Kelowna Falcons

Falcons Hang On

The Kelowna Falcons got a big lead, then survived controversy and a late charge from the Cowlitz Black Bears with an 8-7 win Thursday at Story Field in Longview, WA.

The Falcons allowed an early run in the first inning, but responded immediately with 4 of their own as Kirby McGuire had an RBI single, before Grant Meylan scored a pair of runs with a ground ball to 2nd base. Kelowna had 5 hits in the inning.

They would make it 5-1 in the 3rd on a pair of Cowlitz errors, their first of 7 in the ballgame.

Kelowna would extend their lead to 7-1 in the top of the 6th as a Meylan bunt scored a run, then he got thrown out at 3rd base when the ball ended up in right field.

Then the game got interesting.

With Blake Peters on the mound and the bases loaded, Lorin Archibald hit a line drive to right which bounced before the warning track then off the right field wall, which scored a pair as Joey Crunkilton threw the ball back in. Archibald though had a different idea, feeling that he hit it out and was entering his homerun trot. The Falcons relayed the ball back in and he was tagged out to end the inning.

After argument from Rip Ramsey, who was the acting Cowlitz Manager after Grady Tweight was ejected in the 6th, argued his case and the umpires got together to discuss.

In the end, they ruled that the ball hit over the fence and off a sponsorship sign that is immediately on top of the right field wall, and any ball that hits it bounces back into play regardless, even though the ground rules state it’s a homerun.

After a lengthy argument from Kelowna Manager Billy Clontz, the Falcons recorded the final out of the frame.

Cowlitz made it 7-6 with a run in the 8th, but the Falcons responded as pinch-hitter Vinny Esposito scored to make it 8-6. A failed squeeze attempt stopped the rally for Kelowna.

The Black Bears would score a run in the 9th but Dalton Blackwell got Bowen Ogata to pop up with two runners on to end the game.

The Falcons record now sits at 15-7, leading the WCL East Division by 2 games heading into Friday action. Game time is 7:05 from Cowlitz Friday, with the action online at www.kelownafalcons.com

Kelowna returns home for a 3-game set on Monday against Klamath Falls, with Wednesday night’s game being a Charity Game for the United Way with Fireworks and bouncy castles for the kids. More info to come.

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