By Joe Traub
Port Angeles Lefties
LONGVIEW — The Port Angeles Lefties took it on the chin again Sunday, falling 6-3 to the Cowlitz Black Bears in the finale of the three-game series in Longview.
The Lefties have been swept in a series for the second time in 2019.
Despite the loss, starter Nathan Bonck pitched brilliantly for Port Angeles, allowing just two runs on four hits in six innings of work. Cowlitz led 1–0 in the top of the sixth when Ronnie Rust stepped in and delivered an opposite-field three-run homer to right field off Kyle Rich for a 3-1 Lefties advantage.
The Black Bears plated one in the bottom of the sixth and things came undone in the seventh with Carter Loewen on the mound. A leadoff walk and stolen base turned into a run when Seth Beckstead singled home the tying run. After another walk, Austin Bell provided the deciding hit, a two-run triple to right-center to give Cowlitz a 5–3 lead. Bell later scored on a sacrifice fly.
Port Angeles went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings, ending the first half of West Coast League play with a 10-16 record and in last place of the North division. The Lefties overall mark is 14-17 including non-league contests.
The Lefties returned home Monday to start a three-game series against three-time defending champion Corvallis. The Lefties take on Corvallis again at 6:35 p.m. today at Civic Field.
Black Bears 6, Lefties 3
Lefties 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 — 3 5 2
Bears 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 x — 6 6 0
WP: Dolezal LP: Loewen
Pitching
Port Angeles — Bonck 6IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 4K; Loewen 2IP, 2H, 3ER, 2BB, K.
Cowlitz — Arellano 4Ip, 2H, 0ER, 5K; Rich 1.2IP, 2H, 3ER, BB, 4K; Dolezal 1.1IP, H, BB, K; Pittman 2IP, 0H, 2K.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Rust 1-3, HR, R, 3RBI; Marco 1-4, R; Fugitt 1-3, BB; Berry 1-4, 2B; Christian 0-3, R, SB; Boissoneault 1-1.
Cowlitz — Bell 1-4, 3B, R, 2RBI; Beckstead 1-3, R, RBI; Arakawa 1-2, R, RBI, BB; Price 1-3, RBI, BB; Sosa 1-3, R, RBI.
