After Vancouver squeaked out a 3-1 win Saturday night in Idaho, the two teams came back to the field Sunday to close out their 5-game series in front of 2,000 Hawk fans.

In 100 degree Boise heat, Vancouver stacked up like this:

SS ‘Runway’ Richard
2B ‘Manta’ Ray
LF ‘Excellentic’ Sulentic
1B ‘Amblin’ Hamblin
RF ‘Uptown’ Brown
3B ‘Burning’ Correa (Left)
DH ‘Ham’ Frash
CF ‘3-0′ Keough
C ‘The American Dream’ Napoleon
SP ‘Perfect’ Hertzler

Vancouver first got on the board in the 2nd inning, ahead of the Hawks. Dan Hamblin led things off with a walk, and then back-to-back singles by Corey Brown and Walter Correa brought Amblin’ into score. Frash lined into a double-play when Walter Correa was doubled off at first base on the catch to end the inning.

Nothing exciting happened up until the 6th inning. ‘Venti’ Vento replaced ‘Amused’ Huseby in the top of that inning as the Hawks pitcher, and it was a decision Boise will regret. With two out in the inning, and no one on base, Dan Hamblin belted his 7th homer of the season to center field, over the head of ‘Wailing’ Jon Wyatt. After Corey Brown singled, Walter Correa blasted the ball into left field for his first pro dinger, the second of the inning. Brown also scored on the play, 4-0 for Rich Harden’s favourite NWL team.

Brad Hertzler (left) was pulled going into the bottom of 6, after surrendering 4 hits, one walk and striking out three in his five innings of duty. With a 1.57 ERA, Hertzler would lead the league in that category if he had pitched enough innings.  If he keeps up his pace, he could be up for a very good season.  Bryan ‘Tee’ Collins replaced Hertzler, and got the three outs in the 6th without surrendering any runs.

All nine Canadian batters stepped up to the dish in the 7th inning, but only three crossed that same plate later on that inning. Shane Keough led things off with his first pro homer to right field, the third C’s home-run in the game. Dusty Napoleon walked, but was sent back to the dugout on Michael Richard’s fielders’ choice, before Runway came into score on Matt Ray’s double to left. This was it for Venti, because John ‘Deutsch’ Muller entered the game for the bad guys. He gave up two straight walks to load the bases, before Corey Brown singled-in Matt Ray to score. Correa and Frash both got out to strand the bases loaded. 7-0 C’s.

After two innings of one-hit ball, Collins was yanked for Justin ‘Popular’ Friend. Justin got the three outs in the 8th, and surprisingly got the boot in the 9th for Aaron ‘Strike’ Jenkins. After striking out Dylan ‘BBQ’ Johnston to lead off the inning, Jon Wyatt singled to center. Marquez Smith walked with only the one out, and that set up runners on first and second for Ty ‘I’m’ Wright. The Hawk crushed the ball to left field for his 4th homer of the season to put Boise in contention, 7-3 C’s. It was, unfortunately for Boise fans, not enough as Vancouver cruised to victory.

At least they’ll have something to cheer about on the very (12 hours to be exact) long bus ride back to Vancouver. 

Wondered why Justin Frash has been getting the bench seat instead of Walter Correa lately?  Well that’s because Correa is on fire.  In his last last three games he’s 7 for 13 at the plate, with the one home-run and four RBI.  Going back even further, in the last six games Correa has been in the lineup he’s 10 for 23 with two doubles, the dinger, and 6 RBI’s.  Even more surprising in that half-a-dozen games is that Correa has struck out five times, 21 times less than his season total of 26.

50’s Night comes around Tuesday at the Nat, for game 1 of a three-game set against the Aquasox.  Yakima rolls into town Friday night for a five-game trip to wrap up an 8-game home-stand for the Canadian club.