With less than a week until the CPCL Playoffs, the Palm Springs Power have already locked up the number one seed, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning ballgames in the meantime. In what was partially a bullpen game for the Power, where Michael Groves made his first start of the summer, and pitched three scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.28 in 14.1 innings for the Power.
The Power took an early 2-0 lead on the rival Havasu Heat in the first inning thanks to a leadoff double from Kohl Abrams, Noah Blythe reaching on an error, and Bryant Ball singling to right field to drive Blythe in. Groves kept the Power lead at that mark for the entirety of his outing, which included two backwards K’s.
Trade deadline acquisition Naun Haro came on in relief for the Power, and while he gave up 3 runs in his 5 innings of work, he struck out 5 and didn’t walk anybody. Haro provided much needed bulk for a team that is scheduled for up to 8 games in a 6 day span despite not having a super deep bullpen.
In the bottom of inning number six, Anthony Angel Jr led off with his second home run of the season, and the Power wouldn’t surrender that lead. Another run was added in a chaotic inning before Haro went out to finish his outing with an efficient display in the 7th and 8th.
After two runs came around in the bottom of the 8th, Power closer Kenny “Count Your Days” Schechter came in to finish the job, which he did by coaxing a 4-6-3 double play that was buoyed by an interference call.
The Power picked up a 7-3 win to improve to 24-1, and they’ll face the Havasu Heat again on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
