Falcons take finale, avoid sweep at home

The Kelowna Falcons got themselves a game above the .500 mark with a 5-4 win against the Gresham GreyWolves in Saturday’s series finale at Elks Stadium.

The Falcons (5-4) avoided the sweep after dropping the previous two games 3-1 and 6-3 in Friday’s doubleheader. Thursday’s opener was postponed due to Gresham’s late arrival because of bus issues. Saturday was a game of inches for the Falcons. They were unable to get anything going offensively against GreyWolves starting pitcher Jarrod Billig. The lefty out of Seattle was dealing until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Falcons’ bats finally came alive. They were able to score five unanswered runs, which put Kelowna ahead 5-4.

“Honestly, it was some really competitive at-bats. We found a way to get some timely hits and got some momentum going. Then our guys just stepped up and did what we needed them to do,” said Falcons manager Bryan Donohue.

“It’s kind of a gut shot to an opposing team because we basically nickel and dimed them for five runs,” Donohue added. “It was a good job by our guys because before that we were dead offensively.”

Donohue also heaped praise on Cal Hehnke, the first pitcher to come into the game in relief.

“After we got that five spot, the GreyWolves couldn’t get anything going,” Donohue said. “Hehnke was pitching well and getting so many quick outs, and next thing you know we’re back up and hitting again. Hehnke kept the momentum on our side by pitching so well.”

Donohue was also happy with Brayden Price, the big righty who came in to close out the game in the ninth.

“He’s tough to hit, he’s nasty and he’s got the right mentality for it,” Donohue said. “Price is the guy we want in that situation.”

Heading into Sunday’s action, with the Falcons idle, Kelowna was topping the tightly grouped North Division standings in the West Coast League.

The Falcons, at 5-4, were ahead of the Victoria HarbourCats and Port Angeles Lefties, both 5-5, as well as a trio of teams at 4-5 in the Bellingham Bells, Walla Walla Sweets and Wenatchee AppleSox.

The Falcons now hit the road for a three-game set against the last-place overall Cowlitz Black Bears, who are bringing up the rear in the South Division at 2-7. That series starts Tuesday and concludes on Thursday in the state of Washington.