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West Coast League

Post from the Coast: The WCL on OSC

by Bruce Baskin
August 14, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)


KLINE WALKOFF BOMB PROPELS KNIGHTS TO TITLE SET

Trailing 1-0 with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Corvallis rode the clutch homer of 1B Kevin Kline (Dixie St) to a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over visiting Bend Wednesday at Goss Stadium. The knucklebiter triumph gave the Knights a two-game sweep of their West Coast League semifinal series over the Elks and a ticket to this weekend's WCL Finals.

Corvallis P Chris Haddeland (Linfield) blanked Bend for four frames before allowing a leadoff homer to C Grant Newton (Seattle) in the top of the fifth to put the Elks up 1-0. It was the only mistake Haddeland made in scattering six hits over eight innings, as he and Bend starter Kevin Hamann (Clark) carried their duel into the seventh, when Hamann was relieved by Louis Cohen (Cal St Northridge). The Elks carried their precarious lead into the last inning.

Cohen struck out Knight 1B Dalton Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) to begin the bottom of the ninth, but Corvallis 2B Marc Gallegos (Corban) reached base on an error by Bend third sacker Brock Carpenter (Seattle). Up strode Kline, who hit .300 with 8 homers in the regular season. Cohen's first delivery was hammered over the outfield fence for a game-ending, two-run homer that emptied the Finals-bound Knights dugout for an extemporaneous on-field celebration.

Corvallis reliever Justin Calomeni (Cal Poly-SLO) worked a scoreless top of the ninth for the win while Cohen was saddled with the loss.

The Knight advance to their fourth consecutive championship series and their sixth title tilt in the past eight seasons. Corvallis has won pennants in 2008, 2011 and 2013.

BELLINGHAM SLIPS PAST PIPPINS, 4-3, REACH FIRST FINAL SINCE 2005

A clutch ninth-inning single by DH Danny Miller (Chico State) lifted the Bellingham Bells to a 4-3 win over visiting Yakima Valley at Joe Martin Field Wednesday, giving Bellingham the semi series victory in two straight games and their first appearance in a WCL Final in nine years.

Bellingham gave P Aaron Sandefur (Bellevue CC) an early 3-0 lead when Miller stroked a bases-loaded double off Pippins ace P Eli Morgan (Gonzaga) to score 2B Dustin Breshears (Gonzaga) and 3B Dallas Carroll (Utah) in the first while C Lou Della Fera (Maine) came in from third on a sacrifice fly to center by 1B Scott Heath (also Maine) in the second.

But the Pippins fought back in the third, scoring two runs when a two-out single by 3B Mitch Skaggs (C of Idaho) was misplayed by Bellingham CF Jack Klein (Stanford), sending SS Ryan Rosa (Cal Poly-SLO) and RF Justin Jacobs (Gonzaga) scampering across the plate. Yakima Valley knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the eighth when Rosa reached first on an error by Bells SS Chris Baker (Washington) and eventually came in from third on a Skaggs flyout to Klein in center.

The score remained unchanged until the fateful bottom of the ninth, which opened with Bells C Eric Webber (Georgetown) reaching first on an error by Yakima closer Kenny Rosenberg (Cal St Northridge). Webber was gunned down at second on a fielder's choice grounder to third by Della Fera, who then moved to second when Breshears was walked. Both runners advanced another 90 feet one out later, when Heath was safe on an error by Pippins 1B Shawn Wardian (AIB College). With the bases loaded and one down, Miller swung and missed at Rosenberg's first two offerings before sending the third into the outfield grass, scoring Della Fera and ending the game.

David Bigelow (Gonzaga) survived a shaky two-out top of the ninth for Bellingham and was rewarded with the win. Rosenberg took the loss for the Pippins, who hurt themselves with four errors while allowing two unearned runs to score.

The WCL Championship Series against Corvallis will open Saturday in Oregon.

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