Walla Walla scored six runs in the second with the benefit of just one hit on its way to a 7-4 victory over Kelowna on Friday.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets improved to 21-27 with the victory. If they win their final six games they will finish .500 for the first time in franchise history.
- Walla Walla is now 2-4 against the Falcons this year. The teams have split the season series in each of the last two years.
- The Sweets improved to 13-12 at home this year.
- Zach Brandon earned his first win of the summer on Friday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings. He walked four, struck out four and hit three batters.
- He now leads the league with 13 hit batters this summer.
- Brett Jacobs had two hits on Friday, including a two-run double in the second. It was his 11th double of the season. He now as 20 RBI and 41 hits.
- Kalani Brackenridge also had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run.
- Beau Fraser scored two runs.
- Matt Imhof will start on Saturday. He struck out nine over 6.1 scoreless innings last Saturday but earned a no decision. He is still searching for his first victory. He has struck out 32 and walked just 11 in 29 innings this summer.
An (almost) day-to-day recap of starting a West Coast League baseball team in Walla Walla. Starting from the ground up...literally. Started in 2009, lucky season #7 has first pitch on June 3, 2016. The time has flown...
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Kelowna shatters playoff hopes
Kelowna shattered the Sweets' playoff hopes on Thursday as they grabbed a 5-4 victory at Borleske Stadium. The loss mathematically eliminated the Sweets from playoff contention.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets are now 20-27 on the season and need to win their final seven games in order to post the first .500 season in franchise history.
- Tyler Qualls's two-run home run in the ninth was the deciding hit in Thursday's contest. It hit the fair pole in right field. Six inches more and it would have been a long strike.
- The Sweets trailed, 3-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh but rallied with four runs.
- Ben Ruff scored the first run with a double to left. He has four doubles, three triples and a home run this season.
- Kris Paulino followed by greeting reliever Cale Coshow with a monstrous three-run home run to right-center to make it 4-3. It was Paulino's first home run of the summer and came on the first pitch.
- Paulino has now scored 21 runs and driven in 14. He had three doubles, three triples and a home run. He also leads the team with 17 walks.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and has collected multiple hits in four consecutive games. He is hitting a team-leading .324.
- Hunter Virant started for the Sweets and allowed one run on three hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out six.
- Virant has allowed two runs or less in every start he has made this summer. In 36 innings, he's allowed just 16 hits.
- Sweets pitchers have struck out 303 batters this summer, good enough for fourth in the league. They are one of just four teams to have struck out at least 300 batters this summer.
- Connor Lawhead registered his second scoreless outing, pitching a scoreless eighth on Thursday.
- Paulino's home run was the 20th for the Sweets this summer. A check for 2,400 was presented by Wildhorse Resort and Casino to CASA in the seventh for Home Runs for Charity. The total could change depending on how many home runs the Sweets hit the remainder of the summer.
- Zach Brandon will start on Friday night and is in search of his first victory of the summer. He allowed one run on six hits over 4.2 innings of relief against Wenatchee on July 25.
- The Sweets have now lost a league-high six games when leading after the seventh or eighth inning.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets are now 20-27 on the season and need to win their final seven games in order to post the first .500 season in franchise history.
- Tyler Qualls's two-run home run in the ninth was the deciding hit in Thursday's contest. It hit the fair pole in right field. Six inches more and it would have been a long strike.
- The Sweets trailed, 3-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh but rallied with four runs.
- Ben Ruff scored the first run with a double to left. He has four doubles, three triples and a home run this season.
- Kris Paulino followed by greeting reliever Cale Coshow with a monstrous three-run home run to right-center to make it 4-3. It was Paulino's first home run of the summer and came on the first pitch.
- Paulino has now scored 21 runs and driven in 14. He had three doubles, three triples and a home run. He also leads the team with 17 walks.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and has collected multiple hits in four consecutive games. He is hitting a team-leading .324.
- Hunter Virant started for the Sweets and allowed one run on three hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out six.
- Virant has allowed two runs or less in every start he has made this summer. In 36 innings, he's allowed just 16 hits.
- Sweets pitchers have struck out 303 batters this summer, good enough for fourth in the league. They are one of just four teams to have struck out at least 300 batters this summer.
- Connor Lawhead registered his second scoreless outing, pitching a scoreless eighth on Thursday.
- Paulino's home run was the 20th for the Sweets this summer. A check for 2,400 was presented by Wildhorse Resort and Casino to CASA in the seventh for Home Runs for Charity. The total could change depending on how many home runs the Sweets hit the remainder of the summer.
