The White Rock Tritons’ struggles continued last weekend in Kelowna, as the B.C. Premier Baseball League team dropped four straight road games to the Okanagan Athletics.
On Saturday at Kelowna’s Elk Park, the Tritons lost 3-2 in the first game of the doubleheader, and were thumped 13-3 in the second. Then, on Sunday afternoon, White Rock followed the same pattern, losing the first game by just one run, 2-1, before getting blown out in the nightcap, losing 13-0 in a game that lasted just five inning on account of the mercy rule.
In their first game Saturday – which went to extra innings – the Tritons got a strong performance on the mound from pitcher Joel Lamont, who struck out eight over seven-and-two-thirds innings, but Nathan Trueblood was tagged with the loss, after Okanagan’s James Walker, who reached base on a walk, scored on a game-winning single from Dallis Senger in the bottom of the ninth.
The Tritons, who’ve struggled at the plate this season, got eight hits in the game, including two from catcher Evan Douglas.
The Athletics’ offence got hot in Saturday’s second tilt, as the home team scored in each inning except the first, including seven over the last three frames.
The Tritons, meanwhile, were only able to put together one strong offensive inning – the third, when they played three runs.
Brett Walker led the charge, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while leadoff hitter Tony Tabor had a base hit, run scored, RBI, walk and a stolen base.
Alex Webb was tagged with the loss, lasting just three innings until he was relieved by Connor Kenwood and then Mike Stephens.
On Sunday, Trueblood – who worked in relief Saturday – got the ball to start the game, going six innings, striking out four and allowing just one run, Max Koltai was the pitcher of record, giving up the winning run in the eighth inning.
Game 2 was forgettable on all fronts for the visiting Tritons, who made three errors in the field, and gave up 10 hits and 13 runs to the Athletics, while garnering just three base hits themselves, highlighted by a Talon Van Horn double.
Adam Shumka, the team’s most reliable pitcher so far this season, struggled against the A’s, walking seven in four innings of work.
White Rock’s record stands at just 5-16, which has bumped them down to 12th in the 13-team PBL.