Legends split series with Crawdads

The Legends split their third straight series, this time against the Walnut Creek Crawdads, getting shut out 3-0 before coming back for a 9-5 win the next night.

Game One starting pitcher Nick Gagnon (University of North Dakota) had a solid pitching performance throwing four innings of two hit ball, striking out three, and giving up no runs.

The game remained scoreless until the fifth when Walnut Creek scored two runs. Crawdad Philip Caulfield (Skyline) scored on a hit by Hunter Hargrove, who then scored on a wild pitch by middle reliever Matthew Cobley (Laney).

In the bottom of the sixth, the Crawdads tacked on another run by William Hairston (Texas Tech), bringing the lead to 3-0. The Legends had a nonproductive offensive night, with Game One ending in a 3-0 lost.

The Legends’ bats came alive in Game Two after they erased a two run deficit in the first.

“After a really lack-luster performance yesterday we came out, jumped on them early, and really kept it on them for the victory,” General Manager David Klein said.

John Montgomery (Eastern Michigan) started the scoring spree, bringing in Rob Henry (Brown) on a double to center. With timely hitting, Dylan Cook (Georgia) put his team in the lead with a 2 RBI double. Cook would score on a double by teammate Justin Gubser (Purdue). The second inning ended with the Legends up 4-2.

Legends starting pitcher Garret Bruce (Texas Tech) had good command of his pitches through five innings giving up two runs and only one walk, while striking out two batters.

The Legends continued to add to the scoreboard as both John Montgomery and Dylan Cook scored in the bottom of the third. Rob Henry’s home run in the fourth was the big hit of the night.

The Crawdads were able to add three runs in the sixth when Casey Bowman (University of Arizona) scored on pinch hitter William Hairston’s double, followed by pinch hitter Nick Oar two run- RBI double, bring the score to 8-5.

Dylan Cook capped a great offensive night scoring his third run off a Kyle Zirbes’s (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical) sacrifice fly in the sixth. Overall, Cook went three for five with a double two singles and three RBI’s.

“We played together as a team,” Cook said. “We came out here to battle back and we won.”

After the exit by Bruce, the Legends brought in five different pitchers who were able to close out the game for a 9-5 win.

Pitching coach Bill Ryan has confidence in his pitching staff. Ryan believes that the preparation that his pitchers are putting in now will pay off down the road.

“I don’t expect us to be splitting anymore series,” Ryan said.

The Menlo Park Legends will face the Pacific Union Financial Capitalists in a three game series, June 12 to 14.

Photos by Lani Finer