GAPS IN STANDINGS START TO CLOSE HALFWAY THROUGH CWL SEASON
By: Mike DiBucci
Palm Springs, Calif. – The third week of the CWL started with what most people would consider to be a shocker. The Canada A’s – coming into the day as the 2nd overall seed in the standings – battled the Washington Blue Sox. The Blue Sox scored in the bottom of the 1st off of Kaleb Barlow’s RBI double. That would be all they needed as they shutout the A’s, who put up nine runs the previous day. The Blue Sox added another in the 4th to build a cushion, and won their second straight-game. Washington Blue Sox (3-6) defeat Canada A’s (6-3) by a score of 2-0.
The morning game at the main field between the Alberta Grizzly and the Palm Springs Chill started as a pitchers duel. The Chill had one cross the plate in the 3rd inning and it stayed 1-0 going into the fifth. The Grizzly then rallied, having 13-of-14 batters reach base safely, tallying eight hits and 11 runs in the 5th frame. The Chill added two in the final inning, but ultimately lost big. Alberta Grizzly (5-4) defeat Palm Springs Chill (5-3-1) by a score of 11-3.
The 11am game featured a slugfest in a battle between the Coachella Valley Snowbirds and the Palm Desert Coyotes. The Snowbirds, who came into today’s ballgame with one win on the season, had the big lead of 8-3 at the end of the third. Momentum shifted back and fourth from that point on, but in the end, the Coyotes’ 12 total hits were not enough. The Snowbirds, behind Nick Newell’s first home run of the season, poured on 11 runs. Coachella Valley Snowbirds (2-7) defeat Palm Desert Coyotes (5-3-1) by a score of 11-8.
The afternoon battle between the Oregon Lumberjacks and the Bay Area Bootleggers went down to the wire. The Jacks went up 1-0 in the top of the 3rd but the Bootleggers responded as Lucas Hunter crossed the plate for a score in the bottom half of the inning. Nathan Lewellyn knocked in an RBI single in the fourth to give Bay Area the lead heading into the 5th. Oregon then rose to the challenge when Taren Tani tied the ballgame with an RBI triple, and was then brought in for the go-ahead score off of Matt Burns’ single. The Bootleggers could only muster up one hit within their final nine outs, and ultimately lost a close contest. Oregon Lumberjacks (3-5-1) defeat Bay Area Bootleggers (2-6-1) by a score of 3-2.
The day’s final battle went back and forth until the end. The Manitoba North Stars were looking to extend their winning streak to six games, however standing in their way were the New York Colonials. The game started off with a bang, as Aaron Cook hit a HR in the top on the first. The Colonials responded with three runs to hold the lead by the frame’s end. The first batter of the 2nd inning, Darius Washington led off with his second HR of the CWL season, closing the gap to one run. In the bottom half of the inning, the Colonials’ Nicholas Willoughby matched Washington by leading off with a solo shot of his own. Victor Barron than gave the North Stars a 5-4 lead with his third HR of the season, hitting a three-run bomb in the top of the 3rd. Alex Simone kept the power surge going by smacking a two-run shot in the bottom half of the frame, returning the lead back to his squad. It stayed a 6-5 Colonial advantage until the top of the 7th and final frame, as the North Stars manufactured the game-tying run after having the first three batters walk to load the bases. It went into the bottom of the 7th as a tie game and stayed that way as the Colonials were retired with the winning run stranded a second base. Manitoba North Stars (6-1-2) tie with the New York Colonials (5-3-1) with a score of 6-6.
CWL action continues tomorrow with the Toronto Rush (6-3) taking on the Palm Springs Power (4-4) at 10:00am at Palm Springs Stadium, followed by the Palm Desert Coyotes (5-3-1) versus the Washington Blue Sox (3-6) matchup at 12:30pm.
Tomorrow is also 2-for-Tuesday here at the ballpark. All general admission tickets are 2-for-1 along with $2 hot dogs, $2 sodas, and $2 draft beers (Bud and Bud Light) all day long!
