Hawks Sweep the AppleSox, Finish Home Stand 4-2
2025-06-22
The 6-5 win over Wenatchee caps off another winning stretch at home
Box ScoreBy Cody F. Schmidt
The Edmonton Riverhawks took the lead early, then regained it late as they rallied in the 8th to defeat the Wenatchee AppleSox and sweep the series. A strong first few innings from starter Tanner Leyba led to a rally capped off by Max Stagg’s 2 RBI single in the penultimate inning. In front of 4195 cheering fans on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Hawks’ victory was followed by more antics on the field as Top Talent Wrestling erected a squared circle in the diamond and showcased their wrestling talent.
Back-to-back one-out walks got #48 Max Stagg and #32 Jason Green on base in the 1st, but neither were able to score after a fly and a ground ball ended the frame. #1 Shiryu Sato smashed a first-pitch double in the 2nd to earn the first hit of the game, but he was caught at third thanks to a dribbling bunt fielder’s choice once again leaving the Hawks scoreless.
The Hawks were back to hitting in the 4th, with #35 Trent Lenihan tapping a single, then stealing second and third to start the frame. Sato and #5 Anthony Kodama both walked to load the bags, forcing a pitching change from Wenatchee. While #42 Drew Veatch made contact, the ground ball stayed in the infield and the Hawks were still held scoreless.
#6 Robert Phelps led off the bottom of the 5th with a stand up double, then was moved to third on a deep fly out from Stagg. An infield sac hit from Green scored Phelps and got the Hawks on the scoreboard. Sato was back at it in the 6th, hitting his second double of the game with one out, then after a single from Kodama, #28 David Ossanna tied the game with a line drive up the middle to score Sato.
Pushing in the late innings, #25 Royce Hale smacked a warning track double to lead off the bottom of the 8th. After Sato walked, an infield ball from Kodama moved both runners into scoring position. Pinch hitter #13 Grant Yzermans knocked a liner to centre-left and it was enough to bring both runners home. Working with bases load on after Veatch and Phelps both walked, Stagg belted a liner to bring the leading run home and put the Hawks ahead!
Starter #10 Tanner Leyba, got through the 1st with minimal issue. Only hitting his first batter to allow a baserunner. He then followed with a 1-2-3 8-pitch 2nd, but the AppleSox got ahead of Leyba in the 3rd after a walk and a pair of doubles gave Wenatchee the first two runs of the game.
#15 Jack Becker took over, pitching in the second Hawks game in a row after tossing a single out to end the 8th yesterday. He tossed a clean 6th with just a walk allowed. #11 Brandon Craven came in for the 7th, working with a new tied score. Craven worked efficiently through his first two batters, but a walk, a stolen base, and a wild pitch put a runner on third. Craven then hit a batter before a single put the Sox ahead.
The 8th belonged to #9 Jaxon Macdonald, who gave up a single and double, bumping the Sox to a score of four. After walking the bases loaded, Macdonald was removed in favour of #24 Reece Devlin. Picking up the final out of the 8th, Devlin walked in the Sox’ fifth run. #18 Tate Dearing got the mound for the 9th, and earned the save with a strikeout.
The Hawks now hit the road for a six game trip to Vancouver Island. Facing the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls, the Riverhawks will look to further their reach for the WCL North Division lead.
The Riverhawks return to RE/MAX Field on July 1 for Canada Day! Along with 880 CHED and Global Edmonton.Come down to celebrate Canada and watch the Hawks take on the Port Angeles Lefties, before watching the city’s fireworks from the best seat in the river valley!
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