Legends Stun Blues on Friday Night; Lose Series in Sunday Afternoon Thriller
The Legends continued California Collegiate League play with a three-game series in San Luis Obispo this past weekend, taking on the San Luis Obispo Blues. The Blues came into the series with a 1-1 CCL record, after winning 4 straight prior to opening up CCL play on Tuesday.
Friday
The Legends opened up on Friday night with a great 5-1 road win in front of a sold-out crowd for Friday Fireworks Night at Sinshiemer Park.
Joseph Lee dealt in his six innings of work, striking out nine Blues batters and allowing just two walks. The Blues offense could only scratch across one run in those frames, as Lee went the distance for the Legends. Paul Wheeler came in relief for Lee in the seventh inning, adding three quality innings and striking out six, all without allowing a hit.
The offense capitalized on the Blues’ three defensive errors and several defensive miscues throughout the game, including a three-run third inning that would be the deciding factor in the game. The Legends added several timely hits in the fourth and fifth innings, as Blake Cowans and Will Robbins both had two-hit games, along with Will Anderson and Isaiah Landry driving in runs to help Lee’s stellar performance.
Saturday
The Legends lost a tough rubber match on Saturday night, 7-4. Quinn Robertson threw six innings for the Legends, allowing no earned runs and striking out two. The Blues would take a 1-0 lead after four innings, on one unearned run in the fourth inning.
Menlo Park would answer back, taking a 3-1 lead after seven frames, adding 2 runs after a Will Anderson sacrifice fly and Quincy Via scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh.
The Blues would ultimately come back in the 8th, scoring 6 runs on some very timely hits from Camden Andrews and Donovan Jordan. The Legends would only scratch across one run in the ninth, as Cade O’Hara shut the door and earned the save in relief.
Sunday
The Legends fought hard in a tough extra-inning loss to the Blues on Sunday afternoon. The Blues jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after a big five-run third inning, including Brodie Miller and Sean Strittmatter’s RBI doubles.
The Legend’s offense came all the way back from the 6-0 deficit after some crooked numbers in the fifth and sixth innings. After some key hits, including a solo-homerun from Mason Ashlock, Menlo Park trailed 8-5 going into the eighth inning. Carter Bleeker would get the offense going in the 8th, hitting an RBI single to get the scoring started. Will Anderson would come up soon after, smacking a clutch go-ahead double that cleared the bases in a dramatic turn of events for the Legends.
Unfortunately, the Legends couldn’t run away with the victory in extra innings. Mason Ashlock would come up big, hitting a game-tying single in the tenth, tying the game 10-10. Gavin Smith would be the hero for the Blues, hitting a walk-off single to cap off a two-run comeback in extras.
The Legends fought hard all weekend, and look to bounce back with some great matchups in CCL play this week.
The Week Ahead
Tuesday- 5 pm vs Alameda Merchants
Wednesday- 5 pm vs San Luis Obispo Blues
Friday & Saturday- 6pm @ Sonoma Stompers
Sunday- 1 pm vs Sonoma Stompers
