Gems with Walkoff Single, Beat Elks 5-4
August 8, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Bend Elks News Release
The Bend Elks clawed and fought their way back into the game on multiple occasions on Sunday night, but ultimately they wouldn't have enough to pull off the win as Drew Sandler's walk off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th would send the Gems home with a victory, beating the Elks 5-4.
Klamath got on the board in the bottom of the first as Graham Saiko had a leadoff single and would come around to score on an RBI single from Turner Gill. Runners advanced to second and third on an error by Royce Bollinger on the play, but Elks starter Stephen Ostapeck would strand them there. The Gems added another one in the second as Drew Sandler and Nick Miller had back to back doubles, Miller's an RBI double, and the score was 2-0 after 2.
Klamath would tack on another one in the bottom of the fifth inning as Rich Sanguinetti hit a triple and scored on a Turner Gill RBI single, giving the Gems a 3-0 lead, looking to be in complete control. That changed in the sixth, as the Elks came back with five hits in the inning. Donald Collins started the inning with a leadoff double and scored on an error by the first baseman on a ball put in play by Jordan Brower, giving the Elks their first run. That was followed by four consecutive singles, Ryan Dunn and Tyler Christian's both going for RBI, and the Elks tied the game at three, ending the night of Gems starter Mitch Merten, who was cruising along until that point.
The Gems retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan Doeppel advanced to second on an error by the pitcher Daniel Grazzini, who faced only the one batter before leaving the game. After a sacrifice, Cameron Cuneo got a strikeout for the second out, only to deliver a pitch to Colin Sowers that got away from him, allowing Doeppel to score, giving the Gems the lead.
The Elks were able to come back and get one in the top of the 9th as Toby DeMello got a leadoff double, pinch runner Justin Maffei advanced to third on a sacrifice, and Donald Collins hit an RBI single to tie the game again at 4.
Then in the bottom of the 9th, Rich Sanguinetti hit a one out single, stole second, and advanced to third on an error by first baseman Stetson Olson. After the error, Cuneo walked Turner Gill on 9 pitches, and intentionally walked Ryan Doeppel to load the bases with one out. After getting Tom DaBoy to pop out, Drew Sandler singled on the first pitch he saw, giving the Gems the 5-4 walk-off win.
The Elks will now wait to find out their playoff fate. The Cowlitz Black Bears will begin a 3 game series against Corvallis starting Monday, and must win two of three to knock the Elks out of the playoffs. If they are unable to, the Elks will host game 1 of the playoffs on Friday.
West Coast League Stories from August 8, 2011
- Stellar Play Earns Stanford Player Of The Week Honors - Walla Walla Sweets
- Kelowna Falcon Pitcher Named Player of the Week - Kelowna Falcons
- Bells Win Emotional, Thrilling Game - Bellingham Bells
- Black Bears Lose in Extra Innings - Cowlitz Black Bears
- Gems with Walkoff Single, Beat Elks 5-4 - Bend Elks
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