Kelowna Falcons

Falcons’ Bats Break Out

The Falcons got back to their winning ways on Thursday night. After having their six game win streak ended in game one of the series Wednesday, the Falcons looked to bounce back in game two against the Yakima Valley Pippins.

They did just that with a total team effort, resulting in an 8-1 victory. The entire club was in sync from the first inning.

Starting pitcher Max Carter kept things calm in the early going. The Pippins were held off the board until the sixth inning, when they scored their only run of the game. Carter went 7 complete innings, giving up 5 hits and allowing just the one earned run. He struck out 4 on the night, and didn’t surrender a single walk.

The Falcons’ pitching staff kept the momentum going in the relief innings as well. Righty AJ Sawyer stepped in for Carter and threw two scoreless innings, only allowing 3 hits and no walks, fanning 4 batters along the way.

On top of stellar pitching, the birds’ bats were on fire, starting early and refusing to let off. The team collected 10 total hits off the bats of 8 different players. Michael Ciancio and Kevin Morgan were the two Falcons with multi-hit performances, each recording a pair.

Despite amassing 8 runs on 10 hits, the Falcons only scored 4 RBIs. The lopsided “runs batted in” category was the result of several errors and passed balls by the Pippins defenders that either put Falcons runners on base, moved them forward, or allowed them to score unearned.

The runs seemed to come in bunches for the home side. They put up a pair of three-run innings (the second and third), and a two-run seventh to reach the final total. Ciancio got things started in the second with a single that sent home a run. Geoff McCaulley followed that up with a double that plated a pair, giving the Falcons the early lead.

They added on to that cushion in the third inning, when a wild pitch scored Brad Antchak, and Kevin Morgan sent a runner home with a double. Ciancio, who had a hand in much of the game’s scoring, cracked a single and scored Morgan from second base.

Falcons bench boss Bryan Donohue didn’t take anything away from the three-run innings, but the seventh inning was what stood out to him. “Those two runs late in the game were the defining moment for me.”

He explained how his club sat on some leads in the first half of the season, but that wasn’t the trend that he’s seeing with his club now. “The three spots were huge, but it was still within reach [for the Pippins]. But you extend that lead to seven, in this league, with these pitchers, and it’s game over.”

Credit was given to Carter by the entire coaching staff post-game. Donohue said of the Falcons game as whole; “It started with Max. He gives us confidence. We know he’s going to keep them at bay, and we don’t have to score a bunch a bunch of runs.”

Score runs they did, though. The victory on Thursday moved the Falcons’ record to 8-6 in the second half, just half a game shy of first place.

The team is looking loose and confident, and they’ll hope to continue the great team play on Friday for the rubber match of the series against the Pippins.

Friday’s game isn’t just an important one for the Falcons, it’s a big night for the community as well. Proceeds from the gate will go directly to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign to help kids in the Okanagan area. First pitch for that game is set for 6:35 PM.

Story courtesy of Matt Inglis – Falcons Media

Photo courtesy of Matt Inglis

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