So Close

Walla Walla vs. Cowlitz 7-1-11

- After last night's game it feels like the Sweets are on the verge of putting it all together.  There have been very few nights this summer when the Sweets have done everything right; hit well, pitch well and play solid defense.  Those nights appear to be on the way with the Sweets performance over the past week.
- Walla Walla has lost nine of their last ten and eight of those have been by three runs or less.
- After Trent Allianic's first start of the summer against Corvallis on June 5 a lot of his teammates talked about his competitiveness level and his will to win.  The right-hander showed that last night, allowing two runs on three hits over eight innings.  He struck out six and walked only one.
- Andrew Mendenhall continues to find his groove for the Sweets, hitting safely in four straight games.  His solo home run last night tied the game at 1-1 and he made an amazing sliding catch in left-center that kept the game tied in the fourth.  He has shown power, speed, range and a very strong arm so far this summer.
- Brenton Allen may only be hitting .222 but his .429 on-base percentage is miles ahead of any other Sweets batter.  He had his first two-hit game of the summer last night and is starting to show us some of the tools that the Phillies saw, drafting him last spring. 
- Yesterday started 12 games in 12 days for the Sweets, arguably their toughest test of the season.  They will play one more home game on Saturday before embarking on a nine-game road trip on Sunday. 
- Cowlitz is currently one of the hottest teams in the league, winning eight-straight games.  They sit a game behind West Division leader Corvallis.
- The Black Bears are a quick team, their 32 stolen bases ranking them second in the league.
- Their starter tonight, Stuart Fewel, was 9-1 this spring at Lower Columbia and pitched in the league last summer for the Wenatchee Applesox as a high school senior.