KELOWNA, B.C. — The Port Angeles Lefties completed a three-game sweep over the Kelowna Falcons, vaulting themselves back into a tie for second place in the second half, just one game out of first place.
The Lefties’ bats remained hot, punching out 13 hits in an 11-inning 8-5 win over the Falcons. With the victory, the Lefties improved to 10-8 in the second half (16-29 overall), one game behind first-place Bellingham and Wenatchee (both at 11-7).
The Lefties scored 34 runs and smacked 48 hits in the Kelowna series.
Cal State, San Bernardino and Cal State, Bakersfield players dominated Sunday’s game.
The Lefties erupted for four runs in the 11th inning to break up a 4-4 tie as Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State, San Bernardino) and Jared Bujanda (Cal State, Bakersfield) each had RBI doubles in the frame. Jason Leon (Cal State, Bakersfield) also had a two-run single in the 11th.
Giesegh came in to Kelowna in a mini-slump after the Lefties were swept by Victoria. He went 3-for-6 with four RBIs on Sunday. He batted 7-for-14 over the three games in Kelowna, raising his batting average back up to .344, good for fifth in the WCL. He is leading the West Coast League in base hits with 64.
Bujanda was 3-for-4 and Leon finished 2-for-4. Julio Vasquez (Henderson State) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Yahir Ramirez (Texas A&M, Corpus Christi) went 2-for-7 with an RBI.
On the mound, Riley Ricken (Cal State, San Bernardino) got the victory, pitching 2⅔ innings in relief, allowing four hits, one walk and no runs. He struck out four. Ricken picked up both a victory and a save during the Kelowna series.
Jake Cumming (Nevada) started the game, going six innings and allowing four hits. He did walk six but allowed just one earned run. He struck out four. Francisco Lopez (Dyersburg State CC) pitched the 11th inning to collect a save.
The Lefties traveled to Nanaimo, B.C. (9-9 second half, 21-24 overall), to take on the NightOwls Monday night after press deadline. They play the NightOwls again at 6:35 p.m. today.
Port Angeles 8, Kelowna 5
PA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 — 8 13 1
Kel. 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 — 5 10 1
WP: Ricken. LP: Castro. SV: Lopez.
Pitching
Port Angeles — Cumming 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 6 BB, 4 K; Noffsinger 1.1 IP, H, 3 ER, K; Ricken 2.2 IP, 4 H, BB, 4 K; Lopez IP, H, ER, BB, 2 K.
Kelowna — Hollis 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; Froehler 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, K; Badger 0.2 IP, H, BB; Castro 2.2 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 4 K; Noce 0.1 IP, H.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Giesegh 3-6, 2B, 4 RBI, SF; Bujanda 3-4, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB; Leon 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB; Vasquez 2-4, 2 Ramirez 2-7, RBI.
Kelowna — Mitchell 2-3, 2B; Degroot 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Trembly 1-5, 2 RBI.
