RIDGEFIELD – The Ridgefield Raptors have been searching for that big hit, and Cameron Repetti is doing his best to deliever.
The third baseman went 3 for 4, including a key single in a two-run rally in the eighth, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as the Raptors dropped their fourth game in a row, falling 5-2 to the Walla Walla Sweets on Friday night.
“We’ve had our opportunities,” Repetti said. “Somebody just needs to go out and get us that big hit, and we’ll get back and rolling.”
The Raptors returned home to Ridgefield Friday after getting swept in a three-game series in Corvallis, scoring a total of four runs.
But the Raptors showed signs of a rally in the eighth inning, trailing 5-0. Repetti’s third hit of the game, a single to right, loaded the bases with nobody out.
After a strikeout, Brody Barnum’s sacrifice fly to right ended the scoreless streak. An errant pickoff play allowed Ridgefield to score another run before the rally was ended.
Repetti said it felt good to get on the scoreboard, and he hopes it’s the start of something bigger.
“It gives us a little bit of momentum going into tomorrow,” he said. “I mean, we all know we can hit. But that’s what we haven’t been doing – capitalizing in those situations. Hopefully we can do that and get back on a winning streak.”
3 key moments
Sloppy third – Two errors helped Walla Walla score three runs on three singles in the second inning, putting Ridgefield in an early 3-0 hole.
Striking out the side – Starting pitcher Joey Martin got the game off on a positive start for the Raptors, striking out the side in the first inning.
Out then safe – Ridgefield looked like it got a big double play in the sixth inning after Walla Walla put two on with no outs. The original call was a double play, but on appeal, the runner on first was ruled safe by the home plate umpire. A successful double steal later gave Walla Walla its first run.
3 key players
Repetti – The third baseman had a double and two singles in four at-bats.
Trask Telesmanich – The Raptors pitcher threw two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.
Brody Barnum – The Skyview graduate was 1 for 3 with the Raptors’ only RBI.
3 key numbers
3 – Walla Walla reliever Reid Stebby struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to record the save.
2 – The number of Sweet runners thrown out at the plate. Repetti threw out Caleb Farmer trying to score from third on an infield grounder in the second inning. Left fielder Aaron Zavala threw out a Connor Cirillo trying to score from second on a single, with a nice tag from catcher Andrew Schleuscher.
24 – Number of consecutive scoreless innings for the Raptors before they scored in the eighth.
