Raptors walk it off again, beat Lefties 8-7

RIDGEFIELD — Cameron Repetti was relaxing in the bullpen; he had the day off Sunday.

But with his Ridgefield Raptors struggling in the eighth inning, the Cal State Fullerton freshman wandered down to the dugout. He wanted a chance to hit.

He got his moment with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and the Raptors trailing Port Angeles 7-3. And while he’s not used to being a pinch hitter (Orange County’s top prep baseball player is usually already in the lineup), Repetti made the most of it.

The Raptors’ usual third baseman laced an opposite-field home run onto the right-field berm to tie the game at 7-7.

“That’s probably like my fifth time ever pinch hitting,” Repetti said. “I grabbed my bat and was sitting next to the fence like, ‘C’mon coach, put me in, put me in,’ I wanted a fastball to hit and I hit it over.”

Less than 20 minutes later, Riverside City College’s Steve Ramirez drilled a game-winner off the right-field fence to give the Raptors an 8-7 victory, and second walkoff West Coast League win in as many days at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.

“Runner on second, just trying to see something up,” Ramirez said of the situation. “I was down two and had to shorten my approach. He gave me a pitch I liked and I took advantage.”

It’s the third straight series win for the Raptors, who improve to 8-4 on the year entering a six-game road trip, starting with Cowlitz (3-9) on Tuesday.

“It just shows the fight of this team; it’s really impressive,” Repetti said. “We’re hot; we’re hot.”

Three key moments

Missed opportunity — Ramirez hit a single to left field to put two Raptor runners on base with no outs in the fourth inning. After a failed bunt that soon turned into a strikeout, Michael Yourg hit a single to right field that loaded the bases. Tyler Erne ground into a double play and a great chance for the Raptors to take a lead left the game at 1-1 through four innings.

Rosenberg rip starts rally — The UNLV senior laced a no-out, two-RBI single through the right side of the infield in the eighth inning to give the Lefties a 3-1 lead. That lead grew to 7-1 by the end of the frame, as Ronnie Rust (Skagit Valley College), Connor Denning (Campbell University) and Evan Hurn (Marshall University) all followed with singles.

Salami time — Repetti came on to pinch hit for second baseman Cole Posey in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded. The impressive youngster blasted an opposite field homer onto the right field berm to tie the game at 7-7.

Three key players

Trevor Rosenberg — The Lefties shortstop finished 2 for 5 on the day, including his eighth-inning, two-RBI single.

Steve Ramirez — The Raptors catcher finished 2 for 4 on the day and drove in Ridgefield’s winning run with a hit off the right-field fence.

Carter Benbrook — The UC Santa Barbara incoming freshman allowed four hits and one run through six innings, throwing just 75 pitches. His efficient outing included just two strikeouts but he left with the game tied 1-1.

Three numbers

1 — Run allowed through 12 innings this summer for Benbrook. He’s also allowed just eight hits on the year.

27 — Runs scored in the seventh inning or later during the three-game series, which featured 44 runs in total. Thirteen of those late runs came in Sunday’s thrilling affair.

60 — Pitches thrown by the Raptors in the top of the eighth inning, in which the Lefties brought 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs.

RAPTORS 8, LEFTIES 7

Port Angeles 010 000 060—7 12 1

Ridgefield 100 000 061—8 8 0

Port Angeles

Pitching — Frankie Scalzo 5 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 ER; Michael Buchanan 2 IP, 1 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; AC Chavez 1.1 IP (L), 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K; Jonny Chavez 0 IP, 1 H; Highlights — Trevor Rosenberg 2-5, 2 RBI; Ronnie Rust 3-5; Connor Denning 2-5, RBI; Evan Hurn 1-4, 2 RBI; CJ Schauwecker 1-1; Justin Fugitt 1-1; Charles Nasuti 1-3; Baxter Halligan 1-1, 2B.

Ridgefield

Pitching — Carter Benbrook 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K; Spencer Andersen 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; Wesley Harper .1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER; Brody Barnum 1 IP (W), 1 H, 1 K; Highlights — Jonny Weaver 1-5; Dusty Garcia 2-4, 3 R; Steve Ramirez 2-4, RBI; Michael Yourg 1-4; Tyler Erne 1-4; Cameron Repetti 1-1, HR, 4 RBI.