PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles plated two runs in its opening slate of at-bats and were never seriously challenged as three Lefties pitchers combined on a four-hitter in a 6-1 win over the Cowlitz Black Bears.
Austyn Tengan and Jake Portaro opened Wednesday’s game with singles for Port Angeles, and Tengan came in to score when Sean Roby hit into a double play.
With the sacks clear, Ian Nowak earned a walk and was brought home on a double by center fielder Taylor Adams for a 2-0 lead.
Cowlitz got a run back in the top of the second when Lefties’ starter Cam Walker gave up two singles, Adams committed an error and the Black Bears scored on a fielders’ choice.
The Lefties chased Black Bears starter Christian Cosby from the game in the bottom of the fourth and scored three runs.
Catcher Benny Kaleiwahea picked up a leadoff walk, Tengan doubled on a 3-2 count and Kaleiwahea came in on a Portaro flyout to center.
Tengan later scored on a single by Sean Roby and Roby came in on an error in the infield for a 5-1 Lefties lead.
Portaro added a solo home run, the University of Utah player’s third on the season, in the sixth inning to account for the final run.
Walker went 3 2/3 innings on the mound for Port Angeles, allowing an unearned run on three hits and two walks, while striking out five.
Jacob Battaglia picked up the win for the Lefties in a strong long relief outing. Battaglia allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out eight in 4 1/3 innings on the mound.
Garrett Smith closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, striking out all three Black Bears’ batters.
Port Angeles 6, Cowlitz 1
Black Bears 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 4 2
Lefties 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 x — 6 9 2
WP: Battaglia LP: Cosby
Pitching
Cowlitz — Cosby 3 IP, 6H, 4ER, 4BB, 2K; Johnson 5 IP, 3H, 2R, ER, 2BB, 4K.
Port Angeles — Walker 3.2 IP, 3H, R, 2BB, 5K; Battaglia 4.1 IP, H, BB, 8K; Smith IP, 3K.
Hitting
Cowlitz — Granberg 2-3, HP; Pearson 1-4, Valenzuela 1-2, BB.
Port Angeles — Tengan 2-3, BB, 2B, 2R; Portaro 2-3, HR, R, 2RBI; Roby 1-5, R, 2RBI; Adams 2-3, BB, 2B, RBI; Nowak 1-4, R.
WCL honorees
Central Arizona College sophomore infielder Matt Kroon of the Bend Elks and Mt. Hood CC freshman pitcher Sam Menegat of the Kelowna Falcons are the West Coast League’s Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week for July 10-16.
Kroon went 12 for 25 with 11 runs, five stolen bases, two doubles, three homers and 13 RBIs to lead the Elks to a 5-1 week.
He is hitting .333, with 9 stolen bases, 4 HR and 20 RBI this summer.
He was selected in the 38th round of the 2015 MLB draft by Cincinnati and he was picked again in this year’s MLB June draft by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 30th round.
Menegat, a sophomore-to-be southpaw from Eugene, Ore., twirled two masterpieces this past week, tossing eight innings at Corvallis to earn the 4-1 win on July 10 and seven shutout innings vs. Wenatchee in a no-decision on July 16.
In total, Menegat allowed one run and struck out 18 in 15 innings on the mound.
Sam is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA and one save over 9 appearances and 3 starts for the Falcons this season.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
