Garcia’s much-needed homer not enough for Raptors against Walla Walla

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield Raptors have been looking for a big hit all week, and in the fourth inning Saturday, Dusty Garcia delivered it.

The center fielder from Arizona State belted a three-run home run just inside the right-field foul pole which was the big blow in a six-run fourth inning Saturday against the Walla Walla Sweets.

“I was just looking for a fastball,” Garcia said. “We had a couple of guys on the bags. I was just looking to make something happen.”

Ultimately, it proved not enough as the Sweets rallied for four runs in both the seventh and ninth innings to rally for a 13-9 win, sending the Raptors to their fifth straight loss.

But the fourth inning provided a bright moment during a tough week for the Raptors.

The six runs the Raptors scored in the fourth inning Saturday matched the number of runs they had scored in their four previous games.

The Raptors had already scored two runs in the fourth, aided by three walks, when Garcia stepped to the plate. His home run tied the game 5-5.

Jonny Weaver followed with a double and Cameron Repetti singled him home to put the Raptors up 6-5.

After the Sweets rallied to take a 13-6 lead, the Raptors added three more runs in the ninth.

“It was a step in the right direction,” said Garcia, a South Kitsap High graduate, of the Raptors’ offensive production.

3 key moments

Fast start – Patrick Caulfield (Santa Barbara CC) got Walla Walla off to a good start by hitting a home run to right to lead off the game.

Can’t turn two – After the Raptors loaded the bases on three walks to open the fourth inning, the Sweets looked like they might escape unscathed when Justin Boyd, after an infield pop-up, grounded to short for a potential inning-ending double play. But the relay throw to first was wide, and the Raptors scored two runs. Garcia’s homer came two batters later.

Go-ahead hit – After the Raptors chose to load the bases with an intentional walk in the seventh, Jordan Stubbings’ single up the middle put the Sweets up to stay, 7-6.

3 key players

Patrick Caufield – The Sweets center fielder from Santa Barbara City College went 4 for 6 with a double, home run, four runs and three RBI.

Aaron Zavala – The Raptors’ left fielder from Oregon was 2 for 4 with a double.

Justin Folz – The Sweets third baseman from Northwest Nazarene was 2 for 4 with a double, two walks and three runs scored.

3 key numbers

13 – Number of batters set down in a row from the second to sixth innings by Raptors pitcher Zach Barnes (Grand Canyon).

3 – Walks issued by Sweet pitcher Nathan Dahle against the only three batters he faced. They sparked the Raptors’ six-run fourth inning.

4 – Number of runs scored by the Sweets in both the seventh and ninth innings to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 13-6 lead.