- Zach Brandon will start on Friday night and is in search of his first victory of the summer. He allowed one run on six hits over 4.2 innings of relief against Wenatchee on July 25.
- The Sweets have now lost a league-high six games when leading after the seventh or eighth inning.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Sweets keep hopes alive
Walla Walla kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 victory over Bellingham on Wednesday. The Sweets will need to keep winning if they want to have a chance to defend their East Division title.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets improved to 20-26 with the victory. It is the second consecutive year they have won 20 games.
- Walla Walla is now eight games behind Bellingham with eight games to play. The Sweets need eight wins and eight Bells losses to make the playoffs.
- The Sweets and Bells split the four games that were played in Walla Walla. The two teams close out the season with four games in Bellingham next week.
- Walla Walla now welcomes Kelowna to town for four games. It is the final home series of the season for the Sweets. Kelowna took 3-of-4 from the Sweets in Kelowna in mid-June.
- Joe Arlt earned his third win of the summer on Wednesday, allowing just one run over 7.1 innings. In his last 47.1 innings, Arlt has posted a 1.34 ERA. He is 3-1 over his last 15 appearances and has allowed two runs or more on just one occasion.
- Ben Ruff recorded the final five outs to earn his fourth save. He is third in the league with four saves.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and drove in a run for the Sweets. He has seven hits in his last three games. He has multiple hits in each of his last three as well.
- Ryan Cooper had two hits for the Sweets and scored a run. It was Cooper's first multi-hit game since June 28 against Bend when he went 3-for-4.
- Alex Bonczyk and Kris Paulino each scored a run and now have both scored 20 or more runs this season. Bonczyk leads the team with 21 runs scored.
- Paulino is the only player on the Sweets to have as many walks or more walks than he does strikeouts. He has walked 17 times and struck out 17 times.
- Hunter Virant will start on Thursday. He is 2-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 31 innings this summer. He has struck out 25 and walked 19. In his last start, he allowed one unearned run in five innings against Wenatchee.
- He allowed one run on one hit in five innings against Kelowna on June 22 in his first start with the Sweets. He walked seven and struck out four.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets improved to 20-26 with the victory. It is the second consecutive year they have won 20 games.
- Walla Walla is now eight games behind Bellingham with eight games to play. The Sweets need eight wins and eight Bells losses to make the playoffs.
- The Sweets and Bells split the four games that were played in Walla Walla. The two teams close out the season with four games in Bellingham next week.
- Walla Walla now welcomes Kelowna to town for four games. It is the final home series of the season for the Sweets. Kelowna took 3-of-4 from the Sweets in Kelowna in mid-June.
- Joe Arlt earned his third win of the summer on Wednesday, allowing just one run over 7.1 innings. In his last 47.1 innings, Arlt has posted a 1.34 ERA. He is 3-1 over his last 15 appearances and has allowed two runs or more on just one occasion.
- Ben Ruff recorded the final five outs to earn his fourth save. He is third in the league with four saves.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and drove in a run for the Sweets. He has seven hits in his last three games. He has multiple hits in each of his last three as well.
- Ryan Cooper had two hits for the Sweets and scored a run. It was Cooper's first multi-hit game since June 28 against Bend when he went 3-for-4.
- Alex Bonczyk and Kris Paulino each scored a run and now have both scored 20 or more runs this season. Bonczyk leads the team with 21 runs scored.
- Paulino is the only player on the Sweets to have as many walks or more walks than he does strikeouts. He has walked 17 times and struck out 17 times.
- Hunter Virant will start on Thursday. He is 2-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 31 innings this summer. He has struck out 25 and walked 19. In his last start, he allowed one unearned run in five innings against Wenatchee.
- He allowed one run on one hit in five innings against Kelowna on June 22 in his first start with the Sweets. He walked seven and struck out four.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Bells shutout Sweets
Bellingham picked up its eighth shutout of the season on Tuesday as Adam Gunn and Davis Engel combined to shutout the Sweets on nine hits. The loss put the Sweets on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets drop to 19-26 with the loss. They are nine games behind Bellingham with nine to play. They need to win out and have the Bells lose all nine to have a chance at making the playoffs.
- It is the third time in the last two seasons that the Bells have shut out the Sweets.
- Bellingham leads the league with eight team shutouts this summer.
