Hawkins Propels HarbourCats to Series-Clinching Victory over Pippins
Published on July 20, 2019 under West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release
VICTORIA - The Victoria HarbourCats (9-3/27-12) used a four-run sixth inning, and second straight quality start from their starter, to defeat the Yakima Valley Pippins 9-1 Saturday night at Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
One night after exploding for 18 hits in a 17-2 rout of Yakima last night, the HarbourCats scored (only) nine runs to knock off the Pippins for the second straight day to clinch the series.
Hawkins, making his first start since allowing only two runs and five hits in a victory over the Bend Elks on July 14, went toe for toe with Pippins ace Joe Magrisi- who will be representing Yakima in the All Star game next week.
The righty out of Lower Columbia struck two of the three batters in the first, and sent down 10 Pippins in a row from the third to the sixth in the winning outing. Hawkins finished his start by scattering just three hits over six innings, racking up a season high six strikeouts in the process.
Hawkins also received some flashy support from his shortstop on the left side of the infield.
Chase Meidroth preserved Hawkins' scoreless start with an unassisted double play in the second, and ended the third by backhanding a line drive to end the third inning.
On the opposing mound, Magrisi recorded a season high 13 strikeouts over six innings, and has dominated every team in the West Coast League in 2019 aside from the HarbourCats. The righty out of Cal State Fullerton came into tonight's game with a 0.62 ERA, and allowed only two earned runs all season- both coming in a start against Victoria last month.
Magrisi was cruising until the fourth, retiring nine of 10 HarbourCats to start the game, when Meidroth led off the frame with a solo shot over the left field wall. The home run was also Victoria's first hit of the game.
Coming back in the fifth, Magrisi struck out the side, before the HarbourCats finally broke through off the righty in the sixth.
Matt Turner led off the inning with a standup triple, while Parker Bramlett scored Turner one batter later with a RBI single. Meidroth notched his second hit of the night with a single to put two men on, while Chase Wehsener made it four consecutive hits to start the frame with a double to score Bramlett.
Tyson Hays kept the order moving with a walk to load the bases, and Griffin Paxton capped off the sixth with a RBI single to make it a 5-0 game.
After Magrisi got three straight outs to end the sixth, Victoria carried the offensive onslaught into the the seventh, as Parker Bramlett chased the Pippins starter with a two-run home run.
Magrisi finished the night by yielding a season high 10 hits and seven earned runs across six innings.
Yakima added a run in the eighth, however, Matt Amrhein closed the door in the ninth to seal the victory.
3,873 HarbourCat fans packed the stands of Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park on a beautiful summer evening on Vancouver Island.
With the victory, coupled with a Wenatchee AppleSox loss in Bellingham, the HarbourCats also gained some breathing room atop the Second Half North division standings- now sitting 1.5 games ahead of Wenatchee for first place.
The HarbourCats will go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon, first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Wilson's Group Stadium.
$10 ZIP LINE TICKETS ALL WEEKEND!
Tickets for the Wild Play ZIPLINE will be $10 ALL WEEKEND for the games Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Yakima! Pre-buy your tickets at the office, via the game links on-line, or get them at the box office on game day, or at the ZIPLINE concession during the game! Come try the newest and coolest feature at the park!
The HarbourCats used a four-run sixth inning, and a quality start from Dakota Hawkins, to defeat Yakima Valley 9-1 Saturday night in Victoria.
West Coast League Stories from July 20, 2019
- Hawkins Propels HarbourCats to Series-Clinching Victory over Pippins - Victoria HabourCats
- Knights Topple Sweets, 9-2 - Walla Walla Sweets
- 'Cats Rout Pippins, Celestino's Scoreless Streak Reaches 16 Innings - Victoria HabourCats
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