WALLA WALLA — Jason Leon reached base in all five plate appearances, drawing three walks and driving in the eventual winning run in the seventh inning, as the Port Angeles Lefties clinched their first West Coast League series victory on the road Wednesday night at Borleske Stadium.
Port Angeles scored an early run thanks to two Sweets’ errors for 1-0 lead after two innings.
Four-run sixth
The Lefties broke through in the sixth against Sweets’ reliever Jesiah Zamora, loading the bases on a Spencer Dickinson single, an Ethan Kodama walk and a Kosei Suzuki single.
Zamora struck out Travis Helm, but Zach Blair’s infield single brought in a run and chased Zamora from the game.
New pitcher Hunter Polly allowed three straight bases-loaded walks as Port Angeles took a 5-3 lead.
Walla Walla tied it up at 5-all in the home half of the sixth.
Kodama was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh, advanced to second on Suzuki’s walk before the Sweets posted a pair of outs.
Jeremy Giesegh and Leon then drew back-to-back free passes from Polly to bring Kodama home.
Port Angeles allowed at least one baserunner in the final three innings, including a double by Logan Meyer to open the bottom of the ninth.
Meyer advanced to third but was thrown out at home in a fielders’ choice and Lefties reliever Jack Joyce overcame a dropped third strike on what would have been the final out to close out the game with a four-out ninth.
Port Angeles’ pitching staff came in hot with Jackson Price (uncommitted) throwing the first three frames and yielding just one hit.
Lefties reliever and Port Angeles product Kole Acker stood out, tossing three innings while striking out four and only giving up three hits, to earn the win.
Suzuki and Blair joined Leon with a pair of hits apiece to lead Port Angeles.
The Lefties (3-5) went for the sweep of the Sweets late Thursday and will head to Corvallis to take on the defending-WCL champion Knights (9-1) for a three-game set starting tonight at 6:35 p.m.
Port Angeles 6, Walla Walla 5
Port Angeles 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 — 3 6 0
Walla Walla 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 — 5 9 0
WP: Acker LP: Polly SV: Joyce
Pitching
Port Angeles — Price 3 IP, H, BB, 3 K; Anderson 1.2 IP, H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; Acker 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K; Schumann 0.1 IP; Joyce IP, H, K.
Walla Walla — Aribal 4 IP, 4 H, R, 8 K; Salvesen IP, BB, K; Zamora 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, BB, K; Polly 1.1 IP, ER, 6 BB, K; Naccarato 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Giesegh 1-4, 2 BB, RBI; Leon 2-2, 3 BB, 2 RBI; Dickinson 1-5, 2 R; Suzuki 2-4, R, BB; Kodama 0-3, 2 R, BB.
Walla Walla — Meyer 1-5, 2B, RBI; Moran 1-3, R, BB; Mauz 1-4, 2 RBI; O’Neal 2-3, 3B, 2 R.
WCL Standings
North Division
Overall
WenatcheeAppleSox 8-3
Edmonton Riverhawks7-5
Bellingham Bells 6-5
Victoria HarbourCats 6-5
Nanaimo Nightowls 6-5
Port Angeles Lefties 3-5
Kamloops NorthPaws 3-5
Kelowna Falcons 3-6
South Division
Overall
Corvallis Knights 9-1
Portland Pickles6-3
Yakima Valley Pippins 6-5
Bend Elks 6-5
Cowlitz Black Bears 3-4
Ridgefield Raptors 3-7
Springfield Drifters3-8
Walla Walla Sweets 2-8
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
Lefties intern/pitcher Ryan Wike contributed to this report.
