9/2/10 Yakima vs. Tri-City photo gallery

Tri-City Dust Devils vs. Yakima Bears on Wednesday night at Yakima County Stadium. All photos by SARA GETTYS

8/29/10 Central Washington-Minnesota Duluth photo gallery

Photos from Saturday’s NCAA Division II college football game between Central Washington University and the University of Minnesota Duluth at Tomlinson Stadium in Ellensburg, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

8/28/10 Yakima Bears-Spokane Indians photo gallery

Photos from Friday’s Northwest League game between the Yakima Bears and Spokane Indians at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Bears-Volcanoes photo gallery

Photos from Saturday’s Northwest League baseball game between the Yakima Bears and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Hits keep coming for the Bears

YAKIMA, Wash. If the Bears were no nearer a definitive answer Thursday night as to why they’ve been so much better at home than on the road, they at least were in a better frame of mind to consider the difference.

At least, those who cared were.

“I have no idea,” a broadly smiling Westley Moss said after Yakima’s 8-3 victory over Spokane. “None whatsoever. We have a big homestand coming up, so maybe we can continue this and get into the playoffs.

“And who knows, maybe even win it.”

Bold words? Maybe.

But having improved to 27-26 for the season, the Bears became the first Yakima team with a winning record in August since 2003.

At 9-6 in the Northwest League’s second half, they also assumed sole possession of first place in the East Division — by a game over a first-half champion Indians squad that had swept three games from them only days earlier in Spokane.

“We’re not going to try to explain it, over-analyze it or anything like that,” Yakima manager Bob Didier said. “We’re just going to keep playing.

“But if we’re going to make a statement against a very good Spokane team, we need to win tomorrow.”

Which would mean an abrupt reversal of the Bears’ aforementioned misfortune, not to mention a two-game lead.

For the record, the home side has won its last three games at Yakima County Stadium by a combined score of 28-8, pounding out 40 hits in the process.

This time, before an announced 1,704 who saw the Bears win for the 17th time in 22 home appearances, Yakima scored all its runs in a three-inning span to erase an early 2-0 deficit.

Moss, No. 9 in the batting order, was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI while Zach Walters, Henry Zabala and Jhoan Pimentel added two hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Enrique Burgos, who entered with a league-leading 36 walks, issued a free pass to his first hitter but allowed only one thereafter, completing a five-inning stint in which he scattered four hits and earned his first win.

Former starter Miles Reagan worked a scoreless sixth and seventh, and Greg Robinson pitched the final two innings and yielded Spokane’s final run in the ninth.

After the Indians reached Burgos for a 2-0 first-inning lead, Raoul Torrez’s RBI single and Moss’s run-scoring, two-out double tied it in the second.

A Spokane error allowed Yakima to take a 3-2 lead in the third — an inning that saw the Bears benefit from a bad-hop single for Walters on what might otherwise have been a double-play grounder.

Walters then drove in one of five Bears runs with a base hit in the fourth, a frame in which Yakima cashed on two more errors, two walks and a bases-loaded balk.

Yakima got its final tally on a delayed double steal in which Zabala stayed in a rundown between first and second long enough to allow Walters to score from third before the final out was recorded.

With a 2-for-4 night, Walters improved his batting average to .319. He also came away unscathed from a home-plate collision in which he was called out in the third.

“I just tweaked myself a little — nothing serious,” Walters said. “I was safe, too, but the umpire was right behind the catcher and didn’t get a good look at the play.”

Spokane (8-7 second half, 30-23 overall), totaled just six hits and was 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

Following tonight’s game, the Bears will visit Eugene for five games before returning for an eight-game homestand featuring five against Salem-Keizer and three with the Indians.

Next game

Opponent: Spokane Indians.

When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Brad Wilson (0-3, 5.15) vs. Spokane RHP Nicholas McBride (1-3, 5.20).
Notes

HAPPY 27TH: Today is the 27th wedding anniversary for Doug and Kristy Drabek.

The Bears pitching coach, who won the 1990 National League Cy Young Award with the Pittsburgh Pirates, said Thursday that his wife has been in Yakima for the past few days.

The Drabeks, who live near Houston, have three children — Justin, 23; Kyle, 22; and Kelsey, 18. They also have seven dogs and three cats.

HE’S NO. 7 — AND NO. 1: A week or so back, Mike Freeman was ready to ditch his new No. 7 jersey in favor of the No. 43 he’d worn prior to having a couple of hitless games.

