ELKS WIN EXTRA-INNING PITCHER’S DUEL, TAKE SERIES FROM APPLESOX

Photo by Alyssa Taylor

BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-8) couldn’t figure out the Bend Elks (7-5) bullpen, and fell 2-1 in a 10-inning pitcher’s duel at Vince Genna Stadium, Friday night.

It was the second game of the series decided in extra innings, and all three games in the series were decided by just a single run.

Wenatchee jumped to an early lead in the opening three innings off of Bend starter, and reigning WCL Pitcher of the Week, Caleb Henry.

Evan Johnson extended his WCL-best hitting streak to 15 games, with a first-inning single.

In the third, Jake Taylor drove in the game’s first run on an RBI single by grounding a slow chopper to the third base side, that couldn’t be thrown to first base.

The score held with Wenatchee starter Matthew Young (no-decision) offering up six scoreless innings at the start. Over his first six innings, he also didn’t allow a baserunner into scoring position. It was Young’s final appearance of the season for the AppleSox (temporary contract player), with a new group of players expected to join the AppleSox in Wenatchee, Saturday.

On the other side, Grant Larson was unhittable for the AppleSox. The left-hander gave up a walk in his first inning of relief in the fourth, before continuing on to retire 15 straight batters, over the course of six scoreless innings.

In the seventh, Bend drew even after Young allowed the bases loaded with two outs. A walk to Charlie Maxwell forced in the tying run, but Young struck out the Elk’s leadoff man to preserve the 1-1 tie.

That score held, with Steen Fredrickson (0-2) working out of two jams in the eighth and the ninth innings. Wenatchee was held hitless in the eighth and ninth by Larson, and in the tenth by Chase Thometz.

Bend pushed across the winning run in the 10th inning after two Fredrickson walks, a double steal, and a walk from Fredrickson’s late replacement, Tommy Watanabe.

With one out and the infield in, shortstop Joel Condreay made a beautiful diving play on a ground ball to his left, and attempted to throw home to catcher Jack Reisinger. The throw was ruled to have taken Reisinger’s foot off the plate, and the Elks won 2-1.

Cal Waterman drove in the winning run on the fielder’s choice.

Wenatchee returns home for a three game series with the Gresham GreyWolves, beginning Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Moses Lake native, Hunter Boyd, is scheduled to get the start for the AppleSox.