WALLA WALLA, Wash. (July 4, 2026) – Fireworks were scheduled for across the country Saturday night, but Sam Kane and Jaylen Kennedy supplied plenty of their own at Borleske Stadium.

Kane homered twice, Kennedy raced around the bases for a game-tying three-run inside-the-park home run and the Walla Walla Sweets defeated the Ridgefield Raptors 10-7 to clinch the series on Independence Day.

The victory gave Walla Walla back-to-back wins over the WCL South first-half champions and continued an impressive start to the second half of the season.

Kane wasted little time getting the holiday crowd involved. The center fielder launched the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning over the fence, giving the Sweets an immediate 1-0 lead.

Ridgefield tied the game in the second and moved ahead with three runs in the fourth, but Walla Walla answered with one of the most memorable plays of its season.

Royce Hale and Bo Stinson reached base ahead of Kennedy, who drove a ball into the outfield and kept running. By the time the defense recovered, Kennedy had circled the bases for a three-run inside-the-park home run, tying the game at 4-4.

The homer was Kennedy’s first hit as a Sweet and brought the Borleske crowd to its feet.

Walla Walla carried that momentum into the fifth. Payton Knowles reached with a single before Kane stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run home run an estimated 410 feet to center field.

The second blast of the night gave Kane three RBIs and put the Sweets ahead 6-4. He is now tied for second in the WCL in home runs.

Ridgefield tied the game once again in the sixth, but the Sweets continued to respond.

Gage Reeser reached and eventually scored when Nate Petz put the ball in play, giving Walla Walla a 7-6 advantage.

The Sweets then created separation with three runs in the seventh.

Hale, Stinson and Reeser reached to load the bases before Ethan Buckley was hit by a pitch, forcing home the first run of the inning. Ronan Scoffield followed with a two-run single into left field, scoring Stinson and Reeser and stretching Walla Walla’s lead to 10-6.

Scoffield finished with two RBIs, continuing a productive stretch after recording the first hit and RBIs of his collegiate career the previous weekend.

Kane led the offense by going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Kennedy added two hits and three RBIs, while Knowles and Stinson each recorded hits.

The Sweets also drew nine walks, helping them score 10 runs despite finishing with seven hits.

Jacob Chandler made his Sweets debut in the seventh inning and delivered a scoreless frame. The incoming University of Portland freshman allowed no hits, struck out one and earned the win in his first collegiate appearance.

Andrew Cohen handled the eighth, striking out two while limiting Ridgefield to one run.

Isaac Hallam then returned to the mound for the second time in the series and finished another victory. The right-hander worked around a leadoff single in the ninth before the Walla Walla defense turned a game-ending double play.

The save was Hallam’s fourth of the summer, all coming in his last four appearances. He has also recorded saves on consecutive nights against Ridgefield.

Petz played an important role in securing the victory after entering at second base in the sixth. He made a diving catch in the eighth inning and helped turn the double play that ended the game.

The win secured Walla Walla’s second consecutive series victory and its seventh series win in its last eight sets. It also gave the Sweets two straight victories over the team that captured the WCL South’s first-half title.

The Sweets will have an opportunity to complete the sweep when they close the series against Ridgefield on Sunday, July 5th, with the first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. at Borleske Stadium.