Elks Sweep NW Star in Non-League Series
Bryce Tweedt finishes a swing during batting practice on July 10, 2021. (Noah Wolf)
Noah Wolf, director of media relations
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BEND, Ore. - The Bend Elks hadn’t played NW Star Academy in over a month, but they picked up right where they left off, sweeping the Nighthawks in a two-game series at Vince Genna Stadium.
July 9, 2021 Elks Back to Winning Ways over NW Star Bend 8, NW Star 3
The Elks started their winning ways this season way back on June 3 with a 16-5 win over Northwest Star Academy.
After losing five in a row in league and non-league play combined, Bend got back in the win column over that very first opponent.
The Bend Elks defeated the Northwest Star Academy Nighthawks (Ridgefield, Wash.), 8-3 on Friday night at Vince Genna Stadium.
Bend got out to an early lead, thanks to a second-inning RBI single from Peter Mendazona (U. Nevada). They would extend that lead to 2-0 with an RBI hit from Mason Guerra (Oregon St.) in the fourth inning.
The big blow came in the fifth inning, with the Elks scoring four runs in the frame. Omar Veloz (Cal. St. Fullerton), Matt Dallas (U. Oregon) and Guerra drove in the runs in that inning, with the first six men all reaching base in the inning and the first four scoring.
Bend would get two more in the seventh, thanks to a two-out, two-run double from Mendazona, and led the Nighthawks 8-0 after seven innings. NW Star would eventually score three runs in the ninth inning, but it would be much too little, too late.
On the pitching side, Drake Borschowa (Chemeketa C.C.) and A.J. Lattery (Oregon St.) combined to throw six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts to begin the contest, with Lattery notching the win in relief. Eli Ankeney (Grand Canyon) and Dillon Holliday (Dixie St.) both had a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
July 10, 2021 Elks Complete Season Sweep Over NW Star Bend 8, NW Star 2
BEND, Ore. - The first 18 innings between the Elks and Northwest Star Academy, Bend never trailed.
That streak did not continue tonight, as the Nighthawks took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but that lead was short-lived. The Elks took the lead in the fourth inning, and from then on never trailed, defeating NW Star Academy 8-2 at Vince Genna Stadium on Saturday night.
Bend tied the game in the fourth inning on a two-run triple by Bryce Tweedt (U. Nevada) with two outs in the frame, and Matt Dallas (U. Oregon) delivered the go-ahead hit as the very next batter. Tweedt had a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double and a triple.
The Elks added one more run in the sixth, then had a great seventh inning. Greg Fuchs (Oregon St.) and Daniel Garcia (Grand Canyon) both hit one-out doubles, then Omar Veloz (Cal. St. Fullerton) smacked a two-run home run, his first of the summer, and the Elks led 7-2 at that point. Bend scored one more run in the eighth inning, after Dallas walked and Mason Guerra (Oregon St.) scored him with a sacrifice fly.
Cameron Smith (Lewis-Clark St.) earned the win in relief for the Elks, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings and surrendering two hits. Smith faced the minimum, though, as he eliminated his baserunners with a pickoff and a double play.
The Elks bullpen did not surrender a single run, and the team walked just one batter in the win.
Performance of the series: A.J. Lattery (Oregon St.) threw 3.1 scoreless innings in relief on Friday, earning the win while allowing only three hits and striking out four.
Player of the series: Omar Veloz (Cal. St. Fullerton) went 5-for-7 over the series with three runs, three RBIs, and a home run.
Play of the series: With a man on second and one out in the seventh inning Saturday, Veloz clubbed his first home run of the summer to extend the Elks’ lead to 7-2.
Up next: Bend takes two days off before welcoming the Medford Rogues to Vince Genna Stadium for a two-game non-league series beginning Tuesday. First pitch at 6:35 p.m.