Pippins in the Win Column with 16-10 Victory

YAKIMA, Wash.- The first win of the season came in explosive fashion as the Pippins tallied 16 runs and 13 hits in the 2nd game of the series against Walla Walla.

It all started with a 5-run bottom of the first highlighted by a Shayne Simpson RBI Single. A few productive outs added the rest of the runs and gave the Pippins their first lead of 2022.

The Sweets wouldn’t go down easily, and the bats came alive in the 3rd, erupting for 7 runs on 7 hits. Walla Walla would retake the lead by a score of 8-5.

Once again the Pippins saw themselves trailing early in a game. Spencer Shipman would score 2 with his single up the middle in the 4th, but the Sweets would get those runs right back on wild pitches in the 5th.

Trailing by 3, the Pippins found the spark they were looking for as they went to town in the bottom of the 5th. Hank Dunn picked up his first RBI of the season and Yakima Valley would score 5 to jump in front 12-10.

After the Pippins regained the lead, it was a defensive show. Owen McWilliam picked up an outfield assist when he gunned down a runner trying to stretch a single in the 6th, then McWilliam and Hank Dunn each made superb diving grabs in the final two innings.

2 more runs crossed in the 6th and 7th, and Caden Duke shut the door in the 8th and 9th so seal up the first win of the season.

Hank Dunn finished with 4 runs, 3 hits, and an RBI at the plate; an unbelievable diving catch in the field; and 3 stolen bases on the base paths.

“Coach Krustangel gave us a good talk about facing adversity before the game,” said Dunn. “We’ve faced adversity in every game this season, but this time we finally bounced back and did what we were supposed to do. The guys in the locker room are happy.”

9 Pippins scored at least 1 run in the victory, and the bats were certainly alive for the first time this season.

Yakima Valley will look to take their first series win of the year tomorrow in the finale against Walla Walla at 6:35pm.

By Zach McKinstry

June 9, 2022