The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped game three in Walla Walla, losing the series as the Sweets scored 15 runs on 13 hits. Walla Walla scored five in the first inning and would hold the lead for the entire game, scoring six runs between the third and fifth innings as well as four more in the eighth. The NorthPaws kept the game close with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, but the eighth inning proved to be too much.
The NorthPaws got the lead in the top of the first as two wild pitches brought center fielder Connor Clark home. Righty Joey Rico was on the mound making his first start. Rico was also in the lineup as the designated hitter. The Sweets jumped all over him, however. Three singles, a double and a home run put five on the board for the Sweets, all without Rico recording an out.
In the second, left-fielder Matthew MacDonald and second-baseman Tanner Hornback walked and singled. Both would advance on a wild pitch, setting up third baseman Drew Abercrombie, who doubled down the third base line, scoring both runners and making it a 5-3 game.
The Sweets wouldn’t take long to respond as they scored two runs in the third and fourth, making it 9-3 heading into the top of the fifth. The NorthPaws stayed tough with right fielder Jared Hall and Clark reaching base. The centerfielder would later score off a Rico single. Catcher Brendan Burke then sent a single of his own through the right side, scoring Hall. Finally, after a pitching change, MacDonald singled off the first pitch he saw, scoring Rico once again, putting the NorthPaws within three.
Walla Walla came back in the bottom half with their third straight inning with two runs on the board, erasing any NorthPaw momentum for the time being. With one out, the Sweets had the bases loaded and sent a grounder toward first base. The throw was about to be made home for the force out, but a throwing error saw the ball hit the backstop, scoring runs 10 and 11.
Kamloops refused to go away just yet as shortstop Elijah Clayton doubled. Clark followed that up a few pitches later with a double of his own, scoring Clayton. Clark would later score off a balk from the Sweets pitcher, putting Kamloops within striking distance. The Sweets went down scoreless in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the NorthPaw bats went silent.
Despite the 10 hits given up by Walla Walla pitcher, they only walked four batters the entire game and held the NorthPaws off the board in the final third of the ballgame. Everything unravelled in the eighth inning, with the Sweets scoring four runs and putting any hope of a NorthPaw come back to bed.
Kamloops drops to 10-8 on the season, but the good news for them is that 11 of the team’s last 12 games to close out the first half will be played at NorBrock Stadium. The gurgling road stretch is over, and the only road game they will play is next Wednesday in Kelowna. The Victoria HarbourCats come to town fresh off a sweep of their Island rivals, the Nanaimo Night Owls.
Victoria and Kamloops are tied for third in the division, making this weekend’s series that much more important. Friday and Saturday’s games will be at 6:35, and Sunday’s first pitch is at 12:05. Come out and support the NorthPaws in person or follow all the action on West Coast League TV.
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