
Sloppy play drops Sweets, 8-1
June 12, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release
Longview-- The first road trip of the season ended like it began for the Walla Walla Sweets. A day after playing their first flawless game defensively, the Sweets made three errors and the pitching staff walked eight and the Cowlitz Black Bears took advantage, winning 8-1 and taking two-of-three games on the weekend at Story Field.
Walla Walla (3-3) walked 10 and commited four errors in Friday's 7-1 loss and appeared to have righted the ship with Saturday's 9-3 victory. On Sunday however, things never looked bright. Rain began to fall just as the Sweets started batting practice and two first inning errors put the Sweets immediately behind the eight-ball. Billy Flamion reached on an infield error with one out, Braxton Miller walked for the sixth time on the weekend and Spencer O'Neil dropped a broken-bat single into right center to load the bases. Kirk Cunningham's sharp single to center scored one and a second run scored as the ball skipped away from the outfielder.
Cowlitz (2-4) added another run in the second as Flamion's sinking liner to right skipped all the way to the wall for a two-out RBI triple and tacked on two more in the fourth. A one-out walk started the inning and Derek Atkinson's liner to right eluded the dive of Chance Kopacz and went for an RBI triple. Atkinson would eventually score on a sac fly from Flamion.
Being in a 5-0 was bad enough, but the Sweets also had to contend with Cowlitz starter Porter Clayton. The lefty from Oregon allowed just one baserunner, a Brenton Allen single, in the first four innings and got a diving catch from Atkinson in center to help him end his night in the fifth.
With Clayton out, Walla Walla went to work against reliever Matt Maurer. Michael Leach dribbled a slow ground ball to third and beat it out for a leadoff single and Alex Stanford followed that with a walk. Zach Wentz moved both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt and it appeared the Sweets were destined for a big inning as Kopacz ripped a single to left. Leach scored easily but Stanford was also waved home and a strong throw from O'Neil in left got him at the plate and Kopacz was then caught trying to take second on the throw, ending the inning on a 7-2-4 double play.
That was as close as the Sweets would get for the rest of the night. Allen started a two-out rally in the seventh with a ground-rule double but the Sweets left two on base. Back-to-back two-out walks in the eighth gave them some life but they were also stranded.
The Black Bears put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs thanks to two walks, a hit batter and an infield error. Kevin Berry tossed a 1-2-3 ninth, sending the Sweets home with a sour taste in their mouthes.
Anderson started and took the loss for the Sweets, giving up five runs on five hits over four innings. Aaron Hoverson made his first appearance of the summer and pitched well his first two innings before giving way to Trent Allianic in the eighth with the Black Bears in the middle of their three-run inning. Christian Bannister tossed a scoreless eighth for Cowlitz, Atkinson scored three runs and Flamion scored twice and drove in a pair.
After an off-day on Monday, the Sweets return to Borleske Stadium on Tuesday to start an eight-game homestand, hosting the Klamath Falls Gems at 7:05 p.m. It's Kids Day at the park and all kids 12 and under get a ticket for $1 when accompanied by an adult. The homestand continues with two more games against the Gems, a three-game weekend series with Wenatchee and two games against Portland on Monday and Tuesday.
West Coast League Stories from June 12, 2011
- Black Bears Take Series, Welcome Wenatchee Tomorrow - Cowlitz Black Bears
- Elks Win Rubber Match with Knights by a Score of 10-4 - Bend Elks
- Sloppy play drops Sweets, 8-1 - Walla Walla Sweets
- Big innings propel Sweets past Cowlitz - Walla Walla Sweets
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.
Other Recent Walla Walla Sweets Stories
- Sweets Get First Win of the Season
- Sweets Drop Second One-Run Game
- Sweets Drop Season Opener
- Two Pitchers and Two Outfielders Sign with Sweets
- Three DI Commits Join the Sweets

