Kole Acker holds the AppleSox to one run through four innings. (Photo courtesy of Maevis Photography)
Port Angeles Falls Late To Wenatchee In The League Opener
By: Ryan Wike
The Lefties played their league opener Friday night against the always competitive Wenatchee AppleSox. The game was a pitching duel at its core, and in front of a full stadium, Kole Acker made his 2024 league debut, but the Lefties fell 4-1.
Blake Reece started on the bump for Wenatchee as he and Acker battled it out. While a pitching duel is common, what made tonight truly unique was that both team’s starters were sidearm pitchers, Acker a righty and Reece a lefty. Reece appeared to win the duel going six innings, giving up no runs and one hit while Acker went four frames, giving up one run and six hits.
The Port Angeles were relatively cold, only picking up 2 hits on the night. Kosei Suzuki scored the only run for the team, even though the Lefties had some threatening moments in the game.
The game remained close as Joshua Verkuilen pitched three innings and only gave up one run and kept the game in striking distance. The game seemed to cement itself in the eighth inning when Wenatchee plated two more runs. Defensive miscues again plagued the Lefties, as they committed two errors in the inning to allow Wenatchee to score.
The Lefties would then load the bases in the ninth inning and threaten a storybook comeback late in the game, but could not cut down the three-run deficit.
Port Angeles returns to action tomorrow looking to even up the series in Wenatchee.
