LONGVIEW — Ridgefield’s pitching workers purchased its offense loads of time to get on monitor, and the Raptors’ bats obliged in returning the favor.
By the tip of a 12-0 win over the Cowlitz Black Bears on Tuesday at David Story Discipline, the Raptors had been firing on all cylinders, mashing 13 of their 14 hits over the ultimate 5 innings, whereas 4 pitchers mixed for the staff’s first shutout of the season.
It began with right-handed pitcher Zach Todd, who tossed 4 scoreless innings in his first begin of the season, setting the tone for relievers Moe Escobedo, Dillon Kirksey and Ryan McClaskey.
“Our pitchers worked their sliders, curveballs really well in the zone and they weren’t able to hit them,” Ridgefield catcher Brady Englett mentioned. “Zach Todd, he was doing a hell of a job with his off-speed pitching and throwing those zeroes. It really made it easy for us to win this game.”
Whereas Ridgefield had only one hit to its credit score over 4 innings, the guests scratched throughout a run within the fifth on a bases-loaded stroll after Englett led off with a bunt single and Angelo Aleman tacked on a base hit.
Whereas the Raptors took a small-ball method to fabricate their first run, they hit one other gear throughout a six-run sixth inning.
Ridgefield capitalized on a pair of Cowlitz errors, plus a bases-loaded stroll and wild pitch to attain three fast runs. Then, the Raptors turned over their lineup and acquired well timed RBI singles from Taylor Takata, Dylan Osborne and Nolan Ganter to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
“It was great,” Englett mentioned. “I feel like hitting is very contagious, so as soon as one guy gets a hit it’s going to start rolling in. I feel like our team puts up those crooked numbers a lot in those one innings and I feel like we just rolled with it. One through nine, we were very good today.”
Whereas Andrew Estrella drove in three of Ridgefield’s closing 5 runs on a two-run house run and RBI double, the Raptors completed off their third consecutive West Coast League win, all in opposition to the Black Bears, and took a 3-2 lead within the Columbia River Cup.
Extra importantly, the Raptors began off the week with one other win as they try to dash towards the playoffs over the ultimate two weeks of the common season. With two wild card playoff berths nonetheless up for grabs within the WCL South Division, the Raptors are 5 ½ video games again of the Walla Walla Sweets in fourth place with 11 video games left to play.
The Raptors are relishing their underdog function whereas making an attempt to realize floor on the groups above them within the standings.
“I feel like we’re just playing with no pressure right now. We’re just playing to go out (and) have fun,” Englett mentioned. “We’re coming from behind, so the pressure is on the guys who are at the top. They have to win, we have to win too, but the pressure is definitely on them.”
Ridgefield’s street sequence continues Wednesday with first pitch slated for six:35 p.m. in sport two.
Three moments
Dialed in – Cowlitz beginning pitcher Brady Trombello, a Texas Tech product and Prairie Highschool graduate, stymied Ridgefield’s bats throughout the primary three innings. Trombell struck out the aspect within the second and placing collectively one other 1-2-3 inning within the third, ending with 5 strikeouts and one hit allowed over three innings.
Small ball pays off – Ridgefield led off the fifth inning with a Brady Englett bunt single and superior a runner to 3rd base on an Angelo Aleman base hit. The Raptors didn’t let the scoring alternative go to waste, as they scored through a two-out, bases-loaded stroll to take a 1-0 lead.
Seamless transition – Ridgefield beginning pitcher Zach Todd acquired of a jam with a fly out to finish the fourth inning and pointed to the sky as he walked off the mound to the dugout. The Raptors seemed to the bullpen within the backside of the fifth inning and gave the ball to Moe Escobedo, who struck out the Cowlitz aspect with authority.
Three gamers
Zach Todd – In his first begin of the season, the College of the Pacific commit set the tone with 4 scoreless innings, scattering three hits with two strikeouts and one stroll.
Dylan Osborne – The Pepperdine commit and Union Excessive alumnus led the Raptors with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBI, two runs scored and two walks.
Andrew Estrella – The Loyola Marymount product posted a team-high three RBI with a two-run house run, RBI double and two runs scored.
Three numbers
1st – Shutout of the season for Ridgefield’s pitching workers and protection. Zach Todd, Moe Escobedo, Dillon Kirksey and Ryan McClaskey mixed to restrict the Black Bears to 4 hits and eight complete baserunners.
4 – Errors dedicated by the Black Bears, in comparison with one for the Raptors.
8 – Dwelling runs hit by Ridgefield’s Andrew Estrella this season, which is tied for the third most within the WCL. Estrella added the exclamation level within the eighth inning with a two-run blast over the best subject wall.
BOXSCORE: RIDGEFIELD 12, COWLITZ 0
WEST COAST LEAGUE STANDINGS
