By: Tanner Myers
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-
It was a wild affair between the Palm Springs POWER and East LA Dodgers, not decided until Harry Shipley delivered a single with the bases loaded to win it 5-4 for the POWER in the bottom of the ninth.
Tyler Wells took to the mound to start a game for the eighth time this season looking to improve upon his 1-1 record. Starting quickly, Wells struck out three of the first six hitters the Dodgers brought to the plate.
Both Wells and Dodger’s starter Christopher Rhynes set the tone early by working the strike zone well, only allowing a combined five baserunners through the first three innings of work.
The POWER defense were clearly ready to aide their pitcher as third baseman Ryan Raslowsky and centerfielder Zach Davis both had spectacular assists in the top of the fourth to cut down two Dodger runners at home plate and deny any runs from scoring.
Clutch pitches and sound defense prevailed throughout most of the evening for both sides as both starting pitchers kept the ballgame scoreless through the first five innings.
The POWER bats awoke in the bottom of the sixth as Court Iorg drove in the first run of the evening on a two out RBI double. The once solid Dodger defense began to crumble as the POWER took advantage of two errors to take a 4-0 lead.
Tyler Wells gave way to Dixie State right-hander Jeremy Alderman in the top of the seventh. Wells finished with six scoreless innings while striking out nine and allowing only five baserunners.
The Dodgers jumped on the new POWER pitcher quickly as they responded with two runs on three hits to cut the lead in half and make it a 4-2 ballgame after seven.
East LA continued to be a thorn in the side of the POWER pitching staff, and battled at the plate to bring across two runs and tie the game up at four. It stayed level heading to the final inning.
The stage was set for a dramatic ending heading into the bottom of the ninth as the POWER loaded the bases with only one out for Harry Shipley. With the infield drawn in, Shipley lined a ball over the head of Dodger’s shortstop Jerrett Sotolongo to score Miles Bice and send the POWER into the all-star break with a momentous win by the score of 5-4.
The 2015 SCCBL vs. OCCL all-star game and homerun derby will be hosted at Palm Springs Stadium tomorrow, July 17th. Be sure to get here early as the derby will begin at 6:05pm and will be followed by the all-star game at 7:05.
