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WCL Kelowna Falcons

Falcons Drop 4-3 Decision

July 21, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Kelowna Falcons News Release


A recently hot Kelowna Falcons club kicked off a three-game series against the Yakima Valley Pippins on Wednesday night. A six-game win streak was on the line for the Falcons, who were coming off two consecutive series sweeps against the Kitsap Bluejackets. The streak didn't reach seven games though, as the birds dropped a 4-3 decision in extra innings.

Game one of the series was tight throughout. The Pippins took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Falcons' response was swift, scoring two runs in the third and grabbing the lead. It stayed 3-2 in favour of the birds until the sixth, when the visitors knotted it up.

For the third time in four games, the Falcons needed extra innings, and ultimately couldn't close out their opponents.

Despite taking the L in the standings, the Falcons had some positives to take out of the game. Starting pitcher O'Keeffe Hall was a bright spot on the night. The righty went 8.0 innings, giving up 5 hits and just 3 runs, only 2 of which scored as 'earned'. The 6'6 Peru State College product fanned 7 batters on the night, bringing his strikeout total to 21 on the year.

Falcons bench boss Bryan Donohue was impressed with what he saw out of his pitching staff Wednesday night. "He [O'Keeffe] was great. We gave them [Yakima] some runs that weren't on him. He got us out of us some jams, he pitched his butt off."

Riley Moore pitched in relief for the Falcons, going 3.0 innings, giving up 4 hits, and the winning run, putting him in line for the loss and giving Hall a no decision.

Donohue knows his team had a good chance of starting the series with a victory, but couldn't cash in when it mattered the most. "It was a bit of execution, a bit of mindset." There were opportunities to close out the game, but the Falcons just never capitalized.

"We got away from what got us the six game win streak," Donohue explained. "That was team baseball, and we didn't do a good job of that tonight."

The entire team put together 6 hits, but no one player standing out from an offensive perspective. Max Carter, Bowen Ogata, and Davis Todosichuk recorded the teams' 3 RBIs, each with a single hit as well.

Despite the stalled offense, there was some highlight-reel defense played on both the infield and outfield in game 1. Shortstop Tevin Mitchell had a diving catch on the shortstop side of the bag, starting off a 1-2-3 first inning. Catcher Vaughn Shapen had two spot-on throws from behind the plate, both times catching a runner at second and ending the inning.

The play of the night though, came from AJ Sawyer, who tracked down a ball in right field and bombed it across the diamond to catch a runner at third base and end the inning.

The Falcons will hope to build off Wednesday's positives and get back on track Thursday evening. First pitch for game two of the series is scheduled for 6:35 PM at Elks Stadium.

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West Coast League Stories from July 21, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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