Editor’s note: The Springfield Drifters won Friday night’s season opener 4-3 in 13 innings as the game was resumed Saturday evening.
PORT ANGELES — There was drama at the end in heavy rain, but the Lefties are going to have to wait for the final result of their home opener Friday night against the Springfield Drifters.
Umpires suspended the game after 10 innings because of the rain, with the score tied 3-3. People who go to see the Lefties Saturday night will get a treat as they will get to see two games for the price of one.
The game will restart in the top of the 11th inning at 6:35 p.m. today at Civic Field, with Game 2 of the Springfield series beginning immediately afterward — weather permitting. Showers are forecast to clear out Saturday afternoon.
The Lefties trailed most of the game and entered the ninth inning down 3-1. Derek Gifford (Howard Payne) got on base on a slow grounder to third, beating out the throw to first. Trent Jackson (Hawaii, Hilo) hit a pop up to left field that the Springfield outfielders couldn’t corral to put two runners on.
Sam Adams (Stephen F. Austin) advanced the runners to second and third on a groundout and Jacob Billings (Chaffey College) was hit by a pitch.
Up came the Lefties’ two most dangerous hitters, BY Choi (Dallas Baptist) and Robert Nunez (Embry-Riddle). Choi, who had an RBI single early in the game, struck out for the second out of the inning, but Nunez, who was already 2-for-4 in the game, laced a wicked breaking ball to right field to score Gifford and Jackson, tying the game. Nunez came in to the game batting .412 and actually raised his average to .454 after Friday night.
Ethan Young (Lafayette) nearly ended the contest, hitting a towering drive deep to the left-center gap that looked like it had a chance to leave the park. Springfield’s center fielder was able to gather in the fly ball in front of the fence to send the game to extra innings.
The Drifters got two runners on in the top of the 10th, but Lefties relief pitcher Brock Mayer (Chaffey College) came in to the game and was able to get a two-out strikeout to get out of the inning. The Lefties were three up and three down in the bottom of the 10th.
Pitcher Drew Standen (New Jersey Institute of Technology) started the game.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Lefties first baseman Ethan Young tags out Springfield batter Brady Culp before reaching the bag on Friday’s home opener at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Lefties pitcher Drew Standen throws in the first inning against Springfield on Friday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Lefties second baseman Roberto Nunez, right, looks for an opportunity to tag out Springfield’s Dawson Santana at second on Friday night in Port Angeles.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Lefties shortstop B.Y. Choi bats against Springfield on Friday at Port Angeles Civic Field.
