The Kamloops NorthPaws were unable to secure a weekend sweep of the Kelowna Falcons, losing 9-3 on Sunday afternoon at Norbrock Stadium. After taking the first two, the NorthPaws were unable to manufacture runs despite having nine hits. Kelowna took advantage when they needed to, and the deficit was too large to overcome.
The Falcons would draw first blood as a single with two runners on would make it 1-0. In the bottom of the second, Kamloops left fielder Austin Coyle singled and stole second. Coyle took off for third and would score off a throwing error by the Kelowna catcher, tying the game.
In the top of the fourth, the Falcons went to work, forcing four walks, a hit by pitch, and two singles, scoring four runs and making it 5-1. Kelowna would add one more in the top of the fifth off an RBI double. Kamloops responded with a Joey Marino sacrifice fly in the bottom half, but a controversial play at third base killed the rally.
The Falcons would use that and capitalize in the top of the seventh. Three walks and a single made it 7-2. A few pitches later, the bases were loaded, and a base hit up the middle made it 9-2. In the bottom half, second baseman Elijah Clayton hit his second triple in roughly 17 hours. He would later score courtesy of a single up the middle from designated hitter Matt MacDonald.
That would be all the NorthPaws could muster against the Falcons. Kelowna made it through Sunday with just three pitchers being used. Each arm went three innings, giving up one earned run.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit today with leaving guys on base and being too aggressive, but that will happen from time to time,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson
Although it wasn’t the conclusion to the week they wanted, the NorthPaws have won two of their first three series and are off to their best start in franchise history.
“We’ll take 6-3 for sure, I’m proud of the way these guys have grinded in the first 10 days of the season,” said Jepson.
Local kid Matt MacDonald has been finding his form of late with two hits on Sunday and playing a significant role in Kelowna on Saturday night, hitting the team’s first home run of the season. Having played 7 of their first nine on the road, hearing the home crowd road on Friday night still hits home.
“When the crowd started clapping during the final out was so cool to me; I haven’t really experienced that, so it was really cool. I’m hoping we get more games like that this year,” said MacDonald.
The team will be off on Monday but back on the road Tuesday night as they pay a visit to Wenatchee for a three-game series against the Apple Sox. The NorthPaws will be back at home on Friday, June 13th, as they host the Edmonton River Hawks for a weekend series.
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