Legends bring home win against Crawdads
The Menlo Park Legends were able to win at home before sending five player to the CCL All-Stars. The Legends won 9-7 in a close game against the Walnut Creek Crawdads, July 14.
The Legends came out strong with solid pitching by right-hander Troy Nelson. Nelson would keep the Crawdads from scoring runs in four of his five innings on the hill, while the Legends took the lead with four runs. By his fifth and final inning, Nelson’s pitching became shaky, letting the Crawdads even the score 4-4. Despite the tied game, he would punch out four batters.
Relieving Nelson, Josh Inouye, Jackson Lancaster, Erik Amundson, and Richard Peoples would combine for four innings, only giving up two runs and striking out three batters. The Legends have become accustomed to having games closed by Richard Peoples, whose late breaks would keep batters on their heals and unable to stage a comebacks.
There is no stopping Tommy Bell as he dominated, yet again, in the Crawdad game. Bell would jack two round trippers that would give the Legends an ultimate comeback. In the sixth with the Legends down by one run, Bell would hit a dinger to center to give the Legends a one run lead. Later in the 8th, Bell would hit his second home run of the night. He would go 3-4 with two homers and five RBI’s.
“I like being in situations like that,” Bell said. “You have runners on [or] your down runs or tied and it means you have to clutch up.”
Bell’s hitting spree has contributed to his recent batting adjustments. Rather than rely on his upper body for power, the coaching staff have been working with Bell to get lower on his stance and have a lower leg kick. As a result, Bell has hit three home runs since the PUF Cap series, taking the lead in home runs over teammate John Montgomery.
Tobias Moreno would secure a win for the Legends, with a two RBI single to give the Legends a
three run lead in the top of the ninth. Despite the Crawdads scoring a run in the bottom, the
Legends would leave Canada College with their fifth win since traveling home from San Luis Obispo two weeks ago.
Following the win, the Legends would send five players to the CCL All-Star Game in Southern California. The team will reunite this weekend, as they face the Santa Barbara Foresters for a three-game series, July 17 to 1.
Photos by Lani Finer
