Rallies swing both ways for Medical Lake and Deer Park

By PAUL DELANEY

Staff Reporter

Mid-game rallies were a two-way street for the Medical Lake Cardinals as they split a Monday afternoon Great Northern League baseball doubleheader with the Deer Park Stags.

In game one, the Cards had huge fourth and fifth innings, scoring nine runs to pound the Stags 12-3, but in the night cap, a five-run fifth inning helped Deer Park rally for a 6-5 win. The Cardinals improved their GNL record to 3-1 with the split and 3-2 overall. Deer Park, meanwhile fell to 1-5 in the GNL and 1-6 overall.

Deer Park had a 3-1 lead through three innings in a contest that was technically a home game, rescheduled from last Saturday’s snow-out. That’s before Nick Pacheco slapped a pitch, 370 feet over the centerfield fence that was part of a four-run fourth that gave the Cards a lead they would not give up.

Doubles by Zach Worl and Mike Constantine, sandwiched around a home run by Ryan Wagner keyed Medical Lake’s five run fifth that put the Cards up 10-3.

Worl had three of Medical Lake’s 11 hits, including a home run. Other multiple hit efforts came from Constantine and Tyler Owens, each a pair. “We had a big day from everyone at the plate,” coach T.J. Smith said. “ Worl was a triple away from the cycle.”

Pitching was stellar for the Cardinals in the opener as TJ Gover went the distance, scattering just three hits and striking out eight.

In game two, Medical Lake took the lead 1-0 in the top of the second when Pachecho reached first on a throwing error, chasing Wagner home and Brenden Greene to third. Constantine then cleared the bases with a triple to right scoring Greene and Pacheco. That was Constantine’s second triple of the game. Earlier, his three-bagger drove in ML’s first run.

Alex Wolf’s two-out single completed a five-run fifth inning that rallied the Stags who trailed 4-0 going into the fourth. Owens homer, a two-out shot in the top of the seventh to close the gap to 6-5.

“In the second game the Deer Park pitcher pitched a good game we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities,” Smith said. “When it comes down to it the game is won or lost from 60 feet, 6 inches,” Smith added, referring to a pitching breakdown in game two.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected]