Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State San Bernardino) had another three-hit game, his fourth of the season. (Photo courtesy of Maevis Photography)
Lefties lose off of three-run shot
Written by: Thomas Johnson
The Lefties just seem to be unable to catch a break.
With Port Angeles up by one run entering the ninth inning Saturday night, Bellingham’s Roman Martin (UCLA) came up to the plate with two runners, who represented the tying and go-ahead runs, respectively. Martin did more than just send the Bells ahead, slugging a three-run shot over the left-field wall to give his team the lead.
While the Lefties did put two on the basepaths in the bottom of the ninth, they couldn’t complete the comeback and fell 5-3 at Civic Field.
The home side showed grit across the entire evening, even coming back from an early deficit to take a lead, but Bellingham — who’s sixth in the WCL standings — just found its way to win it.
The Bells put up one run in each of the third and fifth frames off an RBI triple from Martin and a sacrifice fly from Jacob Mejia (Cal State San Bernardino) to give the away side an early lead.
Port Angeles reached the scoreboard in the sixth inning as the top of the lineup got it down. Travis Helm (Central Washington University) recorded one of his two singles in the game to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a bunt single from Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State Bernardino). Ethan Kodoma (UC Berkeley) knocked home Helm with a single of his own.
Helm hit leadoff for Port Angeles for the first time this season and capitalized with his third multi-hit game of the campaign.
“It felt good, I’ve always been a decent leadoff hitter growing up,” Helm said postgame. “Really good at just seeing pitches, getting long at-bats, putting balls in play and not striking out a lot.”
The trio of Lefties hitters each recorded two or more knocks on the day, with Giesegh notching three on the day for his 13th multi-hit day in WCL play.
Even though the three of them did not record an RBI, it was their at-bats which helped plate the next pair of runs in the seventh inning.
Helm recorded his second single of the game to advance Julio Vasquez Jr. (Henderson State), who reached base with a walk, and Kosei Suzuki (Frank Phillips College), who got on with a base hit.
Vasquez Jr. scored on a wild pitch during Giesegh’s next at-bat to tie up the game, opening up first base and forcing the balls to intentionally walk Giesegh. The Lefties took their first lead of the game during Kodama’s plate appearance when the Bellingham pitcher committed a balk to score Suzuki from third.
Port Angeles was able to hold the lead until the ninth, but falls to 9-4 in games when leading after the eighth inning.
“The best thing about baseball is that you get to play another one tomorrow, so we’re just gonna look forward to it, flush it,” Helm said. “It’s the whole part about baseball, bad things are gonna happen, you just gotta be ready for the next play.”
The Lefties look to avoid the series sweep at Civic Field on Sunday, taking on the Bellingham Bells for one more game at 1:35.
