The Lake Elsinore Storm not only swept the visiting Visalia Rawhide in a three-game series, but are currently tied for first in the Southern Division with the High Desert Mavericks at 31-27 and will begin a three-game series against High Desert Tuesday beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Burch Smith led the Storm in his eleventh start of the season. (Cherished Memories)
Burch Smith led the Storm in his eleventh start of the season. He went six innings allowed only three hits and struck out seven. The pitching staff of Smith, Jeremy Gigliotti and Mark Pope allowed no walks in the game.
Offensively, Justin Miller continued to impress and he lengthened his hit streak to nine games and is now batting .483 with 21 hits, five doubles and nine RBIs in only 14 games for the Storm.
He picked up one of those doubles in the third inning along with Cory Spangenberg as the Storm opened its lead to three runs.
Visalia’s lone run came in the fourth when Bobby Borchering went yard, hitting the ball up and over the 37-foot wall in right field.
The Storm continued to roll in the bottom half of the fourth with Eddy Rodriguez hitting a lead-off single back up the middle. Chris Bisson reached base on a fielder’s choice to have one man on and one out for Miller. Miller singled past the third baseman putting runners on the corners. Everett Williams joined the party singling to left scoring Bisson. Tommy Medica singled to centerfield, allowing Miller and Williams to score as the Storm put up three runs on four hits in the inning to go ahead 6-1.
The Storm tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth — one by Cory Spangenberg who looked to have an inside the park home run but had to settle for a triple. He scored on a Medica single. Spangenberg picked up his own RBI, scoring Rodriguez in the eighth for the 8-1 win.
The foursome of Miller, Williams, Spangenberg and Media combined to produce 10 hits, seven RBIs and six runs on the night.
The Storm head on the road for a dog fight for first and will be home next on Monday to take on the same High Desert Mavericks to battle for first in the division. Next Monday is also Nothing Night where there is no admission, no parking, no mascots, no music, just baseball.
So come enjoy and fans are allowed to bring food into the ballpark but the Storm will also have concessions open that day.
For more information visit stormbaseball.com or call 951-245-4487.
*Contributed by the Lake Elsinore Storm
Loading ...
