Sparkling start

Beetles rally to win Firecracker opener ||

It started out, Mike Bailey admits with all kindness, as sort of a joke. After all, Robbie Alter wasn’t a starting pitcher last year in his first season with the Yakima Pepsi Beetles nor was he while at La Salle.

Yakima's Gibby Briones, right, makes a running catch in front of teammate Max Kovatch during their game against Bellevue Honda on Friday afternoon at Parker Field. Photo by ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

But when the June schedule stacked up and the extra-inning games began weighing on his staff, Bailey started searching for another arm.

“It was a little funny at first because we’d tease him about it,” Bailey said. “He hadn’t thrown in a full year, but we got to a point where we said, ‘Hey Robbie, how about taking the bump?”

On a hot Friday afternoon at Parker Field, Alter was as effective as a well-conditioned veteran with an eight-inning stint that helped carry the Beetles to a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Bellevue Honda.

Yakima rallied from a 3-0 deficit as Alter blanked Bellevue over his final five innings, and Nick Lombardi singled in Michael Calderon for the winning run in the 10th during the second day of the 28th annual Firecracker Tournament.

“I can’t remember the last time I threw eight innings,” said Alter, who struck out four and walked only one. “I like hitting — that’s my thing. But they asked me to pitch and that’s fine. It was a long day, but my team had my back.”

Matt Summers took over for Alter in the ninth and tacked on two more scoreless innings, setting up Yakima’s quick 10th. Calderon led off with his third single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Lombardi’s lash to center.

Bellevue's Ross Kulczyk tags out Yakima's Will Scott, who was attempting to steal second. Photo by ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

“It wasn’t pretty but we stayed in the game and battled at the end,” Bailey said. “We seem to find a way to make things interesting.”

The Beetles returned to the field for the Parker nightcap and had little left after the lengthy affair against Bellevue. Kohle McLeod pitched a five-hit shutout as the Puget Sound Roxx cruised to an 8-0 victory.

Puget Sound is 2-0 in the Firecracker’s American Division with two games remaining today before Sunday’s placing games. The Beetles (20-20) are tied for second at 2-1 with Bankers Baseball and those two teams meet today at Parker Field in the 7 p.m. game.

At Davis Field on Friday, Justin Johnson and Justin Windsor combined on a one-hitter as the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak blanked the Spokane Cannons 3-0.

Thomas Wilcox’s two-run double was the big hit in the first inning when the Pak did all its damage.

Yakima Valley (23-7) and the Las Vegas Lions are 2-0 in the National Division and they clash today at 4 p.m. at Davis. The Pak, which hasn’t allowed a run in two tournament games, follow with a 7 p.m. game against Lux Homes (2-1).

Parker Field will host Sunday’s top three placing games, capped by the championship game at 4 p.m.

Yakima 4, Bellevue 3

Bellevue    102    000    000    0    —    3    12    1

Yakima    002    000    100    1    —    4    13    3

Eck, Ansdell (8) and Madson; Alter, Summers (9) and Oswalt, Lombardi (7).

Highlights: Michael Calderon 3-4, sb, run; Nick Lombardi 2-2, RBI; Gibby Briones 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Will Scott 2-3; Tyler Berman 1-3, RBI.

Puget Sound 8, Yakima 0

Puget Sound        002    06    —    8    11    0

Yakima        000    00    —    0    5    1

McLeod and Slaybaugh.Forgey and Lombardi.

Highlights: Will Scott 2-3.

Yakima Valley 3, Spokane 0

Spokane    000    000    0    —    0    1    1

Yakima Valley    300    000    x    —    3    5    1

Hammersley and Keeton; Johnson, Windsor (5) and Andreas.

Highlights: Justin Johnson 4 IP, 0 hits, 5 K; Justin Windsor 3 IP, 1 hit, 2 K, RBI; Thomas Wilcox 2-run 2b; Jake Fife 2-3.

FRIDAY’S SCORES

At Parker Field: Bankers 9, Tacoma RBI 0; Bankers 5, Anderson Hay 3; Yakima 4, Bellevue 3 (10 innings); Puget Sound 8, Yakima 0.

At Davis Field: Las Vegas 5, Chaffey 3; Chaffey 10, Clark County 2; Lux Homes 4, Spokane 2; Yakima Valley 3, Spokane 0.

TODAY’S GAMES

At Parker Field: Clark County vs. Las Vegas, 10 a.m.; Spokane vs. Chaffey, 1 p.m.; Anderson Hay vs. Tacoma RBI, 4 p.m.; Bankers vs. Yakima, 7 p.m.

At Davis Field: Tacoma RBI vs. Puget Sound, 10 a.m.; Puget Sound vs. Bellevue, 1 p.m.; Las Vegas vs. Yakima Valley, 4 p.m.; Lux Homes vs. Yakima Valley, 7 p.m.