By Joseph Traub
RIDGEFIELD — After a dramatic come-from-behind victory Friday in the series opener in Ridgefield, the Port Angeles Lefties experienced heartbreak the next two nights.
The Lefties dropped a back-and-forth affair Saturday in 11 innings by a final score of 4-3. Then on Sunday, Port Angeles took a 7-1 lead with six runs in the eighth inning only to see it all evaporate and lose 8-7 in the ninth.
In Sunday’s game, a picture-perfect Father’s Day afternoon in Ridgefield appeared it was shaping up to be pitcher perfect, as the Lefties’ Frankie Scalzo and Raptors starter Carter Benbrook matched each other pitch-for-pitch in the first five innings, as the teams battled to a 1-1 tie.
The battle of the bullpens started out strong as well, with neither team cracking the scoreboard in the sixth or seventh innings. In the top of the eighth, Port Angeles first baseman C.J. Schauwecker led off with a single and reached third base on Justin Fugitt’s double. After a walk to Alex Garcia, shortstop Trevor Rosenberg came through with a two-run single past an infield that was playing in.
A pitching change followed and the Lefties kept hitting. Connor Denning delivered an RBI single and Evan Hurn later had a two-run knock as part of a six-run eighth for a 7-1 advantage.
It all evaporated in the bottom of the frame. Michael Buchanan gave up a hit, hit two batters and walked two, leaving with two runs in without recording an out in the inning. A.C. Chavez then came in and struck out two batters, but Ridgefield’s Cameron Repetti stepped up in a pinch-hit role and cracked an opposite-field grand slam to tie the game at 7-7.
The Lefties’ Ronnie Rust was stranded at second base in the top of the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, A.C. Chavez issued a leadoff walk followed by a sacrifice bunt. Jonny Chavez then came in to pitch. After an intentional walk to Barnum, Steve Ramirez hit a ball over the head of Fugitt in right field for a game-winning single.
Saturday loss
Saturday’s game was tight throughout. The Lefties took a 2–1 lead in the third inning when Rust beat out a fielder’s choice grounder to score a run, with Tommy Takayoshi also crossing the plate on a throwing error.
The Raptors then went in front 3–2 on Michael Hicks’ sixth inning two-run double off Tyler Tan, but Port Angeles answered. Rosenberg delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to tie the game, which is where things stood until the eleventh inning.
A.C. Chavez took over on the mound for the Lefties. He retired the first batter, then Brody Barnum reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman Hurn. Aaron Zavala then stood in and ripped a single into right field. Barnum raced home with the game-winning run, giving the Raptors a 4–3 victory.
Port Angeles (8-7, 6-6 WCL) took a day off Monday and returns to action Tuesday for a “two-dollar Tuesday” promotion at Civic Field. First pitch against the Wenatchee AppleSox is set for 6:35 p.m.
Ridgefield 8, Port Angeles 7
Lefties 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 — 7 12 1
Raptors 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 — 8 8 0
WP: Barnum LP: J. Chavez
Pitching
Lefties — Scalzo 5IP, 5H, 0ER, 3BB, 6K; Buchanan 2IP, H, 5ER, 3BB, 2K; A. Chavez 1.1IP, H, 2ER, BB, 3K; J. Chavez 0.0IP, H, BB.
Raptors — Benbrook 6IP, 4H, ER, BB, 2K; Andersen 1IP, 4H, 4ER, BB, K; Harper 0.1IP, 3H, 2ER; Schubert 0.2IP, 0H, 2BB, K; Barnum 1IP, H, K.
Hitting
Lefties — Rust 3-5, R; Rosenberg 2-5, R, 2RBI; Halligan 1-1, 2B; Hurn 1-4, 2RBI; Schauwecker 1-1, R, BB; Denning 2-5, R, RBI.
Raptors — Garcia 2-4, 3R, BB, SB; Ramirez 2-4, R, RBI; Repetti 1-1, HR, R, 4RBI.
