The Inland Valley Legends hosted the Pirates for their second matchup of the year on a peaceful Wednesday evening at APU.
The Legends and Pirates met last Friday in a game that ended in a Legends win due to the Pirates accidentally batting an ineligible player.
The Legends are leading the CPCL with an 8-1 record, while the Pirates are in second place with a 5-2-1 record.
Just like the game last Friday, Wednesday’s match was a close pitcher’s duel, and just like the previous contest, the Legends again came out on top.
The first highlight of the game was brought by Legends’ DH Robert Pitts. Pitts, a right-handed hitter, smoked a high fastball over the fence in right-center.
In the third inning, Jordan Viramontes singled, and Vaughn Coleman drew a walk to put two runners on with only one out for the Pirates. Third baseman Esteban Olazaba came up big, crushing a double deep into the left-center gap, driving in both Biramontes and Coleman.
Later in the inning, Olazaba scored from third base when the Legends pitcher missed a throw back from the catcher.
After the exciting third, the game flew by as pitching cut through the lineups of both squads.
Pirates’ pitchers Jude Favela and Ryder Gibson combined to throw five scoreless innings, only allowing one hit each.
Legends’ starter Brandon Wyland was also fantastic outside of the three-run third inning. Wyland ultimately pitched six innings and didn’t give up a run outside of the third, and only gave up six hits.
Cole Monsen relieved Wyland and continued the streak of three scoreless innings by throwing two of his own and striking out three along the way.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Legends finally got their offense rolling, and it was once again Pitts who was at the center of it.
With a runner on first and second with one out, Pitts smoked another ball to deep right-center field to bring both runners in and tie the game at three. The momentous hit was his third of the game.
Pitts finished the game with one home run, two doubles, three RBI, and scored twice.
With Pitts on second, Tyler Shigenaka came up and dumped a fly ball into left field to bring him in and give the Legends the lead.
The Legends brought Josh Martinez in to close out the game, and he shut the door on the Pirates even after issuing a walk.
In total, the game lasted two hours and two minutes, by far the quickest game of the year.
The Legends have now guaranteed a season split with the Pirates and have widened their first-place lead.
The Pirates will have a chance to recover this weekend as they will play a series against the Power in Palm Springs.
Inland Valley Baseball Association 