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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Power Past Black Bears to Avoid Sweep, End Skid

July 19, 2013 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, WA -- Call it a premonition, or maybe just luck, but Walla Walla Sweets manager J.C. Biagi could not have been more spot-on with his post-game talk to his team after a game two loss to the Cowlitz Black Bears Wednesday night. After that frustrating defeat, right fielder Beau Bozett mentioned the guiding words from his manager:

"Basically... he said we've got to think 'put up 10 runs,' you know - Bozett recalled after the game. "We've got to come out aggressive, everybody swinging, and having fun. That's what we're good at, so that's what we're going to try to do."

That is exactly how the Sweets responded Thursday as Walla Walla (20-16) ended its five-game West Coast League losing streak with a 10-2 romp over the Cowlitz Black Bears (18-15) at Borleske Stadium. All-Star starting pitcher Cody Poteet needed just 88 pitches to toss seven strong innings in his second appearance at home, allowing two earned runs while striking out six to avoid the sweep.

The Sweets' offense set the tone early in the first inning on second baseman John Skrbec's lead-off triple. He scored on a wild pitch before third baseman Jarod Gonzales walked on four consecutive balls. With Walla Walla ahead 1-0, shortstop Nick Vilter's single to left field put two runners on for All-Star Matt Mendenhall, who drove in a pair of runs with another triple, this time to the center field wall. Catcher and fellow All-Star Renae Martinez doubled two hitters later to send Mendenhall home and give the Sweets an early 4-0 lead.

Last time Poteet saw action at Borleske Stadium, he needed just five runs of support in the victory. His offense matched that by the fourth inning as left fielder Jono Herkins started the frame with a single to left field. He stole second base easily and Gonzales's RBI single to center sent him home for a 5-0 Sweets lead. Herkins had a pair of hits Thursday, and said more chances at the plate have been good for his feel in the batter's box.

"It's good to be in the lineup consistently," Herkins said. "It helps to find your rhythm as a hitter, so that's always good."

As far as a team approach, the Sweets used patient at-bats to end the losing skid.

"We had the timely hits when we needed them," Herkins said. "I don't know if the approach changed individually. I guess being a little more patient at the plate, really trying to find that pitch to drive, and it worked."

The Sweets put up two more runs in the bottom of the fifth after forcing Cowlitz to draw from its bullpen. With left-handed reliever Jack Johnson on the mound, center fielder Luke Persico and Bozett each drew a walk scored on Skrbec's double to center field.

With Walla Walla ahead 7-0, the Black Bears responded in the sixth inning, tagging Poteet for two earned runs. Pinch hitter Slate Miller launched a first-pitch, two-run home run over the left field wall to draw the visitors closer, but that was all they would get. Poteet retired the next five hitters he faced, finishing with a called strikeout to cap his second win of the year.

"Luckily we had Poteet pitch really well tonight. He's been good for us this year," Herkins said. "Great defense behind him, so it was a good team win. We definitely needed it."

The Sweets batted around to score three more in the sixth inning off reliever Cody Rogina. Fittingly, it was Bozett who collected hit number ten, driving in the tenth run of the night with a two-out single to right field.

In the ninth, Josh Wagner slammed the door with three quick outs on just eight pitches. He threw seven of them for strikes to seal Walla Walla's twentieth victory of the year.

The Sweets play host to the Bellingham Bells for the first time this season with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch Friday. All-Star Sean Silva will have the start.

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