Breakthough in Wenatchee keeps Pirates close to top
Bobby Lewis and the Moses Lake Pirates return home tonight to host Walla Walla at Larson Field starting at 7:35 p.m. The Pirates won 8-3 last night in Wenatchee to the host Apple Sox, but still trail the season series 5-1.
PIRATES 8
Apple Sox 3
WENATCHEE — Marco Gonzales never stood a chance.
The Wenatchee Apple Sox pitcher faced off against a Moses Lake Pirates squad that quite frankly, needed a win in the worst way.
A win over the West Coast League (WCL) East Division leaders not only would keep Moses Lake within striking range of the Apple Sox, but it would also be their first win over Wenatchee.
They also would distance themselves a bit ahead of Kelowna for second place and a playoff spot.
All those factors plus the simple need to keep getting better was just too much for Gonzales as the Pirates rolled to five early runs and cruised to a solid 8-3 victory at Paul Thomas Stadium last night.
“It was a good win and nice to see our guys come out and put runs on the board and play good defense,” Moses Lake coach Steve Keller said.
With the win, Moses Lake (17-16 overall, 13-14 in WCL) now trail Wenatchee (16-12 in WCL) by 2.5 games with three weeks left to go in the season.
“I think a win is always something solid and it gives you something to build on and create momentum,” Keller said. “Hopefully they will have a plan to come back and do it again.”
The Pirates got off on the right foot scoring in the top of the first inning.
Austin Shackelford (University of Utah) singled and would score two outs later when the Apple Sox committed an error on a Trent Johnson (University of Utah) grounder for a 1-0 lead.
The Apple Sox tied it in their half of the frame, continuing a trend during the series of snatching momentum back from the Pirates.
But this time the Pirates had a response.
They scored twice in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead as Bryan Karwacki (Big Bend CC) singled with two outs in the inning.
Andrew Rodriguez (San Jose State University) then singled as well and Shackelford walked to load the bases.
Duncan Blades (Salt Lake CC) then singled in both Karwacki and Rodriguez to give the Pirates the lead for good.
Moses Lake brought home two more runs in the next frame when Nate Roberts (Seattle University) walked with one out and would score on a Karwacki single.
Also coming around on the hit was Tylor Pavel (Wenatchee Valley College) who doubled after Roberts’ at-bat.
Wenatchee kept it close with two in the bottom of the third but Moses Lake iced the win with a three-run fifth inning.
Roberts singled, Bryndon Ecklund (Seattle University) was hit by a pitch one out later and Karwacki did it again with a double to bring in both runners.
Shackelford doubled with two outs and Karwacki scored to make it 8-3.
Karwacki finished the night going 3-for-3 with four RBI while lifting his batting average to .222.
“I felt like he just stayed simple tonight and not trying to do too much with the baseball,” Keller said. “Sometimes when you are in slump you try too hard. But his last few days of batting practice helped and he carried himself into the game as if he could do it. He had a very good game with some very good knocks. I was even more impressed with how he caught the game.”
From there the Pirates pitching held tight as Jordan Whitman (Cal Poly Pomona) went the distance, pitching nine innings while giving up three runs on eight scattered hits while striking out five.
“It was very big especially with the big games coming up,” Keller said. “It was awesome to use only one pitcher tonight and to watch him stick to his plan and pitch to the plan. He was just very headstrong and did a good job.”
The Pirates return home tonight to begin a three-game series with Walla Walla in the first of six straight, crucial, home games.
First pitch, with Tyler Druffel (Big Bend CC) starting, is 7:35 p.m. at Larson Field.
Mike Garza (Columbia Basin College) will start Saturday and Drew Martin (Moses Lake HS) starts the finale on Sunday.
“I just hope that we take care of what we can and do what we are supposed to do and that’s play quality baseball,” Keller said. “Six games at home is nice and to play in front of fans.”
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