Pirates cage Kelowna Falcons

KELOWNA, British Columbia — The Pirates scored early and often Thursday night and Moses Lake won their second consecutive series with a 8-3 win over the Kelowna Falcons.

Moses Lake right fielder Seth Anderson hit a two-run double and third baseman Jye Lanphere belted a three-run home run in the top of the first and Moses Lake held a 5-0 advantage before the Falcons had an opportunity to bat.

Lanphere drove the first pitch he saw from Kelowna starting pitcher Travis Schroeder over the wall to cap Moses Lake’s five-run outburst to start the contest.

Moses Lake head coach Steve Keller said Lanphere’s home run proved to be the difference Thursday night.

“He hit it well. It was the nail in the coffin,” Keller said of Lanphere’s home run. “Jye had a great game.”

The Pirates added to their advantage in the top of the fourth. Lanphere singled in front of left fielder Brock Gates who doubled to score Lanphere. The double was Gates’ third double in the past two games against the Falcons and gave the Pirates a 6-0 edge.

Moses Lake starting pitcher Billy Armstrong controlled the Falcons on the mound Thursday night before Kelowna’s Eddie Hsieh hit a two-run home run off of the left-handed Armstrong.

Armstrong recovered from Hsieh’s home run in the fourth to record the victory and improve to 3-5 overall this season for the Pirates.

“Billy pitched well,” Keller said. “They all played real well early.”

With Hsieh’s home run in the fourth, the Kelowna catcher tried his best to be the Achilles heel for the Pirates Thursday night.

Hsieh was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in the series finale against the Pirates and was responsible for Kelowna’s offensive production.

Hsieh drove in three runs Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to catch Moses Lake.

With the Pirates leading 6-3 in the top of the ninth inning, Moses Lake shortstop Chris Casazza continued his offensively impressive road trip with a two-run double to put the contest out of reach for the Pirates.

The Pirates improved to 9-32 overall following Thursday night’s victory and Moses Lake has won five of their last seven contests after starting the season 4-30.

“It’s fun to get a series win,” Keller said. “It always makes you feel better when you win two out of three. It’s good for moral.”

Although the Pirates started the season off slowly, Keller said his team has not quit.

“They are staying together,” he said of his players. “We have good teammates. We have guys who get excited for each other. They have grown together and it’s hopefully something that will stick with them when they return to their school clubs.”

Moses Lake returns to the diamond tonight when they travel to Wenatchee to take on the West Coast League (WCL) East Division-leading Wenatchee AppleSox.

Tonight’s contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Paul Thomas Field at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Wash.

The Pirates return to the friendly confines of Larson Playfield Aug. 6 when they host the Spokane RiverHawks in a one-game series.