WW Tranny Team Beats Lions, Falls To WW Exchange

WALLA WALLA-The Walla Walla Transmission Babe Ruth team ended its summer league season with a win and a loss in the playoff tournament. The loss left them one game shy of the championship game.

Last Saturday night the Waitsburg-based team faced the Eastgate Lyons in the first round of the tournament.

The team wasted no time warming up to plate. Dalton Estes slammed his first pitch, sending it over the fence for a three-run home run in the top of the first inning.

The Lions answered right back with five runs in the next three innings. The Transmission trailed 5-4.

The fourth inning was the beginning of the end for the Lions. The Transmission team exploded for eight runs to take a commanding 13-5 lead.

The big Transmission rally started when Chad Pearson led off with a freebee (walk), which was followed by a well placed bunt from Tre Potts. Pearson's wheels beat the throw down to the plate to tie the score 5-5.

Estes' ripped a triple for an RBI, that was quickly followed by a Tucker Alleman hit that brought home another run to give them a 7-5 lead, all with nobody out.

The Transmission's Jordan Smith kept the rally alive with a solid double up the middle bringing home Alleman for an 8-5 lead.

A combination of two walked batters and Chance Leroue taking one for the team (hit by a pitch) loaded the bases. Chad Pearson stepped up to the plate for the second time in the inning and connected for a single that would bring in two more runs.

Another base on balls from a Lyons pitcher loaded the bases again for the Transmission team. Alleman wacked a two-run single up the middle to score the last runs of the inning. The transmission had a 13-5 lead.

In the fourth inning, The Transmission's Estes was relieved by Leroue on the mound. He allowed just one hit and run to maintain a 13-6 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Jordan Smith led off with a single. Leroue slapped a hit for an RBI, and Luke Alexenko's solid base stealing added two more runs.

Alleman, Estes, and Alex Breland all stroked singles that brought home two more runs. The score was 17-6 and the ten run rule was in effect.

It was do or die for the Lyons. With two outs and a runner on third, they needed to rattle some bats to stay alive or the game would be over. A Transmission pitcher's wild pitch would send in one run. The Lions hopes were still alive when the next batter walked.

With two outs and a runner on first, the next hitter lofted a fly ball to shallow center field. As the ball was about to drop for a hit, Estes sprinted and laid it all on the line and made a diving catch that ended the game. The Transmission won 17-7 and advanced to the next round of the playoffs.

During Monday night's game against the Walla Walla Exchange team, the Transmission played a team that was much more evenly matched.

The Exchange jumped out of the starting gate early with two runs in the top of the first; even before the fans seats were warm.

In the home half of the first, the Transmission's grabbed the momentum as Jordan Smith belted a threerun home run to center field to take a 3-2.

The Transmission would score again in the bottom of the third when Estes connected again pounding a home run over the right - field fence. It was 4-2.

A couple of walks and an overthrow at the plate allowed the Exchange to score a run in the fourth inning, trimming the Transmission lead to 4-3.

The Transmission felt the championship game was within reach.

Two more walks and a fielding error loaded the bases for the Exchange with nobody out. A balk and wild pitch allowed two runs to come home and the Exchange grabbed a one run lead 5-4.

Alexankco picked a runner off second base and was able to strike out a batter for two outs.

The Transmission pitching walked some batters and a double to centerfield brought in four more runs and the Exchange were ahead 9-4. The top of the 7th inning finally came to and end.

But, the Transmission team was not through. Estes drove a hit to right field that just missed the fence and ruled a double. The rally ended with a solid grounded to second base to end the game.