WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla finally got the best of Port Angeles, rallying late to down the Lefties 6-5 Wednesday night at Borleske Field.
Port Angeles (3-6, 13-23) had claimed the first four games against the Sweets (2-5, 17-17) this season, having swept a three-game series at Civic Field in June and walloping Walla Walla 14-3 in a one-off road game last month.
Slugging outfielder Ian Nowak put the Lefties up 1-0 in the first inning, doubling to score Sean Roby who had previously reached base on a single.
Harvard product Jake Suddelson erased Port Angeles’ lead in the bottom half of the first frame with a two-run home run to put the Sweets up 2-1.
Suddelson added a sacrifice fly in the third and Walla Walla added another run in the fifth for a 4-1 advantage.
The Lefties broke through in the top of the eighth to take another momentary lead, this time 5-4.
Roby singled with one out against Sweets reliever Scott Parker, Nowak followed with a single on a two-strike count and the pair moved up the bases on an error by the Sweets.
Michael Ciancio then walked to load the bases and chase Parker from the game.
After a strikeout, Martin Pauwells drew a walk to bring home Roby.
Kevin Kendall came through with the big blow, a bases-clearing, three-run double, the fifth on the season for the recent high school graduate and future UCLA player to put Port Angeles up 5-4.
But in Walla Walla’s half of the inning, Suddelson came through again, doubling in a run off Port Angeles’ Trayson Kubo to tie the game at 5-all.
Kubo then allowed the eventual game-winning run on a single by John Glenn before getting out of the inning with no further damage on the scoreboard.
In the Lefties last at-bat, Roby doubled with two outs and Nowak followed with a walk to put the potential go-ahead run aboard but Ciancio grounded to third to close the game.
PA facing Corvallis
• The Lefties return to Civic Field for a three-game series with defending WCL champion Corvallis (7-2, 24-12) beginning tonight at 6:35 p.m.
The Knights have already sealed a return trip to the WCL playoffs after winning the South Division’s first-half championship. If Corvallis were to repeat as league champions the Knights would tie Wenatchee for the most overall WCL championships with five apiece.
• Port Angeles sits three games behind Victoria (6-3, 20-16) for first place in the WCL North Division’s second-half standings.
• The Lefties are encouraging fans to bike to the ballgame for Saturday’s 6:35 p.m. game against the Knights.
Bike racks will be available for riders and volunteers will keep a close eye on the bikes during the game.
Walla Walla 6, Port Angeles 5
Lefties 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 — 6 9 3
Sweets 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 x— 5 9 1
WP: Riddle LP: Kubo SV: Johnston
Pitching
Lefties — Walker 5IP, 4R, ER, BB, 2K; Fisher 2IP, H, 0R, 2BB, K; Kubo 3IP, 2ER, BB, 3K.
Sweets — Lincoln 5IP, 3H, ER, 7K; Parker 2.1IP, 4H, 3ER, 2BB; Mincin 0.1IP, ER, BB, K; Riddle 0.1 IP, H; Johnston IP, H.
Hitting
Lefties — Kendall 2-3, 2B, 3RBI; Nowak 3-4, 2B, R, RBI; Roby 3-5, 2B, 2R; Pauwells 1-3, BB, RBI
Sweets — Suddelson 2-3, HR, 2B, R, 4RBI; Capra 2-3, 2B, 2R, RBI; Glenn 2-4, RBI; Hancock 2-4, R.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or email mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
