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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Slug out Series Win in Kelowna

August 10, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


KELOWNA, B.C.. - Making his final appearance of the season, Walla Walla Sweets' starting pitcher Chris Kerwood set out on a mission against the Kelowna Falcons, who had taken two of three games from the Sweets in the teams' last meeting.

He accomplished his mission, thanks to his own resilience with runners on base as well as good run support from his teammates, and the Sweets claimed the series victory over the Falcons with an 8-1 win Saturday night at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

Andrew Mendenhall led off the game with a walk, moving to second on an errant pickoff throw by Kelowna starter Austin Lambright (0-4). Mikey Duarte then reached on a fielding error, placing two runners in scoring position with none out. Parker Osborne followed with a single, plating both runners and giving the Sweets an early 2-0 lead.

The Falcons fought back in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run by Colton Waltner, but it would turn out to be their only run of the contest, despite numerous opportunities the rest of the way.

Kerwood (2-2) battled control problems through his eight innings, walking six while striking out five, but allowing only six hits while evading multiple Kelowna threats.

"I felt more comfortable out there (than in my last start)," Kerwood said. "I was more focused. I was able to throw more strikes tonight."

"I think the slider was probably the most important pitch for me tonight. I was able to throw it 3-2 (count), and I was able to get guys to either ground out or strike out with it, so that was probably the key in my going the distance that I did."

Wielding their mighty bats again in the 3rd inning, the Sweets increased their lead to 6-1 on RBI singles by Sean Bouchard and Renae Martinez, knocking Lambright out of the game early. Emilio Alcantar entered in relief, and after inducing a groundout for the inning's first out, surrendered a two-RBI single to Ryan Littlefield.

From there, they would add two more runs, as Bouchard hit a sacrifice fly in the 4th and also homered in the 7th, his third home run of the season and his second in the series.

Garrett Barker pitched the 9th inning, and despite allowing a leadoff walk and a single, he pitched out of a jam with two runners in scoring position and one out to slam the door, finalizing the 8-1 win for the Sweets.

The win assured the Sweets (27-26) of a series victory, with a chance to sweep the Falcons in the final game.

The Sweets will conclude their season by aiming for the series sweep Sunday, as they play the Falcons at 6:05 PM at Elks Stadium.



West Coast League Stories from August 10, 2014


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