WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Gritty effort gives Sweets second straight series win

Published on July 6, 2014 under West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wa. - After experiencing intense pitching duels the previous two games, the Walla Walla Sweets and Yakima Valley Pippins readied themselves for a potentially quick series finale.

The exact opposite occurred, however, in a high-scoring affair which saw the Sweets emerge as the victors, 11-10 in walk-off fashion via a Pippins throwing error.

Cody Mathews got the start on the mound for Walla Walla, allowing two runs in the top of the first on a walk, two singles and a sacrifice bunt, but then settling in for three scoreless frames.

The Sweets, however, would not score during this time. The Pippins added on to their lead in the top of the fifth, chasing Mathews from the game on four consecutive singles. Matt Walker entered from the bullpen and retired the side without any further damage, but the Pippins had already extended their lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Sweets' bats showed their first real signs of life against Yakima Valley starter Austin Woodward. With two out, Aldo Ferrante reached second base on a fielding error, and Mikey Duarte singled him home for the home team's first run, advancing to second on a late throw to the plate. Jarod Gonzales followed with an RBI single of his own, cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Neither team scored in the sixth, but the Pippins assembled a three-run romp with two out in the seventh. Vince Fernandez and Taylor Snyder singled, and Ryan Yamane doubled Fernandez home. Later, with pinch-hitter Shawn Wardian at the plate, Snyder scored on a passed ball, and Yamane scored while the Sweets played catch in a rundown between first and second, giving the Pippins their largest lead of the game, 8-2.

The Sweets posted their biggest rally of the evening against three Yakima Valley pitchers in the seventh inning- Nick Suniga, Kelly Fitzpatrick and Austin Hansen. Loading the bases on two singles and a hit batsman, the Sweets got a run when Fitzpatrick uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Ryan Littlefield a moving runners to second and third. After a strikeout, Sean Bouchard drove in Aldo Ferrante with an RBI single, and Andrew Mendenhall singled home Duarte in similar fashion. Bouchard scored when Kevin Morgan beat out the back end of a double play, and Mendenhall crossed the plate on a wild pitch with John Skrbec at the plate. The score then stood at 8-7 in favor of the Pippins.

The two clubs traded two-run efforts in the eighth inning. A two-RBI double by J.C. Snyder put the Pippins ahead 10-7, and they nearly added a third run on a sacrifice fly, but the Sweets appealed the tag-up on the runner at third, who the umpires ruled out. Ryan Littlefield walked in the bottom half, moved to third on a double by Ferrante, and scored on a Duarte sacrifice fly, and Gonzales later singled Ferrante home. The score stood at 10-9.

Moving into the bottom of the ninth, the Sweets were down but now out. Mike Paulson grounded out, but Jordan Frabasilio hit a pinch-hit single up the middle, and Moe Handcox pinch-ran. Skrbec struck out for out number two, but Littlefield deposited a single into center field, and Handcox made it to third, soon scoring the tying run on a wild pitch. Duarte then hit a weak grounder to the left side of the infield, but Yakima Valley third baseman J.C. Snyder's throw to first base was not in time to beat Duarte, and Littlefield hustled home with the winning run, giving the Sweets the 11-10 walkoff win.

"I saw a tough play (for Yakima Valley)," said Handcox, who scored the tying run. Mikey (Duarte) got a good (jump) out of the box and made it a tough play for them."

Duarte paced the Sweets by going 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Jesse Houser (3-3) earned the win on the mound after finishing the eighth inning for Russell Crippen and pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Sweets begin a new series Sunday, when the Cowlitz Black Bears come to Walla Walla. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM.

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