WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Stunned by Kitsap's 11-4 Romp

Published on July 18, 2014 under West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wa. - The day after a 14-inning walk-off win, the Walla Walla Sweets entered their series against the Kitsap Bluejackets in high spirits.

Unfortunately, those spirits were dampened, as the Bluejackets took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning and never looked back, upsetting the Sweets with an 11-4 win.

D'Aundray Van Slyke led the way for Kitsap, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and two singles. His solo homer in the top of the 2nd inning put the Bluejackets up 1-0, and his two-run blast in the 5th gave his team a 7-1 lead.

Zach Larsen also added a home run, and Jeffrey Bohling, Dylan LaVelle and Matt Jackson all recorded two hits each.

On the mound for Kitsap, Josh Moss was solid. He did allow four runs on seven hits through six and one-third of an inning, but the bulk of those totals came on just two pitches- both to Moe Handcox.

Making a spot start in center field, Handcox used his first at-bat to drive a 3-1 pitch from Moss just over the fence in left-center field, putting the Sweets on the board for the first time and making the score 3-1. And in the 5th, he went deep to straightaway left field, this time for a two-run homer to make the score 7-3.

The only other run for the Sweets scored in the bottom of the 7th, when Cooper Hummel raced home from third on a wild pitch.

Each of those first seven runs for Kitsap, meanwhile, came against Walla Walla starter Mike Paulson (1-1), who bounced back to pitch a scoreless 6th inning before leaving the game. He totaled ten hits allowed, walking five and striking out seven.

Garrett Barker and Russell Crippen pitched the rest of the way for the Sweets, with Barker yielding a three-run homer to LaVelle in the top of the 8th. Another run would cross the plate later in the inning on an RBI double by Jackson, giving the Bluejackets the 11-4 lead and putting the game out of reach.

Tyler Gartner relieved Moss with one out in the 7th, pitching scoreless ball the rest of the way while allowing just one hit, preserving the win for Moss (5-1).

But a few Sweets veterans, such as infielder John Skrbec, helped lead the charge in spite of the obstacles.

"We hung in there," said Skrbec. "We kept grinding away. A lot of things happened tonight, but we didn't let them get in our way, we just kept grinding and kept our focus on the game. That's what we learned tonight, and we'll have at it tomorrow."

The loss dropped the Sweets back to .500 (17-17) on the season, and back into a tie with Wenatchee for second place.

The Sweets will look to even the series against the Bluejackets at Borleske Stadium on Friday, with first pitch slated for 7:05 PM.

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West Coast League Stories from July 18, 2014


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