Bend Elks blast their way to victory, defeat the Black Bears 9-6
August 1, 2013 - West Coast League (WCL)
Bend Elks News Release
Keach Ballard swung the big stick on the night for the Bend Elks, clubbing 2 home runs on the night, including a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning with 2 outs, giving the Bend Elks the 9-6 victory.
Battling rain most of the game, the Bend Elks jumped on the board 1st in the bottom of the 2nd inning, as Grant Newton opened up the inning with a double and Keach Ballard hit a 2 run home run into right center field, giving the Elks the 2-0 lead.
Cowlitz responded with 2 in the top of the 4th inning as Devyn Bolasky and Dillon Ness came around to score, tying the game up at 2. The Black Bears took the lead in the top of the 5th inning as Ryan Aguilar's sacrifice fly brought in Austin Grebeck, and Cowlitz lead 3-2.
Bend responded with some runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th inning, as the Elks had their first 4 hitters to the plate in the inning reach base as Zach Close and Keach Ballard singled, Seth Spivey was hit by a pitch, and Tyler Servais drew a walk to bring home Close. With Turner Gill at the plate, Black Bears starter Trent Paddon fired in a wild pitch that brought home Ballard from 3rd, and the Elks had the 4-3 lead.
Cowlitz would turn right around and come through in the top of the 6th inning as Danny Recio opened up the inning with a double, Dillon Ness singled and Ryan Littlefield received an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. That brought Brett Nielsen to the plate, and he took the first pitch from reliever Garrett Anderson and sent it over the head of Turner Gill in right field for a 2 run double for the Black Bears to take a 5-4 lead. Austin Grebeck followed with a sacrifice fly to score Littlefield and the Black Bears lead it 6-4.
The score held there until the bottom of the 8th inning as Landon Cray drew a walk and Zach Close singled to put men on 1st and 2nd base with 2 outs for Keach Ballard, who came through with a 3 run home run over the right field wall, his 2nd home run of the game, giving the Elks the 8-6 lead. The Elks added one more as Seth Spivey came around to score on a passed ball and the Elks finished with the 9-6 win.
The Elks and Black Bears will play the rubber match of the 3 game series on Thursday, free cap night presented by the Center Foundation and American Licorice. First pitch at 6:35 p.m.
West Coast League Stories from August 1, 2013
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- Medford Edges Bellingham 3-2 Despite Baker's Stellar Pitching Performance - Bellingham Bells
- Three Gems Homers Tame Cats, Tie Series With 9-6 Win - Klamath Falls Gems
- Rogues Win Fifth Straight - Medford Rogues
- Bend Elks blast their way to victory, defeat the Black Bears 9-6 - Bend Elks
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