RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (June 19, 2026) – Friday night’s series opener came down to the final inning, with the Walla Walla Sweets taking a late lead before falling 6-5 to the first-place Ridgefield Raptors at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.

Even with the tough finish, Walla Walla got an encouraging debut from Gage Reeser, another multi-hit performance from Sam Kane and a solid outing from Trevor Stowe in his second start in nearly two years.

The Sweets trailed 1-0 entering the fifth before putting together their biggest inning of the night.

Kane got the rally started with a single before Gunner Geile and Austin Owens reached to load the bases. Reeser then stepped in during his first game as a Sweet and was hit by a pitch, bringing Kane home with his first RBI in a Walla Walla uniform.

Logan Nakamura followed with a bases-loaded walk to put the Sweets in front, and Payton Knowles added the biggest hit of the inning, lining a two-run single into left center to give Walla Walla a 4-1 advantage.

Ridgefield tied the game in the sixth, but the Sweets stayed within striking distance into the final inning.

Kane opened the ninth with his second hit of the night and came around to score when Reeser delivered an RBI single to left. The hit gave Reeser his second RBI of the game and put Walla Walla back in front, 5-4.

The Raptors answered with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to close out the series opener.

Reeser reached base three times in his Sweets debut, recording a hit, two RBIs and a stolen base. Kane finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and continued his strong stretch at the plate.

Knowles drove in two runs with his fifth-inning single, while Nakamura reached twice and added an RBI. Royce Hale and Geile also worked walks as the Sweets found ways to create traffic despite being held to four hits.

On the mound, Stowe gave Walla Walla 5.2 competitive innings in just his second start since May 2024. He allowed four runs, only one earned, while striking out four over 98 pitches.

Alex Cohen followed with 2.1 innings of relief and struck out one, while Jacob Talbott entered in the ninth and recorded a strikeout.

After a long bus ride to Ridgefield, the Sweets pushed the WCL South leaders to the final out and showed more positive signs from both new and returning players.

Walla Walla continue the series Saturday, June 20, against the Ridgefield Raptors. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.