'Keep it rolling': Crawdads play bully ball in seventh for win

Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, things looked bleak for Walnut Creek. Despite putting up six runs throughout the game to that point, they still trailed 7-6 to San Francisco. In the dugout, however, nobody seemed worried, nor did anyone wave the proverbial white flag. After the seventh-inning stretch, a gear switch flipped the game on its head. 

Crawdads' catcher Joe Coupland started the ensuing monster frame with a one-out single. Following a pitching change right after, first baseman Kam Taylor and third baseman Kevin Parker Jr. walked before left fielder Brandon Clizbe roped a double to clear the bases and garner two RBI. That start to the bottom of the seventh continued into an eventual eight-run frame as the Seagulls were left crushed and the possible upset sank into a sinkhole. 

Walnut Creek's monstrous seventh inning propelled them to a 14-8 victory over San Francisco at Monte Vista High School on Wednesday night. Walnut Creek had two pitchers whose arguably best outings of the season helped propel them to victory as well. 

Starting on the bump, tall right-handed pitcher Devin James gave up three runs in 4.2 innings. James allowed just four hits and one walk. The more impressive stat for James, however, is the nine strikeouts he registered. The nine strikeouts mark the most strikeouts in a game in either college or with the Crawdads in his career. 

James mentioned how he felt all five pitches were working for him. He wanted to gain more confidence this summer and felt he achieved that Wednesday. 

"Today was really needed for me," James said. "I haven't had an outing that has really shown what my capabilities are and today showed it other than a few too many hits. It really builds my confidence and helps me go into my next appearance."

Later in the game, right-hander Sam Johnston emerged from the bullpen for his arguably best outing of the year in the Walnut Creek uniform. Coming back from injury, Johnston took a couple of games to settle in and find himself again. On Wednesday, he allowed one run on two hits, no walks and struck out two in 2.0 innings of work. 

Johnston also mentioned how much of a confidence booster Wednesday's appearance was.  He felt both of his pitches worked for him.

At the plate, three hitters registered multi-hit games: Coupland, Taylor and Clizbe. 

Coupland went 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Right before his home run in the fifth to cut the deficit to one, he called his own shot, mentioning how he would mash one. 

Taylor went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk. Clizbe went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. For Clizbe, the two-hit game and his crucial seventh-inning double helped him gain more confidence for the rest of the season. 

"It is great," Clizbe said of his performance. "I have been getting my hits in and I had the bases juiced; we needed a few runs and I did not miss the pitch. Confidence is definitely built up for the next games coming up and we are going to keep it rolling." 

Walnut Creek, who stayed in first place with the win and moved to 25-10 in CCL play. Following the off-day on Thursday, Walnut Creek will head on the road to San Francisco for another matchup at San Bruno Park on July 24 at 6:05 p.m.