But after Wednesday night’s 4-for-5 performance against Spokane, the Bears second baseman said he’ll keep the new number. After all, he’d produced seven hits in his past two games.

An 11th-round draftee from Clemson, Freeman also seems to have established himself as the leadoff hitter for manager Bob Didier.

“We’ve tried several guys in that spot, and we like what he’s done,” Didier said Thursday. “He’s hit the ball well (.356 average in 31 games) and he’s been solid defensively. He turns the double play well, which is a top priority for a good second baseman.”

HALE’S IMPROVING: Closer Jake Hale, who suffered a painful back injury several days ago, has made substantial progress according to pitching coach Doug Drabek.

“He’s better today,” Drabek said of Hale, who incurred a muscle injury while playing catch. “We’re being cautious with him, of course, so it’s sort of a day-to-day thing.”

Said Hale, “I just wish I’d done it doing something meaningful.”

LOCAL IN BLUE: Local umpire Eric Holden worked the bases Thursday night. Holden was filling in for Matt Mullins, who called balls and strikes the evening prior and was promoted.

Mullins’ replacement was scheduled to arrive in time for tonight’s game.

— Roger Underwood

Box score

Bears 10, Indians 3

SPOKANE                    YAKIMA

ab    r    h    bi        ab    r    h    bi

Strsbrger lf    3    1    1    0    Freeman 2b    3    1    0    0

Profar ss    4    1    1    1    Weber dh    3    2    1    0

Olt 3b    4    0    0    0    Walters ss    4    1    2    1

Murphy 1b    3    0    1    1    Arbelo 1b    4    0    0    0

Richmnd rf    3    0    1    0    Zabala rf    4    1    2    0

Skole cf    3    0    0    0    Torrez 3b    4    0    1    1

Nicholas dh    4    0    1    0    Ortiz lf    1    2    0    0

Deglan c    3    0    0    0    Hilt ph-lf    2    0    0    0

Rodland 2b    3    1    1    0    Pimentel c    4    1    2    0

Moss cf    3    0    2    2

Totals    30    3    6    2    Totals    32    8    10    4

Spokane    200    000    001    —    3

Yakima    021    500    00x    —    8

E—Rodland, Deglan, Murphy, Burgos, Walters. DP—Spokane 1. LOB—Spokane 9, Yakima 5. 2B—Moss, Pimentel. 3B—Zabala. SF—Murphy, Profar. SB—Skole, Rodland. CS—Richmond, Freeman, Zabala.

IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO

Spokane

Rojas L,4-3    4    9    8    5    4    2

Steggall    3    1    0    0    0    4

Reyes    1    0    0    0    0    1

Yakima

Burgos W,1-0    5    4    2    1    2    3

Reagan    2    1    0    0    3    2

Robinson    2    1    1    1    1    2

WP—Robinson. Balk—Rojas. HBP—Moss (by Reyes), Rodland (by Robinson). Umpires—Matt Heersema, Eric Holden. T—2:35. A—1,704.
NWL standings

EAST DIVISION

W    L    Pct.    GB

Yakima (D-backs)    9    6    .600    —

x-Spokane (Rangers)    8    7    .533    1

Boise (Cubs)    5    10    .333    4

Tri-City (Rockies)    5    10    .333    4

WEST DIVISION

W    L    Pct.    GB

x-Everett (Mariners)    10    5    .667    —

Vancouver (Athletics)    10    5    .667    —

Eugene (Padres)    9    6    .600    1

Salem-Keizer (Giants)    4    11    .267    6

x—Won first half

Thursday’s results

Vancouver 13, Everett 2

Eugene 10, Salem-Keizer 0

Yakima 8, Spokane 3

Boise 6, Tri-City 3

Today’s games

Everett at Vancouver, 1:05 p.m.

Eugene at Salem-Keizer, 7:05 p.m.

Spokane at Yakima, 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City at Boise, 6:15 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Spokane at Salem-Keizer, 5:05 p.m.

Yakima at Eugene, 7:05 p.m.

Everett at Boise, 6:15 p.m.

Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:15 p.m.

Sunday’s games

Yakima at Eugene, 4:05 p.m.

Spokane at Salem-Keizer, 5:05 p.m.

Everett at Boise, 6:15 p.m.

Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:15 p.m.

