Yakima Valley wins consecutive games for the first time this season
Published on June 20, 2014 under West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - The Yakima Valley Pippins won consecutive games for the first time this season, after defeating the Northwest Honkers 15-5 Thursday night at County Stadium in front of a crowd of 841.
Yakima Valley (7-7 overall, 4-5 West Coast League) got on the board early and often, using an RBI double from JC Snyder in the 1st inning to take a 1-0 lead. After the Honkers (9-10) tied the game at 1 in the top of the 2nd, the Pippins retook the lead in the bottom of the 2nd on Shawn Wardian's straight steal of home plate, which also brought in Troy Labrie on the ensuing wild pitch to make it 3-1.
"It was my first time ever straight stealing home...so I was just making sure I didn't scare the pitcher. That way, he would take his time," said Wardian. "I wouldn't say I was scared, I was just ready. I was excited."
After scoring two more runs in the 4th, the Pippins blew the game open in the 5th, sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six of them to take an 11-1 lead. Vince Fernandez, Taylor Snyder and Ryan Yamane drove in runs in the big inning, while two wild pitches brought in the other runs.
The Pippins scored four more times in the bottom of the 7th to put the game away for good at 15-1, earning starter Connor Lau the win. Lau, from Yakima Valley Community College, threw 5 innings, allowing just 3 hits and an unearned run. Mitch Yada, Colin Serkowski and Kelly Fitzpatrick worked the final four innings to close out the victory, ending non-league play until July 16, when the Thurston County Senators return to County Stadium for one game.
"I'd say the development has picked up (in this series)," said Wardian. "Even when we win big games like this, coach is still showing us the knowledge of the game. He's still on us, he's still really hard on us. I think that's really great for all the players as a whole to get better."
The Pippins, winners of their last two series, return to league play Friday night, as they take on the Klamath Falls Gems starting at 7:05 p.m. Brandon Williams, who allowed just one hit to the Gems in 7 innings on Saturday, is scheduled to start for the Pippins as they go for a third straight win.
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