Monday July 13, 2009 - Kelowna, BC
Win over
Kelowna Falcons 4-3

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by Aaron Torres

KELOWNA, BC- After playing three games to secure the Kamloops International Baseball Tournament on Sunday, many thought it’d be difficult for the Midnight Sun Goldpanners to pull out a win against the Kelowna Falcons on Monday night.

Apparently no one told the Goldpanners. A.J. Burke pitched five innings of one hit relief, and the visitors took advantage of some timely mistakes, winning the first of a three game series against the Kelowna Falcons 4-3 in Kelowna.

The Goldpanners jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, as Trent Olezszcuk scored on a throwing error by Kelowna shortstop Mike Aldrete. When Aldrete’s throw got away from Eddie Hsieh at first, Olezszcuk came into score, giving the Goldpanners their first lead of the game.

Just an inning later however, the lead was lost, as the Falcons plated two runs, courtesy of one hit and four walks by Midnight Sun starter Tim Culligan. Kelowna added another run in the 5^th inning.

It wasn’t until the 7^th inning that the Goldpanners bats got going again, and it wasn’t a second too soon.

Josh Kalalau led off the inning with a double, and the next batter Phil Parrish was walked on four pitches. Mykal Stokes was next up, and put a beautiful sacrifice bunt down the first base line, advancing both runners 90 feet.

Olezszcuk came up to the plate next, looking to improve on his already impressive 2-3 day at the plate. The hard hitting shortstop didn’t have to do much however, as reliever Rob Bleeker threw back to back wild pitches, scoring both Kalalau and Parrish tying the game at 3.

Just an inning later Travis Andersen would score the Goldpanners final run on the game on another Kelowna miscue- a throwing error by catcher Brett Hottman on an attempted steal- sealing the 4-3 victory.

On the mound, Burke relieved Culligan, who pitched an effective four innings of work. After giving up a run in the fifth, Burke cruised, retiring the lat 10 hitters he faced, and ending the game in convincing fashion, striking out leadoff hitter Dwight Tanaka.

The Goldpanners will continue their Alaska 50 Tour on Tuesday, when they take on the same Kelowna Falcons at 7 p.m. in Kelowna. They will conclude their three game series on Wednesday, before heading to Coeur D’Alene, ID on Thursday, where they’ll play the Spokane Riverhawks.

Stay tuned to Goldpanners.com for continuing coverage.