(Image credit: Larry Read/contributed).

By Aaron Schulze

NorthPaws Break

NorthPaws drop series to Edmonton 2-1, begin four-day break

Jul 14, 2023 | 7:48 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws enter a much needed four-day break after dropping a series at home to the Edmonton Riverhawks 2-1.

After dropping the series opener 5-2 on Tuesday (July 11), the NorthPaws walked off the Riverhawks 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday thanks to a sacrifice fly from Bennett Freiter.

However, the Paws dropped the final game of the series on Thursday 9-5, having blown a 4-0 deficit and allowing seven runs in the sixth inning.

“We had the lead with one hit. They had made several errors and gave us many opportunities to put the game away and we didn’t take advantage of it,” Keith Francis, NorthPaws manager says. “We had guys in scoring position again but couldn’t get that hit. We can’t when it counts, and it comes back and bites you. Baseball Gods have a way of turning against you if you don’t score when you have to.”

When asked if he left the pitcher in the sixth inning – Anthony Manuel – in for too long, Francis states he did a horrible job managing the game.

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“I told the team that too,” Francis says. “I thought that was the worst job I have done all year with my pitching staff. It’s on me. I should have done better.”

The Paws fall to 2-8 in the second half of the West Coast League season and have an overall record of 8-28 for 2023. Next up is a three-game series in Washington State against the Port Angeles Lefties starting July 18. The Paws’ next home series at Norbrock Stadium starts July 21 against the Bellingham Bells.