By Ryan Wike

Port Angeles Lefties

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The West Coast League All-Star Game is back this year for the first time in five years, and it’s no surprise that Lefties player Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State San, Bernardino) was selected. He has been the powerhouse of the team’s offense and is batting .369 to lead the entire league.

Port Angeles tried to parlay the good news into success in its first game against Kamloops on Tuesday night but fell 3-2.

Despite the loss, Roberto Garza-Nunez (Embry-Riddle U) had another multi-hit game against the NorthPaws. ‘Tito’ also saved multiple runs with some amazing defensive plays at second base.

The Lefties pitching staff seemed to be back on track, though, only allowing three runs in the game.

The team has used a more arms the better approach in the last two games, with more pitchers seeing time, with six pitchers appearing against the NorthPaws and the final game of the Bellingham series Sunday saw nine pitchers employed, even with Josh Verkuilen pitching five innings.

Maybe this change is what the staff needs to keep a consistently low earned run average against opponents.

Although the pitching staff threw well, it wasn’t enough as the Lefties offense only picked up two on the day.

Port Angeles scored both of its runs in the second frame, as the Lefties loaded the bases with only one out.

Ethan Kodoma (UC Berkeley) drew a walk to plate a run to record his 10th RBI. One batter later, Giesegh slapped a sacrifice fly to center to put his side up 2-1 at the time.

Kamloops took a lead for good in the home half of the seventh with two outs, plating a pair of runs off a walk and a pair of hits to take home the win.

The trend seems that with longer travel days — as Port Angeles started its day at 5:30 a.m. — it takes the bats until game two to really wake up.

The series continues in Kamloops tonight.