WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Ayres Lifts Sweets to Walk-Off Win in Rubber Match with AppleSox

June 12, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Clayten Ayres came up in the tenth inning with a runner on and just one hit in his last ten at bats. One swing and one Gatorade bath later, he was two for eleven.

The Walla Walla Community College infielder hit a walk-off single up the middle to lift the Walla Walla Sweets to a 4-3 win over the Wenatchee AppleSox in ten innings at Borleske Stadium. With the win, Walla Walla (3-3) takes the three-game series against the AppleSox (1-2), and Walla Walla native Cam Richman (1-0, 5.78 ERA) collected his first West Coast League win with two innings of relief.

Much like the first two games, the deciding third game of the series was a pitcher's duel, with Cooper Powell starting for the Sweets against C.J. Gettman. The AppleSox struck first against Powell with an RBI single by Scott Hilpert in the second and drove in another run the same way in the fourth. Gettman, meanwhile, was superb, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning and going seven scoreless frames with eight strikeouts.

Powell was lifted by the Sweets in the seventh, turning in the first quality start for the Sweets this yea rwiht six innings pitched and two earned runs allowed. Portland right-hander Alex Fisher came in and mowed down the AppleSox in order in the seventh and eighth, and Richman pitched the ninth, giving up a run on a third single by Hilpert.

The Sweets finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Colton Loomis (0-1, 15.43 ERA). After Paul Heywood picked up a pinch-hit single, Alex Jondal was hit by a pitch, and Dylan Wilbert walked to load the bases. Willie MacIver got aboard on a fielder's choice that scored Heywood from third. Matt Whitney hit a single that scored two runs to tie the game, but Whitney and MacIver were caught in a rundown on the same play and were tagged out to send the game to extra innings. After Richman got the side in order in the top of the tenth, Juan Gamez reached on catcher's interference and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, clearing the way for Ayres' base hit up the middle to win the game.

Walla Walla returns to action Saturday on the road at Yakima Valley. For more information, go to wallawallasweets.com on call 509-522-2255.



West Coast League Stories from June 12, 2015


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