Pitching: In a word, that’s what Billy Clontz credits for a large degree of success the Kelowna Falcons are having so far in the 2015 West Coast League baseball season.
The Falcons, who are in the midst of a four-day break, have won four straight and are now 6-3 on the season—just 1/2 game back of Yakima Valley for top spot in the East Division.
On Sunday, the Falcons completed a clean sweep of the Medford Rogues with a 9-4 verdict at Elks Stadium.
Four Falcons pitchers combined for a two-hitter and didn’t give up a hit over the final seven innings, spanning 25 batters.
Kelowna hurlers have yielded just four runs over the last 18 innings and now rate third in the WCL this season in team ERA (3.15).
“The guys are going out and having good quality starts and they’re really competing,” said Clontz. “Early on we were a bit passive but as of late the guys have stepped up the energy and they’re starting to get comfortable out there and with one another.”
Elias Bedolla from Ohlone College leads Falcons starters with two wins and 10 strikeouts, while Jayse Bannister has been solid out of the pen the last two outings with nine innings pitched an no runs allowed. The Holy Names University lefty pitched five hitless innings on Sunday.
The Falcons are off to a considerably better start than a year ago when Clontz, in his rookie campaign, watched Kelowna go 3-7 in its first 10.
Still, with 35 players from all corners of North America on the roster and 45 games yet to play, Clontz considers the Falcons a work in progress.
“We’re pleased with the start but we also understand it’s a long summer. We’re still continuing to grow as a team,” Clontz said. “We’re taking it day to day, it’s a developmental league so you’re going to have ups and downs when you bring in kids from all across the country and try and get them to gel.”
“But so far, we’re pretty happy.”
Offensively, Ben Gamba from Holy Names is among the league leaders with a .412 average.
Cal State U.’s Justin Flores is hitting .400 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs.
The Falcons will take on the PBL’s Okanagan A’s tonight in an exhibition game, 6:30 at Elks Stadium.
Kelowna will return to WCL action this weekend when they hit the road for three against the Yakima Valley Pippins.
Next home action for the Falcons Monday, June 22 against the Bellingham Bells.
