Sweeping Bears
- Updated: June 26, 2016
The Falcons broke out their brooms and their walking shoes on Sunday in the finale of their three-game series against Cowlitz Black Bears. It took all 9 innings, but the birds’ first lead of the game was the only one that counted, as the Falcons walked off the Black Bears in the bottom of the 9th inning, completing the series sweep.
The Falcons didn’t get much in the way of offense Sunday, but neither did the club in the opposite dugout. Runs were few and far between all night, with just 3 runners crossing the plate between both teams.
The Black Bears scored their first and only run in the first inning, but they held onto the 1-0 lead all the way until the sixth inning.
Despite giving up the lead, the birds kept it close through the early innings until they finally got on the board in the back half of the game. Falcons’ designated hitter AJ Sawyer drove in Chandler Robertson with a double to right field, tying the game up at 1.
From there, both teams failed to score again until it really counted, despite the Black Bears racking up 9 hits and the Falcons getting 8 of their own.
Then the fireworks came, and the home side put everyone at Elks Stadium on their feet in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and a runner at first, Daniel Priwin ripped a ball into the outfield, sending Brendt Citta from first to third. The Black Bears tried to catch Citta at third, but an errant throw ended up in foul territory, giving Citta an opening to sprint over home plate and win the game.
The sweep was the Falcons’ second of the season, the first coming on the road against Walla Walla in early June. Falcons’ coach Bryan Donohue was happy with his team’s execution and determination to win: “It’s a confidence thing. All series our defense was clean. Our pitchers are pitching with a lot of confidence. We didn’t do anything to shoot ourselves in the foot.”
The Falcons will have 3 days between games, but Donohue expects things to be business as usual. “We’ll come out Tuesday and Wednesday, get some light work in, stay sharp.” But after 6 games in a row, with 4 straight wins, Donohue knows that his team needs to enjoy a bit of a breather. “The break is needed, we’re probably going to come out more fresh.”
The Falcons, who are now 11-9 on the season, will head down to Victoria to take on the first place series for Canada Day weekend.
Story courtesy of Matt Inglis – Falcons Media
Photo courtesy of Matt Inglis
Related Posts
Sponsors
