WALLA WALLA, Wash. (July 11, 2026) – The Walla Walla Sweets played past the ninth inning for the first time this summer Saturday night, and they made sure the extra baseball ended with a celebration at Borleske Stadium.

Trevor Tse brought home the winning run in the 10th inning, Sam Kane launched another home run and Isaac Hallam worked the longest outing of his season as the Sweets beat the Yakima Valley Pippins 6-5 to clinch the series and move into first place in the WCL South.

With the WCL extra-inning rule placing runners on first and second to begin the 10th, Austin Owens started the frame on second and Payton Knowles opened at first. Tse then put the ball in play, and an error allowed Owens to score from second for the walk-off win.

The Sweets jumped ahead early before needing the late rally.

Knowles started the bottom of the first with a single, and Royce Hale followed by reaching base. Troy Osborne then lined an RBI single into left field to bring Knowles home and give Walla Walla a 1-0 lead.

Bo Stinson reached to keep the inning moving before Kyler Bittner delivered a two-run single. Hale scored on the play, and Osborne came home after an error, giving the Sweets a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Yakima Valley answered with three runs in the second, tying the game at 3-3, but Trevor Stowe settled in from there.

The right-hander worked six innings, allowing three runs, only two earned, on seven hits. He did not issue a walk and kept the game even after the early push from Yakima Valley.

Walla Walla moved back in front in the fifth when Kane sent a no-doubt home run over the left field fence. The solo shot gave the Sweets a 4-3 lead and moved Kane into a tie for second in the WCL in home runs.

The Pippins tied the game in the eighth and took a 5-4 lead in the ninth, but Walla Walla answered again.

Gunner Geile tripled in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run 90 feet away. Owens followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing Geile home and sending the game to extras.

Hallam had already entered in the eighth and stayed on the mound through the 10th, giving Walla Walla a chance to finish the comeback.

The right-hander worked 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit and one unearned run while striking out four. It was his longest outing of the season, and he earned his first win of the summer after helping the Sweets work through late pressure.

The pitching staff combined to allow just two earned runs across 10 innings. Stowe, Andrew Cohen, and Hallam struck out seven and walked only two.

Bittner led the offense with a 2-for-4 night and two RBIs. Kane homered and drove in a run, while Osborne added an RBI single. Geile’s ninth-inning triple set up the tying run, and Tse delivered the final swing in extras.

The Sweets finished with eight hits and drew four walks.

Walla Walla committed three errors, but the defense also came through with several highlight plays. Owens, Kane and Stinson each made diving catches to help prevent bigger innings and keep the Sweets within reach.

The win gave Walla Walla its first extra-inning victory of the season, clinched the weekend series and pushed the Sweets into first place in the WCL South.

Walla Walla will go for the sweep Sunday, July 12, in the series finale against Yakima Valley. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. at Borleske Stadium.