LAKE ELSINORE — In an exciting conclusion to their series, the Lake Elsinore Storm, now holding a 31-30 record, powered their way to a 7-2 victory over the Stockton Ports last week. The Storm showcased their batting prowess with an impressive four home runs, delighting the crowd of over 2,500 on Father’s Day.
Isaiah Lowe, the Storm’s steadiest starter, took the mound and quickly set the tone by retiring the first three batters on just six pitches. Lowe delivered a stellar performance, pitching six complete innings, allowing only two hits, and striking out six. The only significant threat from Stockton came in the second inning when they loaded the bases. However, Lowe remained composed and responded with two strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning unscathed.
The game started with a bang for the Storm. In the first inning, Wyatt Hoffman and Romeo Sanabria reached base, setting the stage for Jacob Campbell. With two outs, Campbell blasted the first pitch he saw out of the park, igniting electrifying cheers from the crowd. This three-run homer set the tone for the Storm, who never relinquished their lead.
The Storm continued their offensive onslaught with more power-hitting. In the third inning, Nick Vogt launched a solo shot to center field. Later, in the sixth inning, Chase Valentine and Hoffman hit back-to-back home runs, adding three more runs to the scoreboard. Hoffman’s homer was met with even greater enthusiasm as it was announced that his father, Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman, was in attendance.
With this victory, the Storm’s playoff hopes are within reach. They will be traveling this week to face Visalia (27-35). To secure their spot as the First Half Champions and guarantee a playoff position in September, the Storm need either one more win in the next three games or for the Quakes (29-32) to lose. The Quakes are set to play against the Inland Empire 66ers (23-39) this week. Achieving either of these outcomes will mark an important milestone as the Storm aim for their fifth championship in the organization’s history.
Check out the Valley News social media channels for opportunities to win tickets to games and visit www.stormbaseball.com for ticket info, promotions schedules and more. Article contributions made by Storm Multimedia Manager Justin Jett.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
