Victory Over the Sumner Spartans - By Brayden Smith

On the second game of the day and part of their first two games of the season, the Richland Bombers were to face off against the Sumner Spartans at home. Coming into this game they would have just won against Gig Harbor with a score of 7-0 which sent them into a feeling of Victory prior to the game. Richland was hot coming into this game from being able to keep Harbor to a scoreless game.

Photo courtesy of Mason Metcalf (ig: metcalfmedia_).

Leading into the game they would start Troy Molnaa, a left-handed pitcher for the bombers who had a lot of success in his earlier years of pitching with this being his senior year and his final year on the Bombers team. Troy would start out the game getting three outs with the first six batters with the Bombers keeping the Spartans to just one run. Both teams would go scoreless until the 3rd inning when the Spartans would attack again, scoring another run in the inning, this would force the Bombers to swap pitchers and bring in another star pitcher Alec Ammerman, a junior at Richland. Ammerman was able to get out of the bases-loaded situation with just 1 out to end the top of the 3rd inning, keeping the Spartans to just one score for the high potential. 

The Bombers later in the third would strike back quickly getting three go-ahead walks and turning the bases loaded. The Pitcher for the Spartans, Kosko, would proceed to walk the next batter, Rayce Reeves, scoring the third base runner, and Conner Lakey, scoring the first run for the Bombers. Vopalensky the next batter would come up to the plate next and the first pitch hit a pop-out to the deep center being able to score the now third base runner by tagging up and running home to make the score 2-2. With runners on first and third Kooper Jones would come up to the plate and hit a ground ball to second base scoring the third run but getting the second out. The Inning would end 3-2 with the Bombers now in the lead.

Photo courtesy of Mason Metcalf (ig: metcalfmedia_).

The game would again go scoreless until the 5th inning when the Bombers would come out getting an easy walk with Andre Ang now being on first. Drew Johnson came up to the box next getting a quick 3-2 count then hitting a deep deep ball down the right foul line being able to score Andre from first and get his first triple of the year. With a runner now on third base Rayce Reeves was able to come in and hit a short pop-up that was dropped by the left fielder which was able to score Drew Johnson making the score 5-2. With a runner on second now Vopalensky hit a sac hit to advance the runner to third. Then Kooper Jones came up and was able to get it just past the shortstop to score the 3rd base runner making the score 6-2. The bombers would end the inning on that 6-2 and would move to the field.

The 6th inning started off hot for the Spartans being able to get bases loaded quickly with only one out. The Bombers would swap out Williamson with Trey Bush who would now pitch for the Bombers hoping to get them out of the situation. The first batter would be able to slice it down the right field line which would score two runners now making the score 6-4. With one out the ball was hit to the shortstop who was trying to turn a double play but had an inaccuracy with his throw scoring another run for the Spartans making the score 6-5. The Bombers were able to get the last two outs to put the inning away keeping their lead to one.

Photo courtesy of Mason Metcalf (ig: metcalfmedia_).

The Bombers would go into the 6th inning getting two quick runners on 1st and 2nd base with Rayce Reeves coming to the plate. He was able to hit it short to left center scoring another run and making the score even further apart 7-5. The Spartans were able to keep them at that score for the rest of that inning and they were given one more chance in the 7th inning to score to keep their game alive. The Bombers were able to keep the Spartans at bay getting 3 easy outs and ending the game with a win. 

These first two games would keep the Bombers undefeated, keeping their first two games of the season as wins. The Bombers would win the game over the Sumner Spartans with a score of 7-5 with the play of the game which helped seal Drew Johnson's triple down the right foul line.