PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The POWER made history Wednesday night, capturing their third consecutive Southern California Collegiate Baseball League Championship with a 15-3 rout of the Long Beach Legends. With the win, Palm Springs completed the sweep of their rival in the best-of-three SCCBL Championship Series for the second consecutive year.
The title marks the fifth in team history and the fourth for Manager Harry Gurley.
The Legends grabbed a 1-0 advantage with a run in the top of the first inning, but the lead would be short-lived. Ryan Raslowsky was hit by a pitch to lead off the POWER half of the first inning, and Reagan Fowler followed with a single. T.J. Bennett then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third and set the table for Jake Howeth. The POWER outfielder brought Raslowsky home with a fielder’s choice and a fielding error by Legend’s pitcher Max Bethel. Fowler advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch. Austin Barrett would drive Howeth in with a single to give Palm Springs a 3-1 lead.
The POWER blew the game open in the second inning, sending 12 men to the plate and scoring eight times, all with two outs. After Michael Massi flew out to begin the inning, Jared Theisen singled and advanced to second on a Raslowsky single. Fowler moved the runners up with a groundout, and Bennett singled to drive both men home for a 5-1 lead. Bennett moved to second base after Howeth walked and scored on Mark Lindsay’s single. Barrett then drove a pitch over the left-field fence for his third home run of the year and a 9-1 lead. The Mercer junior finished the night 3-for-5 with five RBIs.
Chad Clark then singled, and Bethel was replaced by Cody Yates. Massi and Theisen followed with singles, the last of which scored Clark for a 10-1 advantage.
Theisen then stole second base, setting the POWER franchise-record with his 36th steal of the season.
On the next pitch, Yates was called for a balk but continued his throwing motion and threw behind Raslowsky, sparking a benches-clearing brawl. When the dust settled, five POWER players and three Legends were ejected.
Jackson McClelland (4-1) came on in relief in the third inning and threw three perfect innings to earn the win. At one point starting pitcher Kyle Crawford, McClelland, and Mark Seyler combined to record 18 consecutive outs.
Bethel (2-1) took the loss for the Legends, allowing ten runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The POWER now advance to the So Cal World Series to take on the Orange County Collegiate League champion. That best-of-three series starts Wednesday, July 31.
The POWER will keep busy until then, returning to the field Friday at 7:05pm. Every Friday is Dollar Beer Night, with Bud and Bud Light drafts just $1. Fans that can’t make it to the game can listen online at pspbb.com.
