KLAMATH FALLS 11 VICTORIA 6
From an athlete’s perspective there are two ways of looking at all-star games.
If you’re selected, it’s instant recognition and basking in the glory of a rewarding start to your season.
If not, then it’s a wonderful — and well earned — couple of days off to re-charge your batteries and attack the remainder of the campaign.
The Victoria HarbourCats, who lost 11-6 to the Klamath Falls Gems in 11 innings on Saturday night at Royal Athletic Park, have both.
“It’s nice to be recognized,” said H-Cats first baseman Gabe Clark, who will be joined at Monday’s all-star game in Klamath Falls, Ore., by Victoria teammates Alex DeGoti, Logan Lambana and Alex Rogers. “It’s been up and down so far. Hopefully I can stop roller-coasting and plateau a little bit.”
On Saturday Clark went 2-for-6 with three runs batted in after Friday night’s incredible three home-run outing with six RBIs in a 14-8 win. The latter doubled his seasonal home-run production to six.
“You're not going to hit three home runs every game. A double here or there instead of striking out would be great,” said Clark, who could not recall having an outing that could match Frida’'s numbers. “Not in collegiate or high school ball, that’s for sure. Probably Little League, but nothing I can remember. It was definitely a fun night.”
While Clark and his all-star mates hit the road for nine hours, driving to Klamath Falls this morning, the remaining HarbourCats will enjoy the rare time off.
Nathan Lukes, overlooked for the all-star game (hitting .345, fifth overall in the West Coast League prior to the game), is one of those who will put his feet up at home or on a beach.
“We were planning on going to the lake, but it’s supposed to rain, so I might just hang out and get some rest until we get playing again,” admitted Lukes, prior to going 2-for-6 with two runs scored for the night. “It’s going to be nice to get some down time.
“It’s a long season. You just have to grind it out. That’s what baseball is. You just have to keep going.”
The HarbourCats had rebounded from a 3-0 deficit by scoring a three-spot in the bottom of the third on Saturday and added two more runs in the fourth.
Klamath Falls’s Kyle Dozier hit a two-run home run to tie it at 5-5 in the eighth off reliever Tm Peabody. The Gems then added five more runs in the top of the 11th off relievers Preston Ryan and Ryan Keller. Klamath Falls countered with Ryan Strombom, who went five innings before giving way to Austin Hagy. Offensively for the Gems, Steven Packard extended his hit streak to 20 games with an RBI single in the third.
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