Elks Playoff Hopes Crushed in Cowlitz
The Elks were eliminated from postseason contention Friday spoiling their chances of hosting a playoff game at Vince Genna Stadium. (Andrew Green)
Longview, WA - The Bend Elks had the worst possible scenario play out Friday night, losing 10-7 to the Cowlitz, while Portland beat Walla Walla, putting Bend three games back of Portland with just two games left, effectively eliminating the Elks from playoff contention.
The loss marked the third straight year in which the Elks' playoff push came down to the final series of the regular season. Bend has missed out on the postseason for the seventh consecutive season since capturing their first and only West Coast League Championship in 2015.
The Elks fought to keep their postseason chances alive all along their summer journey, and Friday was no different as the Elks battled back and forth with the Black Bears over the first five innings. Yet, some costly self-inflicted errors caused Bend to give up four unearned runs allowing Cowlitz to extend their franchise-record win streak to ten straight games.
Bend capitalized on some uncharacteristic walks from the Black Bears, who walked 13 batters against the Elks, including four in the opening frame that gave Bend a 2-0 lead. Yet, in one swing of the bat, Cowlitz turned the tide on a three-run blast by Christ Brown to help the Black Bears take back the lead. Despite the tough blow, Luca Dipaolo quickly answered with a hard-hit ball of his own, an opposite-field double to right center that helped pull Bend even at three. But there is always a counter for every punch, and Cowlitz delivered theirs on an Ian Riley RBI walk and a Chris Brown RBI HBP. The Elks clapped back in the fourth with Dipaolo's West Coast League-leading 17th double of the summer to notch the game at five.
However, after that latest double by Dipaolo, the Elks' offense would run out of fuel, going scoreless over the next three innings. Meanwhile, the Black Bears scored five runs, four unearned as a byproduct of three Bend Errors. Although the Elks' tank appeared empty when down to their final strike, they found an extra gear in the ninth with a two-strike two out two run double by James Williams to cut the deficit to three. It then came down to Tyler Peterson, who had one heck of a fight at the dish but still was dubbed with the lowly honor of being the final out that ended the Elks postseason chances.
Bend will look to salvage the series against Cowlitz and spoil the Black Bears' record win streak Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at David Story Field.
