Kamloops – The NorthPaws start the weekend off strong with a 9-5 win over the Walla Walla Sweets. Evan Dugdale pitched seven strong innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits while striking out six batters. The game was tied in the sixth, but the Paws bats punched back with two in the bottom half and four in the seventh, thanks to a three-run homer from Kade Crawford.
Righty Evan Dugdale was efficient and very effective to begin the ball game. Dugdale retired the first 12 batters of the game and didn’t surrender a hit until the fifth inning. The NorthPaws starter also didn’t issue a single walk. After getting rouged up a bit in Wenatchee last weekend, Dugdale responded with an incredible performance.
“He kept hitters off balance tonight,” pitching coach Dustin Beggs said. “Having good direction with his cutter has made a huge difference for him.”
The NorthPaws offence gave Dugdale some run support early. In the bottom of the first both Crawford and Brock Grainger reached base with one out. Marcus Butts was at the plate and dropped a double down the right field line, scoring Crawford. New NorthPaw Jackson Glymph hit a sacrifice ground ball that brought home Granger, making it 2-0.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Kamloops scored another run off a wild pitch. In the fifth, Walla Walla finally got on the board, starting with a leadoff double. Two groundouts later, and the NorthPaws lead was cut in half.
The NorthPaws stayed consistent at the plate, continuously reoccupying the basepaths. The only problem was that by the sixth inning, they had already left nine runners on base.
In the top of the sixth, the Sweets looked to finally get to Dugdale. With two outs, they hit a single followed by a two-run home run, tying the game. The Walla Walla dugout was full of life and seemed to have stolen the momentum for the time being.
At the plate, Dugdale served as the designated hitter and got hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth. A balk advanced him into scoring position. Two pitches later, Grainger hit a triple to deep center field, taking the lead back for Kamloops. Butts added a sacrifice fly to complete the counterpunch.
The NorthPaws regained their two-run lead as Dugdale marched back out to the mound for the seventh inning. He worked quickly, retiring the side in order.
“We always say it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and for him, he handled that adversity so well tonight and got right back to executing his stuff,” Beggs said.
In the bottom half, the NorthPaws had the opportunity to deliver the knockout blow. Camden Sanders led off with a double, followed by an Ian Huang walk. With one out, Anthony Setticasi clutched up with an RBI single, making it 6-3. The order turned back to the top for Crawford. He jumped on an offspeed pitch early in the count but pulled it foul. A few pitches later, he got the same offspeed pitch that caught the heart of the plate. Crawford wasn’t early this time, driving it to deep left field for the three-run homerun.
“When the game was tied, there was no panic,” Head coach Riley Jepson said. “Our guys stuck with it and kept putting together good at-bats and eventually got rewarded,”
The Sweets scored two in the top of the ninth, making it a 9-5 game, but Keith Manby was able to get the final six outs, securing the NorthPaws fourth straight win.
The two teams will go at it again Saturday night for Bark at the Park night presented by PetLand. There will be plenty of prizes to win, and yes, pup cups will be available. First pitch will be at 6:35.
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