WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Cowlitz Tops Sweets in First Meeting this Season

Published on July 17, 2013 under West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, WA -- After a 55-minute rain delay Tuesday at Borleske Stadium, the Cowlitz Black Bears (17-14) rallied for late-inning runs to take the series opener 4-1 over the Walla Walla Sweets (19-15) in the first meeting between the two clubs this year. Starting pitcher Bret Helton threw 6.1 solid frames but was charged with three earned runs in the loss.

Black Bears right fielder Kyle Knigge began the game with a single to get the visiting offense rolling, and scored two hitters later as left-fielder Devyn Bolansky notched a one-out base hit to center. He later stole second base and reached third on a wild pitch, but Helton worked out of the inning with a fly out and the first of his eight strikeouts to leave Bolansky at third base.

Walla Walla kept pace with the out-of-towners throughout most of the ballgame, as left fielder Kramer Lindell began the bottom of the first with a line drive single up the middle. Two hitters later, designated hitter Jarod Gonzales dropped a hit into right field to tie the ball game at 1-1, where the score stayed through the next five frames.

As thunder rolled into Walla Walla, lightning followed and forced a 55-minute delay while rain and light hail began to fall over Borleske Stadium in the top of the fourth. Despite Mother Nature calling "time," Helton didn't blame her for the outcome of the ballgame.

"There was some stuff that should have been taken care of better," Helton said of his performance. "You know, 0-2 pitches that get [the Black Bears] out of the [strike] zone... There were a lot of wet balls that could have gone different ways."

Helton returned to the mound after the delay as sharp as before it began. Third baseman Paul Martinez had singled to begin the threat and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A ground-ball out to second moved him to third base when time was called, but as Martinez returned to the field, shortstop Devon Gradford struck out on three pitches to keep the game tied.

One of Walla Walla's best chances to pull ahead came in the sixth inning. Back-to-back walks to Gonzales and shortstop Nick Vilter started the frame before a fly out and a ground out put first baseman Matt Mendenhall at the plate. With two men in scoring position, Mendenhall drove a sharp liner into straight-away center field, but Austin Grebeck came up with a diving catch to rob the Sweets of a run, possibly two. Walla Walla left the bases loaded in the eighth as well, but Helton said it boiled down to which side took advantage of opportunities.

"I think we played hard until the end," he said. "I think there were just breaks that went their way."

Those breaks came in the seventh inning after a one-out walk to second baseman Corey VanDomelen ended Helton's night. With left-hander Joe Arlt on in relief, Knigge singled a run home to give Cowlitz a 2-1 lead. He reached second base on a balk, and one hitter later, the only Sweets fielding error of the game allowed another run to come home. A sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth capped the scoring 4-1.

Walla Walla continues the series tomorrow as Jonathan Harris gets the start with another 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

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West Coast League Stories from July 17, 2013


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