Falcons sweep series

Photo: Matt Inglis

By Matt Inglis, Falcons Media

The Kelowna Falcons are starting this week on a good note after sweeping the Kitsap Bluejackets in a three-game series over the weekend.

After having game one of the series against the Kitsap Bluejackets rained out on Friday, they hosted a double header on Saturday, walking off their opponents in both outings.

Sunday saw the conclusion of the series, and for a third straight game, the Falcons had the final say, walking off the Bluejackets in extras innings and earning the series sweep.

The 9-8 victory was the sixth in a row for the birds, and the second consecutive series sweep.

The entire win streak has been against the Bluejackets, including a road sweep last week.

While Sunday's game did see the home-town team leave victorious, it wasn't easy.

After taking a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, things started to fall apart for the home side, as the jackets bats got busy in the sixth, hammering out seven total runs and stealing the lead out from underneath the Falcons.

Another run in the seventh inning made it an 8-3 game, and the outlook started to look dim, but the Falcons weren't done yet.

The tenacity and character of the Falcons shone through though, as they responded with a five-run eighth inning.

Jake Druce and Chandler Robertson were the first two Falcons to reach base in the inning, giving Joey Crunkilton a chance to start the rally, driving in Druce.

With one out and the bases loaded, Bowen Ogata joined the hit parade, sending home a pair and closing the gap on the Bluejackets.

Lane Lacrone would cross the plate safely in the inning.

Tied at eight, the teams had to head into extra innings for the second time in the series.

In total, the Falcons hammered out 17 hits on the night, spread between nine batters.

Falcons bench boss Bryan Donohue shook off the seven-run inning his opponents put up, and gave credit to his club for grinding out the win. 

"Now that was a character win.”

Donohue knew that regardless of the outcome, he was going to be happy with how his team responded to giving up a lopsided lead towards the end of the game.

“That seven spot hurt, and then they tacked on another one. But the way this series went, we started barreling some baseballs, and we were just watching it come together for us.”

It was a thrilling series, and with six straight victories, the Falcons are now sitting in first place for the second half of the season with a 7-5 record. They’ll have a few days off for the West Coast League All-Star break, before getting back into things on Wednesday against the Yakima Pippens.