The Bend Elks (31-23) are in the playoffs for the first time in 2 years, facing the 2013 West Coast League Champion, Corvallis Knights (35-19) on Tuesday (8/12) at Vince Genna Stadium.
The Elks went 4-5 against the Knights in the regular season, and lost to the Knights 2-1 in the first game of the the best of 3 series.
Bend Coach Marty Hunter says the team needs to focus on fundamentals to turn this series around, “We gotta’ pitch, play D, we gotta have some better at bats.”
After 3 innings of scoreless ball, the Elks’ bats came alive in the fourth inning, when RF Billy King (Fr.-Oregon St.) connected on a solo home run to put Bend ahead 1-0.
The solo shot is King’s 4th of the year and first of the playoffs.
http://youtu.be/KmtdjwFj4Ro?list=UUx1YgUMQ0P0WDaWAVmnbAzA
3B Brock Carpenter (Fr.-Seattle U) followed King’s homer with a double but was stranded on base to end the inning.
http://youtu.be/ig8uwxmcadg
In the 6th inning, the Knights were threatening with 2 men in scoring position but shortstop Michael Lucarelli (Jr. – U of Portland) grounded into a double play, 1 of 2 that the Elks recorded; the other coming in the top of the 9th.
Corvallis 3B Jackson Soto (W. Albany High School) batted in 2B Marc Gallegos (Jr.-Corban College) for the winning run in the 8th.
http://youtu.be/DqJ4C3Y01G0?list=UUx1YgUMQ0P0WDaWAVmnbAzA
Reliever Chris Bishop (Jr. – Pacific Lutheran U) threw 4 scoreless innings for the win.
The Elks will play Corvallis at Coleman Field at Oregon State University on Wednesday evening. Should the Elks win, the deciding Game 3 will take place Thursday in Corvallis.
The winner of this series will meet the winner of Bellingham vs. Yakima Valley.
Cather Dalton Blackwell added “We can’t be content with where we’re at right now…we’re hoping to come back and win two at their place.”
http://youtu.be/4Ixq7NUQDqY
If the Elks and Bellingham both win, all three championship series games will be played at Vince Genna Stadium. Bellingham defeated Yakima Valley tonight 4-1.
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