Elks Walk Away with Sweep Over Port Angeles
Jake Hoskins was responsible for two of the Elks four hits, including a three-run home run for his long ball of the summer. (Andrew Green)
Port Angeles, WA - The Bend Elks did circles around the Port Angeles lefties, who walked 14 and hit five batters allowing Bend to score eight runs in the fifth inning and stroll to a 13-2 win to complete its first sweep of the summer.
The Elks found virtually no life against the Lefties starter Reid Rasmussen who, in his first appearance of the season, retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced with six strikeouts and just one hit by Hunter Komine in the very first at-bat of the game. Yet, as soon as Port Angeles made a pitching change, all chaos broke loose as Jake Petty would hit six batters and give up one RBI hit to Tyler Peterson while only recording one out on a throw down to third by his catcher Travis Helm. The Lefties then looked to Jamie Olson, who also couldn't find the zone, walking an additional four batters while pegging another for a total of 11 free passes in the fifth. Bend cashed in eight runs in the inning, with seven coming on an RBI walk or HBP.
As if the game hadn't been put out of hand already, Jake Hoskins sent a three-run homer over the left field fence the next frame to put Bend up double digits. The Elks scored ten or more runs in every game of the Port Angeles series. Ohh, and just because, why not? The Elks tacked on two extra runs in the eighth on an RBI HBP from Bennett Thompson and an RBI fielders choice by Justin Tsukada.
Hoskins accounted for two of the Elks' four hits. He extends his knock streak to four games and has eight hits over that span. Eight of Bend's nine starters recorded an RBI.
On Bend's side of the mound, things were not nearly as atrocious, with Tucker Grote (1-2) setting the tone with five innings of one-run ball, working out of several jams, and letting his defense do their job behind him, leading to his first win on the hill this summer. Zach Romero gave Bend some great middle-inning production with three scoreless innings surrendering just one hit and two walks along with a K. Jackson Kelson closed things out without too much damage done, giving up an earned run and two walks while striking out the final batter of the game to complete the sweep.
Bend (21-19, 18-18) will soak up the sweep before regrouping for a big-time series against one of the best teams in the West Coast League, the Wenatchee AppleSox (28-12, 25-11), who swept the Elks on their home turf to open the season. The series starts Monday at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
