PALM SPRINGS, Calif. ~ The Palm Springs Power won a close battle with the Washington Blue Sox in the first game on the Auxiliary Field, 9-6. The game featured five lead changes. Won Jie Choi’s sacrifice fly in the first drove in the games first run. The Blue Sox responded with three runs in the bottom half. The tying run scored on an error, then a two-run single from Tatsunori Negishi gave Washington a 3-1 lead. In the third, Jordan Matos cut the deficit to one run with a triple to drive in Choi. Aaron Bailey followed up with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to tie the game at three. The Blue Sox regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kazuaki Oishi drove in a run with a single. In the fifth, the Power scored six runs to blow the game open. The Blue Sox scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to round out the scoring, 9-6. Choi pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning to earn the save. Kevin Connolly, Nicholas Michaels, Matos, and Alex Jeter all finished with two hits.
In the first game at Palm Springs Stadium, the Alberta Grizzly took down the Oregon Lumberjacks 6-1. Luke Bolka drew a walk to start the second inning and came around to score on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. The Grizzly went up 2-0 in the third inning after Bill Pearson’s single scored Brady Becerra from third. Alberta pushed three more runs across in the fourth. Wesley Jones hit a one-out triple and scored on Judah Wollenburg’s single to run the score to 3-0. Later in the inning, Christopher Testa hit a two-run single scoring both Wollenburg and Becerra. Jones doubled to start the bottom of the sixth and came around to score on a wild pitch to put Alberta up 6-0. Jue Luciana hit a sacrifice fly into right field with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh for the Lumberjacks only run. Alex McCune surrendered just one hit over four scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn his fourth win. Jones finished 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and two runs scored.
The New York Colonials and Manitoba North Stars played to a 6-6 tie in the second game at Palm Springs Stadium. Manitoba sent eight to the plate and scored four times in the bottom of the first. Trey Bridis hit the first of three straight RBI-doubles to score Judah Wollenburg. Nick Campana followed that up with a two-run double, scoring Frank Podkul and Bridis. Campana would score on a double from Eric Elkus. The Colonials sent ten men to the plate and scored five times in the top of the second. Jay Carp was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for New York’s first run. Gregory Barnette then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 4-2. Ryan Myers tied the game up with a two-run double, then scored the go-ahead run on a double off the bat of Elijah Collins. Trailing 5-4 in the fifth, Justin Robison and Zachary Brewer drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to give the North Stars a 6-5 lead. The Colonials were down to their final out in the seventh, but Brewer walked Jacob Colombo to extend the game. Gregory Barnette lined a double down the right field line, scoring Colombo from first to tie the game. The North Stars loaded the bases with two-outs in the bottom of the seventh against William Nix, but Bridis poped out to third to end the game. Collins finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two stolen bases for the Colonials. Campana finished 1-for-3 with a double, two runs, two RBI’s, and a walk for the North Stars.
The Toronto Rush won the second game on the Auxiliary Field 17-0 over the British Columbia Bombers. The Rush batting attack was led by multiple players. Todd Weiss went 3-for-4 with three RBI’s, Paul Murray finished 3-for-4 with two RBI’s and Tyler Cowles was 2-for-3 five RBI’s, including a grand slam. Noah Lashley started for the Rush and allowed just one hit through four innings.
Tuesday at the California Winter League is the final day of the regular season. Tuesday will also be 2-for-1 admission on tickets, $2 hot dogs, and $2 sodas. The Toronto Rush take on the Canada A’s at 10 AM followed by the Palm Springs Power and Palm Springs Chill at 12:30 PM.