- Adam Gunn struck out 11 batters over eight scoreless innings on Tuesday. He is now 4-0 on the year.
- Tyler Roberts started for the Sweets and struck out a season-high six batters over five-plus innings. He allowed four runs on five hits.
- Connor Lawhead made his first appearance of the summer in relief, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and now has five in his last two games.
- J.J. Robinson had two hits, including his fifth double of the season.
- Joe Arlt will start on Wednesday for the Sweets. He is 2-2 in a team-high 15 appearances. He allowed five runs (one earned) on Saturday against Wenatchee.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets drop to 19-26 with the loss. They are nine games behind Bellingham with nine to play. They need to win out and have the Bells lose all nine to have a chance at making the playoffs.
- It is the third time in the last two seasons that the Bells have shut out the Sweets.
- Bellingham leads the league with eight team shutouts this summer.
- Adam Gunn struck out 11 batters over eight scoreless innings on Tuesday. He is now 4-0 on the year.
- Tyler Roberts started for the Sweets and struck out a season-high six batters over five-plus innings. He allowed four runs on five hits.
- Connor Lawhead made his first appearance of the summer in relief, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out three.
- Shane Zeile had two hits and now has five in his last two games.
- J.J. Robinson had two hits, including his fifth double of the season.
- Joe Arlt will start on Wednesday for the Sweets. He is 2-2 in a team-high 15 appearances. He allowed five runs (one earned) on Saturday against Wenatchee.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Another eighth-inning nightmare
For the eighth time this season, the Sweets fell victim to an eighth-inning rally, as Wenatchee scored all seven of its runs in the eighth inning on Saturday night in a 7-2 victory. The Sweets had a 2-0 lead after seven.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The loss dropped the Sweets to 19-25 on the season and kept them eight games behind Bellingham for second in the East.
- The Sweets won the season series against the Applesox, winning five of the eight games.
- Walla Walla now has 10 games to make up eight games on the Bells. Starting with tonight's game, the Sweets and Bells play six more times.
- If the Sweets can win at least nine games and the Bells drop at least eight games, the Sweets would tie them for second place in the East Division standings.
- Matt Imhof had his best start of the summer on Saturday, striking out nine over 6.1 scoreless innings. He didn't walk a batter and allowed just five hits in earning a no decision.
- Shane Zeile broke out of a mini-slump, collecting three hits in the contest.
- The Sweets committed three errors in the eighth inning on Saturday.
- Cabe Reiten's grand slam capped a magical season for the shortstop against the Sweets. Reiten hit two game-winning home runs and drove in nine runs in the eighth inning alone this summer.
- Tyler Roberts will start on Tuesday against Bellingham. Roberts picked up his second win of the summer last Friday with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.
- The Sweets and Bells split a mini two-game series at Borleske Stadium at the end of June.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The loss dropped the Sweets to 19-25 on the season and kept them eight games behind Bellingham for second in the East.
- The Sweets won the season series against the Applesox, winning five of the eight games.
- Walla Walla now has 10 games to make up eight games on the Bells. Starting with tonight's game, the Sweets and Bells play six more times.
- If the Sweets can win at least nine games and the Bells drop at least eight games, the Sweets would tie them for second place in the East Division standings.
- Matt Imhof had his best start of the summer on Saturday, striking out nine over 6.1 scoreless innings. He didn't walk a batter and allowed just five hits in earning a no decision.
- Shane Zeile broke out of a mini-slump, collecting three hits in the contest.
- The Sweets committed three errors in the eighth inning on Saturday.
- Cabe Reiten's grand slam capped a magical season for the shortstop against the Sweets. Reiten hit two game-winning home runs and drove in nine runs in the eighth inning alone this summer.
- Tyler Roberts will start on Tuesday against Bellingham. Roberts picked up his second win of the summer last Friday with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.
- The Sweets and Bells split a mini two-game series at Borleske Stadium at the end of June.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Sweets win in 10
Friday night was another tooth-and-nail contest between the Sweets and the Applesox and this time it took extra innings. After blowing a 5-0 lead, the Sweets were able to score the winning run in the top of the 10th to earn their third-straight win over Wenatchee.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The victory improved the Sweets to 19-24 on the season. They have won four-straight games for the first time this season.
- Thanks to Bellingham's loss to Kelowna, the Sweets are now 7.5 games behind the Bells and 8.5 back of Wenatchee with 11 games to play.
- Beau Fraser picked up three hits on Friday, including the game-winning single in the top of the 10th inning.
