July 23, 2021

By Cassidy Thornburg

 

Oceanside — Starting Pitcher #37 Stephen Raussa and #5 Drake Pierson had the two biggest hits of the day. Raussa knocked a three-RBI-double in the top of the second and Pierson went around in the top of the sixth with a RBI-home run that propelled the Force to an 8-4 victory over the Invaders. 

 

Invaders #3 Jakobs scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first with a sac-fly to right field. #24 Uno followed suit for the Invaders with a RBI-double that gave the Invaders an early 2-0 lead. 

 

The Force responded quickly in the top of the second when Starting Pitcher #37 Stephen Raussa became the unexpected hero. Raussa’s three-RBI-double gave the Force a lead they never relinquished. 

 

The Force’s defense stayed as alert as their offense. In the top of the fifth, starting pitcher #10 Ethan Paulson made a play at the plate to keep the Invaders from tying the game. From there, the Force cushioned the lead. In the top of the sixth, #5 Drake Pierson launched a bomb out to the 5-freeway that scored two. The Force pieced together a few more hits to extend their lead to 7-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth. 

 

Pierson continued to make a difference in the following inning and scored the eighth run for the Force in the top of the eighth. #47 Adam Gacek came in as the Force’s closer starting in the eighth. He thfew some heat before a strained lat affected his consistency. In his place, #30 JT Stanley, traditionally a catcher for the Force, took the mound. Stanley closed out the day for the Force and secured the 8-4 victory.

 

The Force are off the rest of the weekend, but will be back in action next week for the Pacific Shore League Playoffs.