Chambers homers in his return, leading Raptors to 6-3 win over Bend

RIDGEFIELD – Will Chambers likes to swing hard.

But one such swing got the better of him a couple weeks back.

“I had a shoulder that popped out slightly and my bicep tendon went into my chest,” Chambers said. “We’re just getting it back to where it should be. I went to see a chiropractor.”

It kept the slugger on the sidelines for about 12 days, and he was eager to get back into the lineup on Thursday in a non-league game with the Bend Elks.

“It felt good,” he said “I didn’t care if I struck out four times or if I got four hits. It’s just fun being out here again.”

Chambers got a mixture of both, striking out twice, but delivering two RBI hits including a solo home run as the Raptors beat the Elks 6-3 to sweep the three-game series.

The home run felt really good to Chambers, almost too good.

“I thought it was way out,” he said about his blast to center. “I was like ‘OK, that’s feeling pretty good.’ Then all of sudden I noticed that I think the wind took it down. I was like ‘Aw, I may have to run.’ That’s kind of my worst nightmare, having to run. But then it went out, and I was like ‘Oh, thank God, I can jog now.’ ”

The Raptors now head out on the road, starting with a three-game series at Cowlitz on Friday which will open up the second half of Ridgefield’s West Coast League.

Three moments

Taking what they are given – The Raptors scored two runs in the first three innings with only one hit. They scored in the second on two walks and two hit batters. Chambers’ RBI single in the third came after back-to-back walks.

Adding on – Back-to-back singles by Cade Connor and Coby Morales gave the Raptors a 5-2 lead in the sixth.

Twin killing – After Bend got three consecutive hits to open the fifth – including a home run by Matt Dallas – the Raptors turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally.

Three players

Brock Gillis – The University of Washington pitcher got the win, throwing six solid innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk.

Beau Kearsey – The Union graduate picked up the save, throwing three innings – the last two he threw to Camas grad Grant Heiser at catcher.

Cade Connor – The right fielder went 1 for 3 with two runs, a walk and an RBI.

Three numbers

Nine – The number of times the Raptors beat the Elks this season with no losses.

Eight – The number of times the Raptors reach base by walk (six) and hit batsmen (two) in the first four innings.

Three – The number of chances the Elks had to get Coby Morales out in the fifth inning. But the Elks dropped a foul pop-up, dropped a third strike, then committed an error on the throw to first. Morales would eventually come around to score to put the Raptors back up 3-2.

RIDGEFIELD 6, BEND 3

Bend 100 010 010—3 10 2

Ridgefield 011 012 10x—6 7 1

Bend
Pitching — Jake Snyder 2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1K; Kade Morris 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, loss; Hayden Hattenbach 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K; Nate Wenzel 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K. Highlights — Sam Linscott 1-4, 2 runs, 2B; Chase Matheny 2-4, 2B, RBI; Julian Kodama 1-3, RBI; Turner Thompson 1-4; Omar Veloz 1-4; Matt Dallas 1-4, HR, RBI; Mason Guerra 1-4; Peter Mendazona 2-4.

Ridgefield

Pitching — Brock Gillis 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, win; Beau Kearsey 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, save. Highlights — John Peck 1-4, BB; Cade Connor 1-3, 2 runs, RBI, BB; Coby Morales 1-3, 2 runs, RBI, BB; Will Chambers 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Tafton Hensley 1-3, run, SB, BB; Reece Hernandez 1-3, run, 2B, SB.