Late Homer Dooms Pippins in Loss to Raptors

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – Cameron Repetti’s 8th inning, 2-run, go-ahead home run led the Ridgefield Raptors to their first win in franchise history, 3-2, over the Yakima Valley Pippins on Thursday night at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.

After serving up a go-ahead homer to the Pippins’ Owen Cobb in the top of the 8th inning that broke a 1-1 deadlock, Repetti, who started the game as Ridgefield’s third baseman and later moved to the mound, took a Mark Woinarowicz pitch deep to center with two outs that gave Ridgefield (1-2) the lead. Repetti then came on to close out the win, which he earned, in the top of the ninth.

The Pippins (2-1) struggled to string together much offensively all night after taking an early lead. In the second inning, Riley Gill hit a soft single just past first baseman Carter Benbrook into shallow right field that scored Scott Youngbrandt to give the Pippins an early advantage. The Raptors answered with an RBI double from Michael Hicks in the 4th, and the pitcher’s duel moved quickly from that point forward.

A.J. Wood got the start for Yakima Valley and worked 4.1 strong innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. Woinarowicz was nearly flawless in relief before serving up the go-ahead homer, working out of multiple jams with runners in scoring position over his 3.2 innings of work. He took his first loss of the season, allowing the 2 runs on 3 hits, no walks and four strikeouts.

Ridgefield was strong on the mound all night, striking out double-digit Pippins batters for the third consecutive night. Zach Barnes got the start and took a tough-luck no-decision despite a quality start – 6 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 8 without allowing a walk on four hits. Peter Allegro bridged the gap to Repetti, tossing a scoreless 7th inning.

Youngbrandt had the only multi-hit game of the night for the Pippins, and scored the team’s other run besides Cobb. Ridgefield had just seven hits of their own, with Jonny Weaver leading the way with a 2-hit night. Michael Yourg also added a double for the Raptors.

The Pippins, unable to complete the sweep, still finish off a road series win to open the 2019 season. They return home Friday to open up a 3-game weekend series with the Wenatchee AppleSox. First pitch Friday is set for 7:05 PM PT, with Joe Magrisi pitching for the Pippins, opposing Wenatchee left-hander Gavin Gorrell. The game will be broadcast live, both audio and video, on pippinsbaseball.com/live, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch.

By Miles Klotz

June 7, 2019