DRIFTERS RECAPS
FRIDAY
■ SPRINGFIELD – The Drifters hotly pursued a Portland Pickles lead for seven innings of the series opener in Springfield, but even a second life from a dropped pop fly in foul territory that would’ve ended the game wasn’t enough to flip the 9-7 loss. The Drifters’ newfound depth, with reinforcements arriving earlier this week as the 10-day players cycle out, was crucial to the comeback effort, with seven different players recording hits and recent arrivals Zach Daigre and Hunter Meyer each walking three times at the top of Springfield’s order. Still, after the Pickles overcame a 2-1 deficit in the fourth inning, they built too much of a cushion for the Drifters’ late push. “We’ve talked about this all year: we’re not gonna talk about the wins and losses as long as we have a chance to win over and over again,” Drifters head coach Jeff Lyle said. “Me and coach (Dean) Styles laugh about it all the time, that the sign of a good coach is winning one-run games, and we’re losing a bunch of one- or two-run games right now, so I’m gonna wear this one.”
SATURDAY
■ SPRINGFIELD – After multiple rallies went astray in six shutout innings against Portland, the Drifters needed something to rally around offensively. Enter the rally sock. “There was a tournament here earlier today, and I assume one of the players just left his sock, so I picked it up and stuck it up in the net, and everyone made fun of me and called me gross,” coach Lyle said. “We put up a five-spot in the next inning, so call me gross, or whatever you need, for a five spot, I’ll do it.” Springfield broke the shutout unceremoniously when Zach Story scored on a wild pitch. By the end of the seventh, the Drifters had broken open the game, courtesy of doubles from Hunter Meyer and Nolan Miller and a single by Johnny Elliott. The bullpen finished the 6-0 shutout that Tristan Ledbetter gritted out for five innings. “As guys started showing up today, the energy was different than it was last year, different than it’s been all this year, and it’s infectious,” Lyle said. “Today was one of those days that just shows us what we can do when everything’s clicking.” Ledbetter, who entered the game with a 3.00 ERA, settled in after a leadoff HBP to retire six straight batters. “I didn’t really have my stuff today, but I kind of wanted to get in the zone and give my defense a chance to help me out,” Ledbetter said. “I relied on them a lot today, so that was huge.” University of Oregon infielder Malosi Mata’afa Alferos came through in the second inning with a double down the right-field line in his first at-bat as a Drifter.
SUNDAY
■ SPRINGFIELD – Trailing by five runs in the eighth inning, University of Portland commit Drew Holman pinch-hit for future teammate and Drifters veteran Nolan Miller. A catcher on a 10-day contract pinch-hitting for a first baseman may have raised eyebrows, but it happened for the same reason Holman stuck with the Drifters for more than 10 days. “Drew was one of our guys – he was our dog,” Lyle said. “He was on a 10-day, but he earned some more time.” It was Miller’s idea for Holman to get an at-bat in his last game with the Drifters this summer, and he made a simple case to Lyle, saying he had never given away an at-bat in his life, but that Holman should take his. Holman’s strong work ethic and popularity in the clubhouse earned him that level of respect before his collegiate debut. “Those are the moments that we do this for,” Lyle said. On the field, the decisive game in the series was one to forget for the Drifters, despite a first-inning, opposite-field two-run homer by Cooper Mullens, his first of the summer.
■ The Drifters are on the road for three-game sets in Walla Walla and Ridgefield. They return June 30 to face the Marion Berries. Drifters’ road games are streamed on westcoastleague.com/
