Ortiz’s Clutch Swing Lifts Elks Over Port Angeles

Avery Ortiz delivered a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs and two strikes in the eighth to push the Elks to a series victory. (Andrew Green)

Port Angeles, WA - The Bend Elks completed another come-from-behind 10-8 victory Saturday to secure the series win over the Port Angeles Lefties.

After falling into a five-run hole in game one, the Elks found themselves trailing by four runs at one point in game two. Yet, thanks to a three-run rally in the seventh, the Elks shortened the deficit to just one run. Avery Ortiz, who hit a grand slam to make it a one-run game less than 24 hours earlier, came through in the clutch once more with a big-time three-run blast in the eighth to give the Elks a two-run lead that they would ride the rest of the way.

The Elks were able to sustain that lead through the home stretch thanks to the masterful pitching of Mahiro Tomita, who took over for a banged-up staff. The Elks' previous four pitchers each allowed a run to score and gave up a pair of hits. Tomtia (4-2) went longer than everyone before him, retiring 10 of the 13 batters he faced with four strikeouts and just one hit surrendered. Tomita stands alone as the staff leader with four wins.

Bend jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single from Jake Hoskins but quickly struggled to stay with the Lefties, who had all eight of its runs spanned across the next four innings with tallies in every frame between the second and sixth. But Tomita held Port Angeles scoreless when it mattered most, giving the offense a chance to work back into the game, which is precisely what the Elks did. Bend took advantage of two of the Lefties' six errors to score runs and poked through some holes and gaps with three RBI doubles, including two in the seventh.

Ryan Christiansen, Beau Sylvester, and Jake Hoskins all had two hits. Hoskins, Christiansen, Tyler Peterson, and Bennett Thompson each had doubles. Ruben Cedillo launched his third home run of the season on a line drive missile over the left field wall.

Bend (20-19, 17-18) looks to complete its first sweep of the summer Sunday afternoon against Port Angeles (11-27, 10-25) at 1:35 p.m. The Elks are 0-3 when given the opportunity to sweep; all losses have come on the road (Yakima Valley, Springfield, Portland).