By: Julian Khoury

The West Coast Kings came into Wednesday night's game seeking revenge after losing a contest the day prior in which their opponent gave up five errors, and its pitching was unable to piece together. 

In round two of the matchup between the Healdsburg Prune Packers (7-2) and the Kings (10-6), a late bullpen blow cost the Packers a chance at staying undefeated throughout their first few games of league play. 

With Healdsburg up three runs heading into the top of the seventh, it was looking as though the Packers were set to ride a carriage into victory. 

The former University of Texas right-handed reliever, Jack Paris, took over on the mound and quickly worked himself into a jam. A walk to Julian Cambra, followed by a free pass to Davis Minton a batter later, brought the tying run to the plate in pinch-hitter Ryan Hubbard.

Paris was able to get two outs in the inning; however, both were fielders' choices, allowing the runners to advance.  

Hubbard did not see action in game one, and after six innings on the pine, delivered the furthest ball hit to center field that Recreation Park has seen all season, and was inches away from nodding things up at three. 

What was initially ruled a three-run home run for Hubbard was determined to be stuck in the ivy after further review, resulting in a two RBI double. 

Immediately after, Paris lost control of the ball and hit Emmet Johsnon on a pitch that ran inside, forcing Head Coach Joey Gomes to pull him from the contest. 

With two on and two out, Third-Team NCBWA All-American Aidan Russell was tasked with keeping the Packers ahead. 

In 57 innings this past year at San Diego State, Russell posted a 2.53 earned run average with 49 strikeouts, and presumably was the right man for the job. 

In his first batter faced, Russell threw four straight balls to Jake Yeater, loading the bases, and it seemed as though a curse was set on rubber. 

Ron Dutt pinch-hit for EJ Cord, drawing another free pass, and after six clean innings defensively for the Packers coming off of a brutal night in the field, a wild pitch snuck by catcher Tommy Brown, allowing the Kings to take the lead. 

The Packers have only given up three or more runs in four games, and runs in the seventh inning or later four times, with one of those resulting in what was their lone loss of the season before Wednesday night. 

With nine outs to work with, Healdsburg was hoping to make a late push and had the stats to back it up. The Packers have scored 108 total runs, with 57 of those coming in the sixth inning or later. 

In contrast to these numbers, the one game in which Healdsburg lost, it was unable to string anything together late, and that theme unfortunately carried into Wednesday night. 

A different-looking lineup, which featured Brenden Lewis, Will Van Wie, and JC Osario-Agard at the front, not to mention the red-hot Jake McCoy hitting cleanup in the order, was unable to turn its fortune around, only tallying one baserunner via a walk by McCoy in the final four frames. 

Over his last three games, McCoy is hitting .364 with two extra base hits, including a double and a three-run home run. 

Will Van Wie also added to the home run totals with a two-run home run that was heard around the neighborhood, bumping the Packers' home run streak to three consecutive games and marking the second time it came with runners on base. 

Despite playing five fewer games than the home run leader in the Pacific Empire League, Lincoln Potters (13), the Packers are only one short of tying the squad at the top as they sit at twelve. 

Early on in the season, the Packers' ability to create traffic on the bases and cause chaos seemed to be their key to success. After walking thirty times in two games against the Bay Area Marauders, plate discipline and productive outs were Healdsburg's name of the game. 

Now that the Power has come around for the Pack, the ability to get on base and drive runners home has lacked. 

On Thursday, the Packers will take their first road trip of the year and square off against the Marysville Giants, who are coming off a 20-6 loss to the Solano Mudcats. Just a few games earlier, the Giants mightily struggled against the Kings, suffering a 22-7 defeat. 

Marysville ranks last in almost every offensive category, including home runs, RBI, extra base hits, and total bases. On the pitching side its more of the same, as it has posted a 13.50 earned run average thus far. 

This is an opportunity for Healdsburg to get right back on track, if it can capitalize on an underperforming Giants pack.