Spuds settle for split with Pak

MOSES LAKE — Cain Valdez kept hitters, who terrorized the Spud merely 24 hours prior, off balance with breaking pitches and fastballs en route to five scoreless innings.

With just enough offense and two innings of relief from Cameron Duke, Central Washington was able to stun Yakima Valley 1-0 in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader. On Tuesday in Selah, the Pepsi Pak won both games 10-0, so the defensive battle was a surprise.

However, Yakima Valley’s offense returned to form in Game 2 and Central Washington lost 14-3 in six innings. The Pak used a pair of five-run innings to pull away.

Valdez and Selah High School standout Dustin Yates dueled in the opener; neither allowed more than two hits. Though not overpowering, Valdez was able to keep Yakima Valley off the scoreboard with help from his defense.

Valdez induced an inning-ending double play in the second inning to escape an early jam. Brent Rosman score the lone run of the game, coming around from first base after two passed balls and a throwing error.

Valdez came up clutch in the fourth inning, stranding a Pak runner on third base after a strikeout. Duke entered the game in the sixth inning and struggled early with his command, walking and hitting consecutive batters.

But the defense stepped up again to strand the runners. Brandon Swett made a running catch in deep center field to preserve the 1-0 lead.

In the seventh, Nate Ball made a spinning throw to first base for an out, Duke recorded a strikeout and induced a soft grounder to end the game.

In Game 2, Yakima Valley led 6-1 after three innings and led 9-1 in the fifth. Tyson Yamane and Duke cut in to the deficit with a RBI double and RBI single, respectively.

The Pak were able to load the bases with no outs in the sixth, scoring five runs to pull ahead by 11. A bobbled chopper to second base scored the first, then two walks, a passed ball and sacrifice fly.

Central Washington was unable to mount a rally in the home half and the game ended after six innings.