8/12/10 Yakima Bears photo gallery

Photos from Thursday night’s Yakima Bears game against the Spokane Indians at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Yakima Stealers photo gallery

Photos from Saturday’s ASA 18-U B Western National fastpitch softball tournament at Carlon Park in Selah, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

8/7/10 Bears-Emeralds photo gallery

Photos from Friday’s Northwest League game between the Yakima Bears and Eugene Emeralds at Yakima County Stadium in Yakima, Wash. All photos by Andy Sawyer of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

8/4/10 Yakima-Eugene photo gallery

This is a photo gallery from Tuesday’s Yakima Bears-Eugene Emeralds game at Yakima County Stadium. All photos by Sara Gettys.

Bandits upend Pak

Yakima Valley season ends despite 14 runs, 17 hits ||

SELAH, Wash. — To anyone associated with the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak, 14 runs and 17 hits should have been enough.

In a loser-out game just a day away from playing for a regional berth, that really should have been enough to keep the season alive.

“If someone would’ve said today you can have 14 runs and 17 hits I would’ve taken it,” said Pak coach Mike Archer, whose team had just faced the Spokane Bandits in the American Legion state tournament on Saturday.

PHOTO GALLERY

Click here for more photos from this event

Archer said those words with a still-numb expression because that amount of offense was not enough as the Bandits sprayed hits all over Carlon Park like a pinball machine and earned a 17-14 victory that brought an end to Yakima Valley’s season.

“I’d have taken that for sure,” Archer added, “and if someone would’ve said we’d give up 17 runs and 22 hits I’d have laughed. These are all good teams, and Spokane hit the ball well today.”

Adding to the oddity of the day, the Pak pounced on Spokane for two runs in the first inning and, after an hour delay while a thunderstorm squall blew over, built its lead to 5-0 in the second inning.

But the Bandits, who have survived four loser-out games in the last week all at Carlon Park, outscored the Pak 16-1 from the bottom of the second through the sixth inning.

The nightmare frame for Yakima Valley came in the fifth when Spokane rolled up six runs on seven hits, including four doubles, against three Pak pitchers.

“The kids have really built up some confidence battling through these (loser out) games,” said Bandits coach Bobby Carlson. “It’s like no matter what happens they have no fear. And at the plate, the guys are really in a groove.”

But just like in Friday’s 15-12 loss to Kelso, the Pak did not wilt under the weight of a big deficit.

Yakima Valley went from nearly being eliminated on the 10-run rule in the seventh inning to having the tying run at the plate in the eighth and ninth. A five-run rally in the eighth, sparked by Kurt Lindemann’s leadoff home run, got the Pak within 17-13, and Spokane held on in the ninth with its lead down to three and runners on first and third.

“We’re almost 10-runned but then come back to make a game of it twice,” Archer noted. “We always preach competing for a full game and that’s what this team did all season. That’s why they’re here.”

In a game with 31 runs and 39 hits, it was clearly a rugged day for both pitching staffs. But there was one difference maker — Spokane’s Jacob Olsufka.

The 5-foot-10 righthander from University High and Pacific Lutheran University took over after the weather delay, inheriting a 3-1 count against Lindemann with the bases loaded and one out. He walked Lindemann with his first pitch and yielded another bases-loaded walk and an RBI single to Tyler Gallaway to put the Bandits in a 5-0 hole.

But after that, Olsufka held the Pak to five singles over the next five innings, allowing Spokane to build a 16-6 lead heading into the seventh.

The Bandits, who eliminated Kennewick on Friday with 13 runs on 18 hits, advance to a 3 p.m. game today against either the Twin City Titans or Pacific Tech of Kelso. Twin City and unbeaten Pacific Tech were still playing at press time Saturday night.

The Pak finished the season 39-16 with its first Central Washington League title in eight years.

“There were eight very good teams here,” Archer said, “and we were in the final four.”

Yakima Valley         230    100    251    —    14    17    3
Spokane Bandits    023    362    10x    —    17    22    1
Douglass, Wilcox (5), Hinton (5) and Snider; McNeill, Olsufka (2), McInnis (8), Hawk (8) and Muelheims.
Highlights — Yakima Valley: J.R. Weigel 4-7, run, RBI; Alex Fickes 4-7, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Cory Urquhart 2-6, run, RBI; Kurt Lindemann 2-3, solo HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Thomas Wilcox 2-5, run, RBI; Tyler Gallaway 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Spokane: Jacob Olsufka 3-5, 2b, 3 runs, RBI; Beau Bozett 3 runs, 2 sb; Gerhard Muelheims 3-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI; Josh Martin 4-6, 2b, 3 runs, 3 RBI; Jordan McInnis 3-4, 4 RBI; David McNeill 3-5, 2b, 2 runs, RBI; Dean Neilson 3-5, 2b, run, RBI.

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