PALM SPRINGS – The POWER (21-2, 9-2) continued their winnings ways as they beat the Casa Grande Cotton Kings, 8-1, on Friday.
Ryan Harper was dominant on the mound for Palm Springs, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings to earn his first win of the season. Michael Massi, Brett Sullivan and Jared Theisen led the way on offense, combining to score eight of the POWER’s nine runs.
Harper got off to a slow start in the first, but rebounded well. After a lead-off double and two-out single gave the Cotton Kings a 1-0 lead, Harper stymied Casa Grande over the next six innings. The right-hander did not allow another runner past second base, allowing just three more hits, all singles, and striking out a season-high nine batters.
The POWER immediately overturned the early deficit in the first inning. Theisen led off with a single and promptly stole second. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Reagan Fowler drove him in with an RBI-groundout to tie the contest.
Palm Springs went ahead for good in the third. Massi doubled to start the frame and quickly moved to third on a wild pitch. Sullivan then singled to drive Massi in to make it 2-1 in favor of the POWER.
The POWER padded their lead with runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings. Austin Barrett chipped in with an RBI single in the fifth after Jared Theisen had scored on a wild pitch. Palm Springs utilized small-ball in the sixth to stretch their lead to 7-1, bringing home two runs via RBI-groundouts. In the eighth inning, Jake Howeth completed the scoring with a single to bring Sullivan home and make it 8-1.
Michael Barrett worked a scoreless eighth and ninth innings in relief of Harper to nail down the win for Palm Springs.
The POWER are back in action tomorrow evening when they take on the Cotton Kings once more. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Palm Springs Stadium.
Saturday is Kids Day, meaning all fans 12 and under receive $2 admission to the game. If you cannot make it to the ballpark, be sure to tune in to the game on pspbb.com
