Walla Walla, rain send Raptors to first loss of season

RIDGEFIELD – Blame in on the rain.

It’s probably one of the few precipitation-related songs the Ridgefield Raptors didn’t play during one of their three rain delays Saturday night at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Center.

It could also explain Ridgefield’s sloppy play in the field as the Raptors committed four errors leading to a 6-2 rain-shortened loss to the Walla Walla Sweets.

“We’ve got standing water out here,” Raptors head coach Chris Cota said as he left the dugout after umpires called the game in the seventh inning. “I haven’t seen weather like this in six months down south.”

Cota coaches at College of the Canyons in drought-ridden Southern California.

Despite a persistent rainfall throughout Saturday night, the umpires appeared determined to power through it.

But after four innings, the umpires called the players off the field as the rain began to intensify. But four minutes later, the decision to resume was made.

That only lasted three pitches when a second rain delay began, this one lasting 22 minutes.

The teams got 3 1/2 more innings in before play was stopped again in the seventh inning.

The umpires waited for 30 minutes – and were willing to wait out the rain for an hour – before coaching staffs for both teams decided to call it.

Three moments

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning, the Raptors took a 2-1 lead when Mikey Kane’s sacrifice fly to center scored Stephen Espinosa in the bottom of the second.

A four-run third proved decisive for the Sweets. William Fuenning II delivered a two-run double, and Mason Masterson followed with a two-run single to put Walla Walla up 5-2.

The Raptors mounted their biggest comeback threat in the sixth, putting the first two runners on and eventually loading the bases. But Walla Walla’s Tyler Cornett recorded three strikeouts to end the threat.

Three players

William Fuenning II. The Walla Walla left fielder was 2 for 2 with a walk, double and two RBI.

Tyler Cornett. The right-handed pitcher came in relief for the Sweets, allowing just one hit in three innings with six strikeouts.

Doyle Kane. The center fielder from College of the Canyons was a bright spot for the Raptors, going 2 for 3 with a double.

Three numbers

Six – The number of times Mikey Kane (USC) has reached base so far this young season for the Raptors. After going 2 for 4 with a walk on Friday, Kane walked twice and was hit by a pitch on Saturday.

Seven – Number of consecutive Walla Walla batters to reach base during a four-run third inning rally.

90 – The percent chance of rain on Sunday afternoon, when Walla Walla (1-1) and Ridgefield (1-1) are set to conclude their three-game series at the RORC. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.

WALLA WALLA 6, RIDGEFIELD 2, 6 INN. (rain)

WW       104         010         —6         7              1

Ridge     110         000         —2         4              4

Walla Walla

Pitching — Cameron Scudder 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, win; Tyler Cornett 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, save. Highlights — Leo Rivera 1-3; Garrett Runyon 1-2, R, BB; Jakob Marquez 0-2, R, BB; Kevin Spear 2-2, R, HBP; William Fuenning 2-2, R, 2B, BB, 2 RBI; Mason Masterson 1-2, HBP, 2 RBI.

Ridgefield

Pitching — Ryan Obrecht 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, loss; Josh Sandoval 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 2 BB; Boone Rush 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB. Highlights — Mikey Kane 0-0, R, 2 BB, HBP, RBI; Will Chambers 1-2, BB; Isaac Lovings 1-3, RBI; Doyle Kane 2-3, 2B; Stephen Espinosa 1-3, R; Nick Laurenza 0-3, SB.