The Lefties put in a complete win over Walla Walla to start their road trip off with a win.
Lefties on a roll to start road trip
By: Ryan Wike
Lefties started their weeklong road trip in Walla Walla last night and won with absolute dominance at Borleske Stadium, 7-1. The game began a little with a little hiccup as Port Angeles’ ace Damian Hernandez (UC Riverside) only got through one inning, then left the game with elbow tightness. He was evaluated and no problems were identified and he should make his next start.
This left the team in a tight spot. Down by one run, and into the bullpen in the second inning, Cade Stuart (Edmonds College) toed the rubber and delivered an absolutely dominant outing in what may have been the most electric show from the Lefties ‘pen on the year, tossing eight shutout innings between Stuart and Joshua Verkuilen (Cal State San Bernardino). Stuart pitched six of those scoreless innings only giving up three hits and striking out six as he set a season high for innings pitched by a reliever
The bats for the team came through as well to complement the pitching performances. While only recording six hits on the game, the Lefties bats forced multiple errors from hard hits and punished Walla Walla for the mistakes. Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State San Bernardino) and Jason Leon (Cal State Bakersfield) collected multiple hit games.
Giesegh’s .419 average in league play is third in the West Coast League and his two home runs is tied for second in the WCL. The outfielder has been the Port Angeles leadoff hitter all season and has a hit in all seven league matchups.
“It’s just staying locked in, staying in the at-bats and hitting outside and doing whatever it takes to make sure you’re always ready to play,” Giesegh said after Port Angeles’ 9-0 shutout win over the Seattle Gumberoos on June 8.
The Lefties plated all seven of their runs in the fourth inning, the most runs they’ve scored in a single inning all season. Port Angeles brought 11 hitters to the plate, recording four hits and forcing two Walla Walla errors across the frame. Leon and Roberto Garza-Núñez (Embry-Riddle) both had RBI two-baggers to help the Lefties put up the crooked number.
Port Angeles returns to Borleske for two more games before heading to Corvallis later this week.
