PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles plated 11 or more runs for the third straight game, dispatching the Highline Bears 11-5 Tuesday night in the first game of a three-game nonleague series at Civic Field.
Lefties hitters put up four runs in the third and fourth innings to stake Port Angeles starter Justin Miller to an early lead.
Lefties first baseman Shea Thomas bats in the third inning against the Highline Bears on Tuesday night at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Coleman Schmidt had the big bat in the bottom of the third, blasting a line shot off the fence in left-center field for a two-run double.
Kai Saterstrom added an RBI single, and Ricardo Amavizca drove in another run with a broken-bat fielders’ choice.
Saterstrom finished with a team-high three hits.
Shea Thomas brought home a run in the bottom of the fourth when he reached on an error; catcher Jack Holman was walked to bring home a run; Schmidt added a sacrifice fly; and Amavizca followed with an RBI single for an 8-0 lead.
Miller was impressive in his time on the hill, as the Purdue-Fort Wayne lefty struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings. Miller was chased from the game after loading the bases in the top of the sixth, and reliever Justin Dunham was unable to close the door, allowing a three-run double with all runs charged to Miller.
Lefties right fielder Luke Saunders advances for a catch against Highline on Tuesday night at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News) Lefties right fielder Luke Saunders advances for a catch against Highline on Tuesday night at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Dunham struck out four in his 2 1/3 innings pitched, and Corey Sanchez pitched a scoreless ninth to close the game out.
Lefties pitchers Zach Thomas and Steven Brooks batted in this game with Thomas recording two doubles and driving in a run. Brooks, the 6-foot-6 Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo signee, grounded to first in his lone at-bat.
Port Angeles hosts Highline again tonight at 6:35 p.m.
