By: Jack Grimse
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.– The bats had been pretty quiet in the game up to the eighth inning, but a late rally gave the Palm Springs POWER another comeback win. Exploding for four runs, the POWER turned the game on its head against Team Top Speed to take game two of the series, 4-3.
For the second night in a row, Top Speed took a first inning lead against the POWER. Vinny Rodriguez tripled to drive in a run, and scored the Top Speed’s second run of the ballgame.
But just like last night, the POWER battled back, capitalizing on one big inning. Although clutch hitting delivered the runs, credit the pitching staff for keeping the team in the game while the bats struggled early on.
POWER starter Tyler Wells struck out five in 3 1/3 innings, as the Team Top Speed hitters started off hot. Matt Valencia entered the game in relief with two runners on and just one away in the fourth inning. Valencia, a lefty who attends the University of Hawai’i, struck out the first batter he faced before inducing a groundout to get out of the inherited jam.
Valencia got out of another tough spot – this time with the bases loaded. He struck out the side in the fifth inning to keep the deficit at three runs. Luckily for the POWER, Valencia pitched well because the Top Speed pitchers were nearly unhittable outside of the eighth inning.
Ryan Avila pitched well in relief for the POWER, not allowing a run in two innings of work. He crucially kept them in the game, as the POWER wouldn’t score until the bottom of the eighth.
Kobie Foppe was hit by a pitch to lead it off, and after Harry Shipley and Ryan Raslowsky were walked, Connor Hornsby came up to bat with the bases loaded and nobody out. Smashing a double past the first baseman Steven Knudson, Hornsby made it a one-run ballgame. Then, Miles Bice entered as a pinch-hitter. Bice singled to drive in Raslowsky and Hornsby, and gave the POWER the 4-3 lead.
They would not relinquish the lead. Top Speed got two runners on in the top of the ninth, but the situation was diffused. Matt Martinez came up with runners on first and second, but Avila was able to get him to ground into a game-ending double play.
The teams meet again tomorrow night for the conclusion of the non-conference series. First pitch is at 7:05 pm at Palm Springs Stadium. Be sure to come out to the ballpark, as the first 200 fans will receive a free koozie.
