Drifters Swept by Raptors to Close Out the First Half of the Season
(Photo by Ella Poor)
By Dillon Zamperin
RIDGEFIELD, Wash. — A rainout postponed the second game of the series on Saturday, setting up an intriguing doubleheader on Sunday between the Springfield Drifters (6-18, 3-12) and Ridgefield Raptors (20-7, 14-4). The first game, which saw the Raptors silence the Drifters 3-0 and take the series, was followed by a slightly more eventful second game, in which Ridgefield also won 3-1 to complete the sweep of the doubleheader and the series.
As Sunday’s second game officially wrapped up the first half of the WCL season, the Raptors and Drifters found themselves on opposite sides of the standings. While Ridgefield secured the WCL South first-half title earlier this week and clinched its spot in the postseason, the Drifters have the worst record in the South and will look to turn it around during the second half of the WCL season.
“We threw the ball really, really well on the mound. When we got in jams, our pitchers got better, and that’s what we ask out of them,” Head Coach Jeff Lyle said. “We couldn’t get anything going offensively. We hung around, but were never able to establish anything offensively.”
Junior right-hander Jack Klee of Chemeketa Community College, whose start was pushed back one day, went three innings in the first game and struck out two batters, while allowing three unearned runs that were aided by two Drifters errors.
Sonny Pena took the final three innings, which were much cleaner than Klee’s three. Pena, a senior right-hander from Cal State Monterey Bay, provided crucial relief for the Drifters, allowing the bullpen to rest and prepare for the second game. In Pena’s three innings, he allowed four Raptors to reach base while striking out three in another strong relief appearance.
The offense remained fairly quiet for Springfield during the first game, as just Mullens, Hunter Meyer and Evan Thomas recorded hits in the first seven-inning game.
“Typical out of those three. They control the strikezone, put swings on good pitches, and are never overmatched at the plate,” Lyle said.
Mullens, a redshirt junior second baseman from Michigan, recorded a walk in the first inning and a single in the third, finishing the game 1-for-2. Meanwhile, Meyer, a sophomore left fielder from Cal State Fullerton, had a single in the first inning to put runners on first and second but ended the game going 1-for-3. Thomas, a redshirt freshman right fielder from UC Santa Barbara, had a late double in the sixth inning for his only hit during the first game, but like the others, failed to score.
While Springfield hoped change would come in the second game, it did not, as the Drifters were swept on the road for the second time this season with a two-run loss in Game 2
Graduate right-handed transfer Drew Miller started the second game for Springfield but struggled to find his footing early, giving up two solo home runs in his first inning of work. He fought back multiple times in the game and was able to go three innings and strike out four in an otherwise good outing.
“Drew battled today. He didn’t have great stuff today, [but] he got a start which was huge for him and us,” Lyle said.
After loading the bases in the second inning with no outs, he induced a ground ball to first baseman Nolan Miller, who threw it home to catcher LJ Layhew and back to first base for a clutch 3-2-3 double play. Drew Miller then proceeded to strike out the final batter of the inning, helping the Drifters escape unscathed.
Mount Marty’s senior right-handed reliever, Kaden Harris, took over for Miller on the mound. After loading the bases with just one out during the fourth inning, Harris worked around the jam, similar to Miller, on an infield fly to Mullens and a strikeout to keep the game within reach for Springfield.
Harris finished the night, registering two solid innings for the Drifters, allowing one run on three hits and one walk. Senior left-hander Michael Klein picked up the final inning and remained his usual dominant self. He struck out two batters in one inning of relief as he awaits his next team while in the transfer portal.
Leading off the top of the third inning, graduate center fielder Aiden Gebhard of Northwest Nazarene hit a bunt single and advanced to third thanks to a sacrifice bunt from redshirt junior left fielder Austin Takahashi from Lane Community College to kickstart the offense. Gebhard would go on to score in the third inning on another bunt single from junior third baseman Zach Story of UC Davis, to complete an inning full of small ball.
“It’s great to see that in one inning, but we need to be able to establish that earlier in the game and be able to use those weapons throughout the game,” Lyle said. “I thought that was a key moment to use the bunts, [but] I feel like we could have used them a little bit more today.”
Apart from the top of the third, the Drifters were no-hit in the other six innings, seemingly falling back to what they did in the first game of the doubleheader. Additionally, Springfield struck out six times, struggling to find ways to reach base.
With the sweep at the hands of the Raptors, the Drifters ended the six-game road trip going 1-5, including a series loss to Walla Walla earlier in the week.
“We tip our hats to the [Ridgefield] pitching staff. They threw us really well all day,” Lyle said. “We just move on to Tuesday.”
The Drifters have a scheduled off day on Monday before returning to action on Tuesday against the Marion Berries at Hamlin Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Join us at the ballpark on Tuesday as we celebrate Military Appreciation Night presented by NAES by honoring our active-duty service members and veterans. Throughout the game, we will recognize our military community members and celebrate their service. Active duty service members and veterans receive a FREE General Admission ticket, redeemable at the ballpark, as a thank you for your service.
Tickets are available online at driftersbaseball.com. The game will be live-streamed for free on the Springfield Drifters’ YouTube Channel.