Photo Courtesy of Kristen Pearson
Goldpanners players celebrate near the dugout.
Caleb Jones - Daily News-Miner
June 15, 2025
The Goldpanners took control of their six-game series against the San Diego Waves on Sunday, rallying from a three-run deficit to earn a 12-7 win. After taking three of the first five, they now look to clinch the series in the finale.
“To get some big hits and build some positive momentum – that was the biggest thing right there,” Assistant coach Dave Dawson said postgame. He filled in for field manager Carlos Gonzales after Gonzales was ejected in the seventh inning.
After managing just three hits the night before, the Goldpanners nearly matched that total in the first inning alone. Efren Ortega reached on an infield single, and Luke Thiele followed with a double to put runners on second and third with two outs.
Though neither scored, it was an encouraging sign for a lineup looking to regain its rhythm at the plate.
Starting pitcher Brent Godina opened strong, striking out five of the first six batters he faced over two innings. He allowed just one hit and issued no walks in that span.
San Diego’s first scoring chance came in the fourth. A comebacker that struck Godina led to their first hit of the game, followed by another single to put runners on the corners with no outs.
The Waves capitalized in the fourth, scoring twice on a passed ball and two additional hits. Godina’s outing ended after 4.1 innings, during which he struck out seven and allowed four hits and three earned runs – the third coming after he exited but credited to him, as the inherited runner scored.
Egan Keeler entered in relief and recorded the final two outs of the inning, surrendering one hit that brought in the third run. The Goldpanners entered the bottom of the fourth trailing 3-0.
The Goldpanners built momentum in the bottom of the fourth. Ortega doubled, and walks to Thiele and Vincent Venverloh loaded the bases with no outs. Evan Rolbiecki then grounded into a double play, scoring one but leaving two outs with a runner on third.
Alex Garcia kept the inning alive with a line-drive RBI single, trimming the deficit to 3-2. The rally ended there, but Alaska pulled within one heading into the fifth.
In the seventh, the Goldpanners drew even. After Keeler held the Waves scoreless, the offense took advantage of free passes. Ortega and Thiele were both hit by pitches to open the inning, and an infield grounder from Venverloh led to an error that loaded the bases. Two outs later, Ismael Diaz was hit by a pitch – the third of the inning – forcing in the tying run and making it 3-3.
A changed call shifted momentum in the top of the seventh. Right fielder Hunter Friedberg appeared to make a catch in foul ground, but it was ruled no catch. The Waves capitalized, following the ruling with a single to put two aboard.
With runners on, catcher Ortega attempted a backpick to first, but the throw rolled into right field, allowing the go-ahead run to score from second and giving San Diego a 4-3 lead.
“It didn’t end up being too big of a deal, it was just such a crazy play,” Dawson said of the sequence that started with the overturned call. “It led to the ejection. But, I think more than anything our guys are competing against themselves.”
Despite the miscue, Keeler settled in and avoided further damage, keeping the deficit at one heading into the bottom of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Goldpanners found themselves in another bases-loaded, no-outs situation – again sparked by two walks and a single from Ian Armstrong. Shortly after, Thiele tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single up the middle.
Venverloh followed with a blooper to right, giving the ‘Panners their first lead of the game at 5-4. Still with no outs, Rolbiecki delivered the decisive blow – a grand slam over the left-field fence. The rally exploded into a rout with one swing, pushing the lead to 9-4.
The momentum continued. Armstrong ripped a two-run double later in the inning, stretching the lead to 11-4.
“A lot of those guys that got hits there in that inning had been pressuring themselves, so it was good to see,” Dawson said. “Hopefully it will help get us going, and we can ride that out a little bit. We have a good offensive team. We just need to get back in the groove of things… so it was good to see them come up with some big hits and string those together.”
In the eighth, the offense kept rolling. Thiele singled and Venverloh doubled him in to make it 12-4. A sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter Logan Wimberly added another.
San Diego showed some late fight, scoring three in the ninth, but never seriously threatened. The Goldpanners held on for a 12-7 win. The teams meet one final time Monday at 6:30 p.m for the finale.
Contact Caleb Jones at (907) 459-7530 or at cjones@newsminer.com.
