Kamloops – 19 runs, 24 hits and six errors was the combined output from the Kamloops NorthPaws and Kelowna Falcons at NorBrock Stadium Wednesday afternoon. A five-run second and a six-run fifth inning got the NorthPaws across the finish line with an 11-8 win to even up the series.
“Those two innings were great, but obviously I would’ve liked to have seen us put up runs more consistently.” Head coach Riley Jepson said.
One of the newest NorthPaws, Michael Velardez, was put in a big spot for his first at-bat. In the second inning, two singles and a walk loaded the bases. The third baseman hit a bloop single up the middle, scoring two. Evan Dugdale followed that up with a triple to make it 4-0. Brock Grainger capped it off with an infield single, making it 5-0.
The Falcons stayed pesky, though, and scored runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. The NorthPaws didn’t seem phased as another crooked inning was about to begin.
In the fifth, a single, double and wild pitch brought home the first run. A throwing error on a ground ball made it 7-0, followed by a wild pitch putting run number eight on the board. Velardez was back at the plate and continued to shine. He laced a tripple to the gap in right-center field, scoring two more runs. Dugdale got in on the action two batters later with a double, bringing his RBI total to three.
“It was awesome to see him (Velardez) thrive in big moments today,” Jepson said.
The Falcons still wouldn’t take no for an answer in the seventh. Two singles and an error loaded the bases with two outs. A wild pitch scored them a run. The NorthPaws were one pitch away from getting out of the inning, but Kelowna’s Finley Bucker hit a grand slam over the left field wall. All of a sudden, the Falcons were within three.
The NorthPaws didn’t panic. Ian Vandepol and Jack Dickinson shut the door, securing the Canada Day victory. Dickinson made his final appearance of the summer with the team and got high marks from his pitching coach.
“He’s a guy who has a tremendous work ethic,” Beggs said. “It was cool to see that save act as a culmination of his hard work this summer.”
The NorthPaws will be back in action on Thursday night in Kelowna before hitting the road for a three-game weekend series in Port Angeles to begin the second half of the season. The Paws are back at home next Wednesday for their final home game against the Kelowna Falcons.
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