- Fraser has 10 hits in his last four games. He has collected three hits in three of those four games.
- The Sweets set a league record for triples on Friday, hitting their 15th and 16th three-baggers of the season. The 16 triples surpasses the previous record of 15 that was set by Bend in 2010.
- Shane Zeile's third triple of the summer led off the 10th inning, and he eventually scored on the Fraser single. It was Zeile's first hit of the series.
- Ben Ruff hit his third triple of the season as well, a fourth-inning shot off the wall that scored Marc Garza from first base.
- Spencer O'Neil had two hits and drove in two runs on Friday. He now has 30 RBI on the season, the most in a single season in franchise history. The total has him second in the league.
- Brett Jacobs got the Sweets on the board on Friday, driving in Alex Bonczyk with a single in the first. Jacobs has at least one hit and one RBI in all three games of the series.
- Bonczyk picked up his fourth sac fly of the season, scoring Ruff with a fly to right in the fourth. Bonczyk is tied for the league lead in that category. He's also second in the league with nine sacrifice hits.
- With his run in the first inning, Bonczyk became the first Sweets player to reach 20 runs scored this season. He has scored 20 and driven in 18.
- Walla Walla also had three doubles on Friday and now lead the league with 67 two-baggers.
- Hunter Virant pitched the first five innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits. He walked four and struck out three. Virant earned a no decision.
- Tyler Roberts earned his second victory of the summer, tossing the final 2.1 innings. He allowed five hits and struck out one.
- The Sweets turned three double plays on Friday. They turned two 4-6-3 double plays and an 8-3 double play. Bonczyk caught a fly crashing into the center field wall and threw it back into the infield to double-off the runner.
- Matt Imhof will start on Saturday for the Sweets. He is 0-4 with a 6.35 ERA. He has struck out 23 and walked just 11 in 22.2 innings.
- Two records the Sweets won't be happy about breaking are the league record for balks and home runs allowed. Walla Walla has already broken the home runs allowed record, having given up 23 blasts this summer, four more than Klamath Falls' previous record of 19.
- The Sweets have tied the league record for balks in a season with 13. Bellingham set the mark with 13 in the 2008 season.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The victory improved the Sweets to 19-24 on the season. They have won four-straight games for the first time this season.
- Thanks to Bellingham's loss to Kelowna, the Sweets are now 7.5 games behind the Bells and 8.5 back of Wenatchee with 11 games to play.
- Beau Fraser picked up three hits on Friday, including the game-winning single in the top of the 10th inning.
- Fraser has 10 hits in his last four games. He has collected three hits in three of those four games.
- The Sweets set a league record for triples on Friday, hitting their 15th and 16th three-baggers of the season. The 16 triples surpasses the previous record of 15 that was set by Bend in 2010.
- Shane Zeile's third triple of the summer led off the 10th inning, and he eventually scored on the Fraser single. It was Zeile's first hit of the series.
- Ben Ruff hit his third triple of the season as well, a fourth-inning shot off the wall that scored Marc Garza from first base.
- Spencer O'Neil had two hits and drove in two runs on Friday. He now has 30 RBI on the season, the most in a single season in franchise history. The total has him second in the league.
- Brett Jacobs got the Sweets on the board on Friday, driving in Alex Bonczyk with a single in the first. Jacobs has at least one hit and one RBI in all three games of the series.
- Bonczyk picked up his fourth sac fly of the season, scoring Ruff with a fly to right in the fourth. Bonczyk is tied for the league lead in that category. He's also second in the league with nine sacrifice hits.
- With his run in the first inning, Bonczyk became the first Sweets player to reach 20 runs scored this season. He has scored 20 and driven in 18.
- Walla Walla also had three doubles on Friday and now lead the league with 67 two-baggers.
- Hunter Virant pitched the first five innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits. He walked four and struck out three. Virant earned a no decision.
- Tyler Roberts earned his second victory of the summer, tossing the final 2.1 innings. He allowed five hits and struck out one.
- The Sweets turned three double plays on Friday. They turned two 4-6-3 double plays and an 8-3 double play. Bonczyk caught a fly crashing into the center field wall and threw it back into the infield to double-off the runner.
- Matt Imhof will start on Saturday for the Sweets. He is 0-4 with a 6.35 ERA. He has struck out 23 and walked just 11 in 22.2 innings.
