By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — A night at the ballpark to remember, a ball game best to forget for the Port Angeles Lefties.
Port Angeles, the newest West Coast League member, fell 11-2 to its crosswater rival the Victoria HarbourCats on opening night Thursday in front of a sizable Civic Field crowd estimated between 1,500 to 2,000 people.
At first the Lefties didn’t provide much to cheer about, as pitcher Nick Caudillo, pitching in his first game at any level in more than a month, looked rusty.
Caudillo allowed three earned runs, four total on two hits, three walks and a couple of wild pitches as Victoria opened up a 4-0 lead.
“Anytime you spot a team four runs in the first inning the rest of the game’s not going to be easy or in your favor,” Port Angeles head coach Zach Miller said.
“We had some opening night jitters and they came in they threw strikes and kept it out of the zone.”
The HarbourCats added a pair of runs in the second and one more in the third to go up 7-0.
Port Angeles scored for the first time with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
Washington State’s John Burghardt walked to open the inning before Victoria pitcher AJ Block, another Washington State product, struck out two batters.
Center fielder Taylor Adams reached base on an infield single, the first hit in Lefties history, and catcher Dutton Elske drove in two runs with a sharply struck single to left field.
Elske also caught two runners stealing and did a good job in playing the bounces off the backstop on wild pitches.
“I thought he played well,” Miller said. “This atmosphere is tough, having to come in and play and not knowing anybody, not knowing the bounces you’ll get. But the chemistry between the guys should come quick.”
That’s as close as Port Angeles came in the contest. Block struck out eight batters in his three innings on the mound to earn the win.
Caudillo (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Despite the run differential, there were some moments to cheer.
Port Angeles settled down on the mound as the game went on.
Harvard’s Keiran Shaw struck out four in two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.
Arizona Western’s Trayson Kubo allowed one run on three hits in three innings pitched, striking out three.
And Joey Galeno made a solid snag on a line drive to right field.
But opening night was really more for the crowd, which chatted, ate, drank and cheered throughout the contest.
“Awesome crowd,” Miller said. “A lot of times you couldn’t tell, then you hear an eruption and remember there’s a 1,000-2,000 people sitting behind you.
“Definitely a cool atmosphere with the long grandstand coming down the side. The more people get used to seeing this level of baseball I think the fans will get a little more involved and we will see some chants and a little more interaction. They are learning.
“It’s fun for our guys getting this reception, signing autographs for the kids.”
Pitcher Jake Suddreth played for the Lefties franchise when it was based in Kitsap County last summer and played in front of crowds of 50 people or less.
In town for less than 24 hours, he was already blown away by the level of support shown by the Port Angeles community.
“To see every single fan out here cheering and supporting us was incredible,” Suddreth said.
“We went and visited a senior home with Joey Galeno today, ate lunch with them and visited and it was really cool to see how much excitement they had for us being in town.
“I just wish I could have done a little better in front of them.”
Burghardt said the atmosphere reminded him of what he sees at Washington State’s Bailey-Brayton Field.
“The level of support was like Wazzu games,” Burghardt said. “It makes you feel good.”
Outfielder Taylor Adams was proud to be a part of the first game in team history.
“It was amazing to see the support out here,” he said. “Amazing to see everyone come out with such energy and passion. It was really awesome to be a part of.
“I’m looking forward to coming out here and playing good baseball.
“I realize after tonight, it will be incredible to play a whole summer in front of these fans.”
Kelowna 5, Port Angeles 1
KELOWNA, B.C. — The Lefties enjoyed their first-ever lead, a 1-0 advantage thanks to a sacrifice fly by Mikey Hooper in the top of the fourth inning.
But the advantage was short-lived as the Falcons used three straight doubles to plate four runs in the bottom half of the fourth and tag Port Angeles starter Isaac Olson (0-1) with the loss.
The Lefties loaded the bases with two outs in the second and one out in the fourth inning, but could only manage the one run on three hits.
Port Angeles stranded 12 runners in the game.
The Lefties have managed just three runs and seven hits in their first two games.
Port Angeles (0-2) played Kelowna late Saturday and will wrap the three-game road trip against the Falcons at 6:05 p.m. Sunday before making the 341-mile trip back to Port Angeles.
The Lefties will be back at it at Civic Field on Monday against Kelowna at 6:35 p.m. to kick off a six-game homestand.
Jesse Major (2)/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles Lefties second baseman Mikey Hooper tags Victoria HarbourCats’ Kyle McComb on an attempted steal of second base during the Lefties’ first-ever game Thursday at Civic Field.
Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News Port Angeles Lefties pitcher Nick Caudillo pitches against the Victoria HarbourCats in Port Angeles on Thursday.
Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News Victoria HarbourCats pitcher AJ Block pitches against the Port Angeles Lefties in Port Angeles Thursday.
Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News Victoria HarbourCats third baseman Noah Prewett rounds third base and heads for home against the Port Angeles Lefties at Civic Field on Thursday.
