Late surge earns ’Cats road win

VICTORIA 7 WALLA WALLA 6 (11 inns)

The slogan goes Walla Walla is a town so nice they named it twice. The southeastern Washington community that some simply refer to as W2 was welcoming enough for the Victoria HarbourCats on Monday night. The ’Cats rallied for a 7-6 WCL victory in 11 innings over the host Sweets.

Jason Willow, a draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles who completed his freshman season in the NCAA for UC-Santa Barbara, led the Victoria offence. Willow showed why he was Canada’s captain last year at the U-18 World Cup by recording three hits and scoring three runs. The Island product tied the game 6-6 in the top of the ninth inning with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Pac-12 Washington State Cougar slugger Jack Smith.

Smith was at it again in the top of the 11th as another sacrifice fly scored Michael Malinchak from third for the winning run.

Tyler Yoshihara was near flawless as he took the win with four innings of scoreless, hitless relief pitching.

The HarbourCats (10-9) complete their set in Walla Walla (11-8) tonight and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it was truly a dog-day afternoon on Sunday as Bellingham catcher Matt James hit a solo homer for the winning run in the top of the eighth as the Bells edged the HarbourCats 4-3 before 1,903 fans in the annual bring-your-canine to the game promotion at Wilson’s Group Stadium.