Legends Record 20 Hits, Pound Prune Packers 16-5
Healdsburg, Calif. – The Healdsburg Prune Packers are new members of the California Collegiate League, but have been one of the most dominant teams in the first half of the summer. Led by a pitching staff that entered the game on Wednesday night with an ERA of 2.12, it seemed as if fans might be in for a low-scoring affair with the Menlo Park Legends coming to town. Unfortunately for any Healdsburg fans, the Legends are known for their hitting, and hit they did on Wednesday night. For the first time this summer, the Legends recorded 20 hits en route to a 16-5 stomping of the Prune Packers in their first meeting this season. The win gives the Legends a 14-7-1 record with a 4-5-1 mark in CCL games, while the Prune Packers are now 19-7 and 6-4 in conference play.
Healdsburg got on the board first against Menlo Park started Jake Swiech in the bottom of the first. A run came home on an error by the right fielder Turner Bishop, and the next batter would drive home another run on a single. After the two unearned runs came in, Healdsburg was out in front 2-0 and off to a great start. That would be the closest they would come to touching Jake Swiech the rest of the night. Swiech became dominant after the first inning, going six strong innings while allowing just four hits, not walking anybody, and recording five strikeouts. It was easily his best performance on the season on a night when he could have coasted through his innings because the bats came alive to back him up.
The fourth inning would be when the Legends got the party going, and it started with a two-out rally. Nick Brooks doubled with two outs in the top of the fourth, Clayton Casey walked, and Turner Bishop atoned for his error in the first with a two-run double to the gap. With the game tied going into the fifth, the Legends would officially make this a hit parade. They sent eleven hitters to the plate in the frame and used seven hits and a walk to put eight runs on the board. Highlights of the inning were the two baseballs that left the yard, and the first one came from Bishop. Hitting with the bases loaded, he turned on a fastball and launched it into the seats in right field for his third homerun of the summer and first grand slam. Chandler Bengston followed later in the inning with a solo shot to right field that easily cleared the fences. His fourth longball of the summer capped off the scoring and the Legends were now in command by a score of 10-2.
Turner Bishop added one more run batted in during the four-run sixth with an infield single off the glove of the Prune Packer first baseman. His seven-RBI night tied a season best, and it is the third time this summer he has driven in at least five runs in a game. It was a night when every starter had at least one hit, eight of nine starters scored at least one run, and six different Legends drove home a run. Ryan Lefner and Calvin Riley pithed the final three innings to end the game, and the Prune Packers were reminded of the stiff competition the Legends bring to CCL play.
Menlo Park returns home to Canada College on Thursday night as they welcome in the West Coast Kings. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM and it is the only game at home this week for the Legends. The game will be broadcasted on the Legends Radio Network and Brian Brownfield and Collin Baker will team up for the first dual-call of the summer.
