KELOWNA, B.C. — The Port Angeles Lefties got monster games from their offense in a pair of victories over the Kelowna Falcons this weekend, bouncing back in a big way from a sweep by Victoria and remaining in the thick of the playoff hunt in the second half.
The Lefties totaled 26 runs and 35 hits in the two wins, with Jeremy Giesegh (Cal State, Bakersfield), Eric Valdivia (Chaffey College) and Roberto Garza-Nunez (Embry-Riddle) leading the way. The Lefties beat Kelowna 13-6 on Saturday and 13-11 on Friday. Sunday’s game was at night after press deadline.
With the pair of victories, the Lefties improved to 9-8 in the second half, tied for third place in the North Division, two games back of first-place Wenatchee.
Giesegh scored six runs in the two games, while Garza-Nunez had five extra base hits and six RBIs. Valdivia had six hits.
Saturday’s game
In Saturday’s win, Giesegh was 2-for-4 with two triples, three runs scored and an RBI. Nunez was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Valdivia was 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Jason Leon (Cal State, Bakersfield) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Jack Kleveno (Utah) was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Brock Mayer (Point Loma Nazarene) started, going five innings. He allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out side.
Matthew Capel (Edmonds Community College) got the win for the Lefties, going the final three innings and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four. Capel has been fantastic since joining the Lefties a week ago. In five innings pitched, he has allowed one hit and no runs. He has collected a victory and two saves.
Friday’s game
The Lefties went into the bottom of the ninth up 13-4, but had to hang on tight to win Friday as Kelowna roared back with seven runs in the bottom of the ninth to make a game of it.
With the bases loaded and the tying and winning runs on base, Riley Ricken (Cal State, Bakersfield) got the final out of the game with a strikeout to earn the save.
Garza-Nunez had a huge game, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. Valdivia was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Yahir Ramirez (Texas A&M, Corpus Christi) was 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
Kleveno was 3-for-5 with a double and Giesegh was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
On the mound, Jackson Price started and got the win. He went five innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. He walked two and struck out one.
Look in Tuesday’s sports section or online at www.peninsuladailynews.com for results of Sunday night’s game at Kelowna.
The Lefties (15-28 overall) travel to Nanaimo, B.C. (9-8 second half, 21-13 overall) to play the NightOwls at 6:35 p.m. Monday. The NightOwls just happen to be one of the teams the Lefties are tied with for third place.
Port Angeles 13, Kelowna 6
PA 1 0 4 3 0 0 0 5 0 — 13 14 0
Kel. 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 — 6 10 1
WP: Capel. LP: Trembly.
Pitching
Port Angeles — Mayer 5 IP; Acker H, 3 ER, BB; Sato IP, 2 H, ER; Capel 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K.
Kelowna — Bydlowski 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 2 BB, K; Trembly 4 H, 2 ER, BB; Ribbink IP, 5 H, 5 ER, BB; Zenkewich IP, H.
Batting
Port Angeles — Valdivia 3-5, R; Giesegh 2-4, 2 3B, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB; Nunez 2-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI; Leon 2-4, 2 R; Kleveno 2-5, 2 R, RBI.
Kelowna — Smenk 2-5, 2B; Sevens 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Scott 2-3, 2B, 2 R.
Port Angeles 13, Kelowna 11
PA 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 6 2 — 13 21 2
Kel. 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 7 — 11 13 0
WP: Price. LP: Viveros. SV: Ricken.
Pitching
Port Angeles — Price 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K; Schumann 2 IP, ER, BB, K; McCormack IP, 2 H, ER, K; Haggerty 3 H, 6 ER, 3 BB; Hagopian 0.2 IP, H, ER, BB, K; Ricken 0.1 IP, K.
Kelowna — Bueno 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, BB, 4 K; Rattie 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, K; Viveros 2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, BB.
Batting
Port Angeles — Garza-Nunez 4-5, 3 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Valdivia 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B; SB; Kleveno 3-5, 2B, R; Ramirez 2-5, 3 RBI; Leon 2-5, Bujanda 2-5, 2 R; Giesegh 2-4, 3 R, 2 BB, BB; Suzuki 1-5, R, 2 RBI.
Kelowna — Degroot 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Pena 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI; Mitchell 2-4, 2 RBI; Fines 2-5, R, RBI.