- Two records the Sweets won't be happy about breaking are the league record for balks and home runs allowed. Walla Walla has already broken the home runs allowed record, having given up 23 blasts this summer, four more than Klamath Falls' previous record of 19.
- The Sweets have tied the league record for balks in a season with 13. Bellingham set the mark with 13 in the 2008 season.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Sweets escape again
The Sweets have picked the perfect time to play some of their best baseball of the season. Needing a win, the Sweets jumped out to a 3-1 lead and then hung on to earn a 3-2 victory over Wenatchee on Thursday night.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets improved to 18-24 with the victory and are 4-2 against Wenatchee this summer. Walla Walla remains 8.5 games behind Bellingham for second place and 9.5 games behind Wenatchee for first place in the East.
- Since dropping five of the first six meetings against Wenatchee last summer, the Sweets have gone 8-3 in the last 11 games.
- Ben Ruff came on with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and induced a game-ending 6-4-3 DP. Ruff's third save came a night after he earned his second win.
- Team's are hitting just .220 against Ruff with runners in scoring position. It lowers to .167 with two outs.
- Arturo Reyes started for the Sweets and lasted five innings. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out three. He has allowed one run or less in all but one start this summer. Reyes earned his fourth win of the summer.
- Reyes's numbers are even better with runners in scoring position as he has limited opponents to a .127 average with men in scoring position. It drops to a measly .111 with two outs.
- Joe Arlt tossed three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. He worked out a 2nd and 3rd jam in the sixth, getting a pop out and a strikeout.
- Brett Jacobs provided a majority of the offense, driving in two runs with a pair of two-out hits. He doubled home Alex Bonczyk in the third to break a 1-1 tie and then scored Bonczyk with a single to make it 3-1 in the fifth.
- Jacobs now has four hits and three RBI in his last two contests and is hitting .316 with runners in scoring position and two outs. He's also third in the league with 10 doubles.
- Bonczyk scored twice on Thursday and now leads the team with 19 runs scored on the season.
- Kalani Brackenridge hit his first triple of the year and scored the tying run in the third.
- The Sweets have hit 14 triples as a team, one shy of the league record set by Bend in 2010.
- Nick Vilter had two hits on Thursday, registering his multi-hit game since recording back-to-back three-hit games against Wenatchee in early July.
- The Sweets are tied for the league-lead in doubles with 64 and lead the league in triples with 14. They are third in the league with home runs (15).
- Hunter Virant will start on Friday for the Sweets. He is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA. He has lost his last two decisions.
Now for some notes from around the ballpark:
- The Sweets improved to 18-24 with the victory and are 4-2 against Wenatchee this summer. Walla Walla remains 8.5 games behind Bellingham for second place and 9.5 games behind Wenatchee for first place in the East.
- Since dropping five of the first six meetings against Wenatchee last summer, the Sweets have gone 8-3 in the last 11 games.
- Ben Ruff came on with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and induced a game-ending 6-4-3 DP. Ruff's third save came a night after he earned his second win.
- Team's are hitting just .220 against Ruff with runners in scoring position. It lowers to .167 with two outs.
- Arturo Reyes started for the Sweets and lasted five innings. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out three. He has allowed one run or less in all but one start this summer. Reyes earned his fourth win of the summer.
- Reyes's numbers are even better with runners in scoring position as he has limited opponents to a .127 average with men in scoring position. It drops to a measly .111 with two outs.
- Joe Arlt tossed three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. He worked out a 2nd and 3rd jam in the sixth, getting a pop out and a strikeout.
- Brett Jacobs provided a majority of the offense, driving in two runs with a pair of two-out hits. He doubled home Alex Bonczyk in the third to break a 1-1 tie and then scored Bonczyk with a single to make it 3-1 in the fifth.
- Jacobs now has four hits and three RBI in his last two contests and is hitting .316 with runners in scoring position and two outs. He's also third in the league with 10 doubles.
- Bonczyk scored twice on Thursday and now leads the team with 19 runs scored on the season.
- Kalani Brackenridge hit his first triple of the year and scored the tying run in the third.
- The Sweets have hit 14 triples as a team, one shy of the league record set by Bend in 2010.
- Nick Vilter had two hits on Thursday, registering his multi-hit game since recording back-to-back three-hit games against Wenatchee in early July.
- The Sweets are tied for the league-lead in doubles with 64 and lead the league in triples with 14. They are third in the league with home runs (15).
- Hunter Virant will start on Friday for the Sweets. He is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA. He has lost his last two decisions.
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