Sweets explode for first win of the year

It had been a tough first two games of the year for the Sweets. Sunday was a bit more exciting. Walla Walla scored in each of the first four innings and went on to defeat Corvallis 9-1 to earn its first victory of the season. The Sweets had 15 hits and collected five more extra-base hits.

Some notes from around the ballpark:

- The Sweets totaled 15 hits on the night and finished the three-game series with 33 hits. They are hitting .314 in the three games and are slugging a league-best .486.

- Walla Walla also committed just one error on the night after making seven in the first two games.

- The Sweets received multi-hit games from six different players on Sunday night. Spencer O'Neil led the way with three hits and four RBI. O'Neil also launched his first home run of the season, a two-run, opposite-field shot to left-center in the eighth.

- Alex Bonczyk had two more hits from the leadoff spot and scored three runs on the evening. He led off the game with a triple to right-center.

- The Sweets also received strong games from several of their temp players. Jared Jordan broke a 1-1 tie with a bases-clearing double in the second and Jarrod Turner and Marc Garza each contributed two hits on the night.

- Sunday's win was just the fifth for the Sweets in 17 all-time meetings with the Knights.

- Kyle Kingsley was the winning pitcher on Sunday, going 6 1/3 innings. He allowed just one run on seven hits and struck out two. Kingsley allowed just one walk.

- He allowed a first inning run but settled down to keep the Knights off the board the rest of the way before leaving in the seventh.

- Doug Ashby and Simon Anderson combined to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to close the door.

- The Sweets are suppose to open a three-game series with Kitsap tonight (Monday) but there is rain expected in the forecast all night. The tarp is currently on the field now.

- If they play, Arturo Reyes will take the mound for his first start this season. Reyes threw over 80 innings this spring and won six games for Columbia Basin. His brother, Jorge, pitched at Oregon St. and is currently in AAA with the Tucson Padres. 

- Kitsap comes to Walla Walla after sweeping Cowlitz at home to open the season. The BlueJackets won all three games by one run.

- Last year, the Sweets won all six games against Kitsap, jump-starting their second-half comeback with a sweep at Borleske Stadium in mid-July.