Black Bears Lose Final Game 2-0
Published on August 11, 2011 under West Coast League (WCL)
Cowlitz Black Bears News Release
Longview-Kelso: 57 games was not enough to determine the playoff picture in the West Coast League's Western Division. The 58th was a must-win for the Black Bears to make the playoffs, and they turned to Jake Doller (Kansas St.) to start as injuries and departures late in the season thinned the pitching staff.
Dollar stumbled in the 1st, with a balk and a wild pitch contributing to two Corvallis runs. After that, the Black Bears pitchers settled down, going five consecutive innings without allowing a hit at one point. Jared Van Hoon (Pacific University) was signed to the club when the series began and made his only appearance in relief of Doller. Van Hoon threw three innings, did not give up a hit, walked three and struck out two. Richi Sandoval (New Mexico Highland) spelled Van Hoon, throwing for the third time in four days and closed the remaining 1.2 innings giving up one hit and striking out two.
The offense produced at the plate, marking nine hits off of the five Knights pitchers. However, that output died when runners reached scoring position as Corvallis worked out of jams time and again. Greg Velazquez (Cal St. Fullerton), Kyle Garlick (University of Oregon) and Beau Didier (LSU) all had a pair of singles, and Bailey Graham (LCC) chipped in a hit and a walk in the shutout effort.
The loss means the Black Bears miss the playoffs by one game. Cowlitz finishes with a final mark of 28-26, ten wins above last year's 18-30 mark. It was a season of success in Longview-Kelso, as over 23,000 fans came to watch their team play. The Black Bears set a single game record of 1863 fans for Fan Appreciation Night.
Season tickets are already on sale for next year, and those with season tickets this year can lock in this year's rate for next year by renewing immediately. Expect the same brand of high-caliber baseball and engaging entertainment as the club continues its tradition of BASEBALL... THE WAY IT USEED TO BE!
2012 Cowlitz Black Bears Ticket Packages are available by calling (360) 703-3195 or please visit us on-line at www.cowlitzblackbears.com
West Coast League Stories from August 11, 2011
- Are You Ready for Some Playoff Baseball" - Corvallis Knights
- Black Bears Lose Final Game 2-0 - Cowlitz Black Bears
- Kelowna Falcons Finale Rained Out - Kelowna Falcons
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