PALM SPRINGS, Calif – Saturday night featured the second game of a preview of the CPCL Championship series set for the weekend of July 15th. Julian Orozco faced off with Michael Curatolo of the Bucs.
Each starter gave up a run in the first inning and then locked in for the next few. Michael Groves drove in Jason Leon in the first on a line drive single to left center field. The Power jumped out to a 3-1 lead over Inland Valley in the bottom of 3rd. New Power catcher Nick Poss scored on a Jason Leon infield single. Leon then came around to score on a Michael Groves double, yet again into left-center field.
Inland Valley first baseman Charlie Mannon tied it up at 3-3 in the 5th with a 2-run double. A Justin Cabada sac-fly gave the Bucs’ a 4-3 lead. Kyle Mosley shut down the top of the 7th and sent it to the Power bats.
Jason Leon got on in the home half of the 7th with a double to the warning track in right-center field. Noah Blythe lined a single to center to drive home Leon to tie things up. After a wild pitch, and error Blythe scored to take the lead and the Power never looked back. The Power added to more in the 7th to move the lead to 7-4. Another 2 were added in the 8th including Michael Groves 3rd hit and 3rd rbi of the game.
College of the Desert closer Kenny “count your days” Schechter came on to shut it down in the 9th. He had a 1-2-3 inning to secure a 23-1 record for the Power.
The Power have only a handful of games left, so make sure to come out to Palm Springs Stadium before it is too late. The next Power game is Tuesday July 11th against the Havasu Heat. Game time is at 7 and the gates open at 6 for the last $2 beer Tuesday of the year.