Elks’ Hot Bats Burn Pippins in Game 1

BEND, Or.- The Bend Elks defended their home field and moved to 4-0 at home this year after a 15-5 game one win over the Pippins.

For the 4th straight game the Pippins allowed first inning runs. A total of 7 batters came to the plate before the first out was recorded, and Bend exited with a 4-0 lead thanks to a 2-run bomb.

The Elks didn’t take their foot off of the gas either. 3 more crossed in the bottom of the 2nd and another in the 3rd, and before Yakima Valley could know it, it was 8-0.

The first two runs for the Pippins would cross in the 4th, after 3 straight singles opened up the frame. Back-to-back solid catches in the outfield would turn in to sacrifice fly’s, but steal potential extra base hits away from Shayne Simpson and Jaxon Sorenson.

That momentum came as quickly as it went, as the bottom of the 4th was a disaster for the Pippins. Bend would bat around and tally 4 hits, 3 free passes, and an error on a would-be double play to plate 6 more runs.

Beck Maguire would come off of the bench to hit the first Pippins home run of the season and Owen McWilliam and Tyler Griggs would drive in a run in the 7th, but that was all the Pippins offense could muster.

When it was all said and done, the damage came out to 17 Bend hits and a 15-5 loss.

Offensively, Owen McWilliam had a 3-hit performance and Tyler Griggs had a pair in his season debut. Spencer Shipman would pitch a scoreless 8th and 9th to add some optimism going into game 2 tomorrow.

First pitch is at 6:35 at Genna Stadium in Bend, with the Elks video stream on Facebook Live and the Pippins audio stream on Mixlr.

By Zach McKinstry

June 10, 2022