The Walla Walla Islanders returned after a 53 year hideous to Borleske Stadium on Islanders night. The Walla Walla Islanders relocated from Hawaii to Walla Walla for one year before being renamed as the Walla Walla Padres. 

However in the first inning the island vibes were not with Walla Walla. The Berries struck fast after Cade Goldstein struck out to open the game. Danny Wideman reached on a hit by pitch, and Bryce Hubbard doubled him home for a 1-0 lead. Paul Vazquez followed with a two-run homer, and Tyler Dunning added a solo shot to make it 4-0 with back-to-back home runs.

After a flyout from Andrew Mhoon, Breckin Hadley reached on an error and Anthony Cepeda singled. Peyton Tyner walked to load the bases. Goldstein then drew a walk, during which a throwing error allowed Hadley and Cepeda to score unearned runs. The Islanders ended with seven total errors while the Berries ended with six. After the first inning Walla Walla trailed 6-0.

In the second inning the Berries added on one more however Islanders starter Ben Reimers weasled out of a bases loaded jam to keep the score at 7-0.

In the home half Nikhil Beasley led off the inning with a home run to left field. It’s his fourth of the season and second against the Berries this season. Heading into the third inning the Islanders trailed 7-1.

In the third the scoreboard blew wide open. The berries plated five runs and led by twelve after just three innings. Then in the fourth inning Marion decided a twelve run lead was not enough as they plated another five runs. At the end of the fifth the Islanders trailed by their largest deficit of the season, 16. 

In the bottom of the fifth the Islanders grabbed a run and did the same in the sixth however the game was well away by that point as the Berries ended up taking a pivotal game number two against the Sweets 23-7. 

Tomorrow’s game could be the difference in the Sweets playoff hopes. Walla Walla trails Marion three games to two in the season series however a victory would give the Sweets the tiebreaker. Despite being tied at 3-3 the Sweets would take the tiebreaker because of a better record over the WCL south first half winner’s Portland Pickles barring the Berries sweeping the Pickles at the end of the season. 

The Elks won today as well so the Sweets are now a half game back on the second wild card spot and a game and a half back on the Elks for the first wild card spot. Entering the three game set against the Berries, Walla Walla had sole possession of the first wild card spot. 

Tomorrow’s potentially season-defining contest begins at 6:05 p.m. Catch the broadcast on the Walla Walla Sweets Youtube channel starting at 5:45.