Elks Father’s Day Hit and Strikeout Fest Equals Series Split of Baum Bat NW

Simon Lemke led the way on the mound for the Elks, who finished with 14 strikeouts as a team for the second straight night. (Andrew Green)

Bend, OR. - The Bend Elks celebrated Father's Day with a 10-4 win over Baum Bat NW that got the whole team involved.

The Elks saw nine different players record a hit, including a string of multi-baggers from Elks who were due to break out of their slumps. Beau Sylvester, Ethan Thomas, and Ryan Christiansen were a combined 8 for 67 (.119), dating back to the start of the Yakima Valley series. On Sunday night, the trio changed their misfortunes with back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles that powered a six-run fourth-inning rally that pushed Bend over the top.

On the other end of the spectrum, Steven Meier and Braeden Terry continued to rake at the dish, with Meier going 3 for 3 with one RBI and two stolen bases while Terry went 2 for 4, plus a ribbie. Since his four-hit showing in game two vs. the Yakima Valley Pippins, Terry has been on a tear going 9 for 20 over the next seven games, four of which were multi-hit games. Meier put up six hits, three runs, and three stolen bases over his last five games.

Bend pitching kept the insurance with 14 strikeouts for the second straight night, except this time, the Elks were able to shut the door with two outs. Bend's staff retired the side in order on three separate occasions and allowed only one hit and one run with two outs, an RBI Double by Holt Williams.

Mountain View High School standout Simon Lemke (1-0) earned his first win as an Elk, going four innings and allowing four hits and three earned runs while dealing out six strikeouts. The bullpen gave up just one knock the rest of the way and posted nine Ks.

Bend (8-8, 5-7) gets a day off Monday to recover before firing on all cylinders toward first place Springfield in a critical three-game series at Hamlin Sports Complex.