweets coming out on top. 

In the bottom of the first inning the Sweets struck first. Cole Rogers flew out to center and Gunner Geile grounded out to second for two quick outs but Dominic Cadiz then worked a walk. During Owen Estabrook’s at-bat, a wild pitch advanced Cadiz to second, and Estabrook followed with a single to left, bringing Cadiz home for the first run of the game. 

In the second inning the Elks rebounded. Teddy Tokheim walked and scored on Matt Dobson’s double to right. After back-to-back strikeouts, Vinny Salvione singled to left to bring in Dobson. Jack Laffitte added an infield single, but Jace Miller struck out to end the inning. The Elks scored two runs to jump ahead 2-1

In the third inning the Elks added on. Makoa Sniffen singled to right, stole second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Ryan VandenBrink walked, then moved to second as Sniffen scored on Teddy Tokheim’s groundout to third. At the end of the third inning the Elks were in control 3-1. 

In the fourth inning Owen Estabrook sparked the Sweets offense with his second homerun of the season out to left field. In the fifth the Sweets tied it up. Esteban Olazaba struck out, and Nate Stiveson flew out to right for two quick outs but yet again Tristan Schaefer kept the inning alive with a single to center, then stole second. Cole Rogers followed with a single to center, bringing Schaefer home to score and tie things up at three after five innings.

In the bottom of the seventh the Sweets propelled forward. Trevor Tse led off with an infield single and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Esteban Olazaba then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Tse home and putting the Sweets on top 4-3. 

In the top of the eighth inning the Elks punched right back. Matt Dobson doubled to left and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brodey Bitove tripled to center, bringing Dobson home for a run and evening up the score 4-4.

In the home half the Sweets notched a pair of runs. Cole Rogers walked to start the inning, and Gunner Geile was hit by a pitch. Dominic Cadiz followed with a walk to load the bases. After Nikhil Beasley struck out swinging for the first out, Chris Tsouras was hit by a pitch, forcing Rogers to score and take the lead. Trevor Tse then singled to center, bringing home Geile and moving everyone up a base. The threat then ended but the Sweets led 6-4.

In the top of the ninth Sweets closer Alex Figueroa stepped out on the hill. Vinny Salvione led off with a walk, and Jack Laffitte struck out swinging for the first out. Jace Miller grounded out to third, moving Salvione to second. Makoa Sniffen then walked, putting two aboard.

As the tensions continued to rise Ryan VandenBrink followed with a single to shortstop; on an error, Sniffen advanced to third, VandenBrink moved to second, and Salvione came home to score unearned. With the tying run at third Teddy Tokheim flew out to right to end the game.

Tomorrow’s game is at 6:35 p.m. The pregame show begins at 6:15, you can find the livestream on the Walla Walla Sweets Youtube channel.