Hot Start Stalls for Drifters, Losing 5-2 to AppleSox
(Photo by Alyssa Garcia)
By Dillon Zamperin
WENATCHEE, WA — With hopes of securing their first series victory of the summer, the Springfield Drifters (3-9, 1-5) came out of the gate on fire against the Wenatchee AppleSox (8-3, 6-2), as the first four batters reached base, scoring the first run of the game. However, the Drifters would not score again until it was too late, with two outs in the ninth inning.
The AppleSox, meanwhile, sprinkled runs across three innings, which proved enough, and defeated the Drifters 5-2, winning the series 2-1. Springfield has now dropped their fourth straight series to start the year as their winning percentage lowers back down to .250.
“Today’s a tough game because we spoiled a pretty good pitching outing by Ledbetter,” Pitching Coach Dean Stiles said. “Left a lot of guys on base and obviously if you do that, you’re going to struggle a little bit.”
Reigning WCL Pitcher of the Week Tristan Ledbetter gave the Drifters a good start and length on the mound, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. The junior from Umpqua Community College was very efficient, throwing 70 pitches before running into some trouble in the sixth inning, where he allowed two of his three runs.
“He was pitching a gem. He pitched to contact tonight, and we were able to get some outs that way,” Stiles said. “He pitched really well.”
Senior right-hander Drew Miller from George Fox also got into trouble after taking over the sixth inning from Ledbetter, but escaped the jam. In 2.1 innings of work, Miller threw 39 pitches, giving up two runs and four hits, walking no one.
One thing notably missing from the pitching on Thursday night was the lack of punchouts. Ledbetter, who had struck out a combined 13 batters in 9.1 innings before Thursday’s loss, did not strike out a single batter, while Miller struck out just two, both of which were looking.
“The more strikeouts you register, it typically means more pitches. Let them put the balls in play,” Stiles said. “It saved our pitching for the rest of the road trip. It went exactly as the game plan was.”
Still, the two Drifters pitchers were able to save the bullpen for the weekend series against the Victoria HarbourCats in Canada, starting on Friday, a positive despite the loss.
Even with eight hits by the Drifters’ offense and a runner on base in nearly every inning, Springfield only managed to put two runs across the board, leaving 11 runners on base, a glaring issue for the offense that has progressed by game all season long.
The first run came in the first inning after singles from second baseman Cooper Mullens, first baseman Nolan Miller and an RBI single from catcher LJ Layhew. Even with runners on the corners and one out, Springfield failed to score, as right fielder Peyton Tyner hit into an inning-ending double play.
Throughout the game, the Drifters had plenty of chances to score again, including a bases-loaded situation in the very next inning with no outs. Third baseman Mana Heffernan started the inning off with a single, and was followed by shortstop Jaycob Villalpando, who also knocked a single. Left fielder Austin Takahashi bunted the ball over the head of the AppleSox’s crashing first baseman for an infield single with the Drifters’ best hitter coming to the plate.
However, after seeing two balls to start the count, Mullens flew out to left field, not deep enough to score a run, and designated hitter Tristan Jennings hit into another inning-ending double play, stopping any hope of taking a large early lead.
“We started out being aggressive. We fake steal, run, bunt and manufacture that first run,” Stiles said. “A line drive smashed back at the pitcher, and he’s able to get out of the inning. Those are things we can’t control.”
The Drifters put together a ninth-inning rally with a single by Mullens and a double from pinch-hitter Brody Buhr, which had runners on second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly from Miller would score Mullens, but that would be it for Springfield on the night, failing to score again. Mullens finished the night with two hits and one run scored.
The only other Drifter with more than one hit on the night was Heffernan, who went 2-for-3 with two singles. The sophomore from Bushnell recorded both of his singles in the second and fourth innings, before he struck out in the sixth and was replaced in the eighth by a pinch hitter, Jalen Riddle, to end his night.
The Drifters will look ahead to their next series, where they will travel to Canada for the first time since 2024 to face the Victoria HarbourCats on Friday night for the first of a three-game weekend series.
“We’re going to go one day at a time,” Stiles said. “Our goal when we get up there is to compete. We’ll play nine, and we’ll see how it plays out. It’s going to be a challenge [but] we’re going to take tomorrow for tomorrow.”
The game will be live-streamed on the Victoria HarbourCats YouTube Channel. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. as senior right-hander Kaden Harris takes the mound for Springfield.