PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Walter Rook and Joey Romence worked duel complete games for their respective clubs, as the Toronto Rush edged the British Columbia Bombers, 3-1 in a classic at Palm Springs Stadium Friday morning.
Rook (1-2) got the win after allowing just one run on five hits while striking out two in seven innings pitched. Romence (0-3) was tacked with the tough-luck complete game loss after allowing three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The Rush (6-6) got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning after Chris Amato reached and later scored on an RBI groundball by Tanner Klein. Toronto added another in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Amato reached again in the sixth and scored on a Hector Marmol double. Then, in the seventh, Jordan Gibson scored on a Connor Hoffman two-out RBI single to take a 3-0 advantage into the final half-inning.
The Bombers (2-8-2) got a double from Cameron Coons, who scored on an Alex Oleszkowicz single to cut the deficit to two. However, Rook induced a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to retire the side.
Amato finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
The second game of the day was a blowout, as the Alberta Grizzly beat the Palm Springs Chill, 14-3.
The Grizzly (7-5-1) scored a first-inning run on Game Gunter’s RBI single and never looked back. Alberta then put together a four-run third inning in which Franklin Jennings and Jacob Yamane each doubled home a run.
The Grizzly led 7-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning when the Chill (4-7-1) answered back with three runs, but that was all they would get on the afternoon. Louis Cohen started for the Grizzly and pitched six innings to get the win while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
Leading 10-3 in the top of the seventh, the Grizzly rallied for their second four-run inning of the day. Kody Ruedesili had an RBI double and four batters later, Adam Gauthier hit a towering two-run home run over the left field wall, putting the icing one the cake for the Grizzly.
Gauthier finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBI and Jennings was 2-for-4 with an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Cohen picked up his second win of the season while Donnie Speranza took the loss for the Chill. Jake Barbee looked good at the plate for Palm Springs, collecting a single and a double.
Meanwhile, the Manitoba North Stars (7-4-1) defeated the Oregon LumberJacks (7-5-1), 6-5 in game one on the auxiliary field. Game two finished in a tie between the Palm Springs Power (7-4-1) and Coachella Valley Snowbirds (2-10-1), 9-9.
Saturday, February 10 is “Suds on Saturday” at Palm Springs Stadium. Concessions will be serving $2 draft beers all day.
The 10:00am matchup will feature the Alberta Grizzly taking on the Palm Springs Chill. The Manitoba North Stars and Palm Springs Power will follow at 12:30pm. Those not in attendance may listen to the broadcast live on CaliforniaWinterLeague.com.
