Riverhawks Win With Double-Digit Lead for Second Night in a Row

2024-08-03

Another massive W, as the Hawks take game two 16-4

By Cody F. Schmidt

With this evening’s win against the Port Angeles Lefties, the Edmonton Riverhawks officially ended the Washington team’s chance at the 2024 WCL Playoffs. Taking their second game in a row with a double-digit lead, the Riverhawks crushed the Lefties 16-4 with eighteen hits. The Riverhawks were productive in every inning but the 3rd, getting the leadoff batter on base in eight different innings. Scoring in seven different frames, the Hawks brought another onslaught of runs as they’ve now outscored the Lefties by 24 runs across these first two games.

Another quick start for the Riverhawks tonight as #1 Kaden Zarowny and #12 Rex Watson hit back-to-back singles off the first two pitches of the game. An RBI groundout by #54 Sam Kane got the Hawks their first run. A pair of singles with an RBI followed again in the 2nd as #51 Royce Hale lifted one to left for the first base hit, then #6 Taichi Nakao singled to right to send Hale home.

The Riverhawks exploded in the 5th as #25 Trey Dunn and Royce Hale went back-to-back with homers totalling three runs. Hitting first in the inning, Kane singled before Dunn and Hale would crush their dingers in successive ABs. After #13 Brayden Morris was plunked to lead off the 6th, Zarowny send him home thanks to a single and a Lefties error for a bonus run.

The 7th started with back-to-back singles from #36 Jakob Poturnak and Dunn, and a walk to Hale. #26 Russell Young hit a sac fly deep enough to score Poturnak, then after Nakao walked to re-load the bags Dunn ran home on a wild pitch. Morris walked before Zarowny and Watson would each hit RBI singles, elevating the Riverhawks’ score into double digits. Sam Kane’s sac fly would score the last two runs of the 7th, but the Hawks worked to pile on runs for the second night in a row with a huge inning. Not content with a nine-run lead, the Hawks kept it up in the 8th, With successive singles from Dunn and Hale, then Young mashing a double to score them both. The 9th saw two more runs come across home plate for Edmonton: Kane, Poturnak and Hale loaded the bases thanks to a single, HBP, and walk respectively. Young got plunked for his fourth RBI of the night, then

Starter #33 Halen Knoll had a pair of effortless innings working with the lead, before the Lefties doubled off him in the 3rd. While dealing with a cleat malfunction Knoll then plunked his next two batters to load the bags, and a single scored a pair and tied the game. Halen immediately locked back in and struck out the next batter, then picked off the runner at third to shut down any more chances for Port Angeles. Knoll tossed his second 1-2-3 inning in the 4th, and found a double play in the 5th that erased a pair of walks. The 7th was another rougher inning for Hale, allowing a trio of singles that scored a run, but still deftly escaping the frame via a pop out and fly ball. Knoll would leave the game after the 7th, completing another fantastic start, despite a few trickier innings.

The 8th inning got away from #8 Matt Ridsdale a bit as he gave up a double and a single for the Lefties’ fourth run, but he threw a swinging K to shut down the inning. #3 Logan Colville made his first appearance for the Hawks in the 9th and finished the game with a ꓘ and a K.

The Riverhawks will finish the series tomorrow afternoon and aim for the series sweep over the Lefties. After the game the Hawks head up to Nanaimo and get ready to finish the season against the NightOwls. The Riverhawks still are deep in the playoffs fight, as their 29-21 record keeps them above Victoria in the full season standings. The second-half crown chances seem slim, sitting behind the Bells, HarbourCats, and NightOwls as the Hawks are four wins behind the division-leading AppleSox. Keep an eye on all the action at gohawks.ca and @RiverhawksGames!