KEIZER, Ore. – In the end, the improbable didn’t happen and the West was won, not in Keizer by the AquaSox, but in Eugene by Vancouver.
With plans of playing in the postseason cancelled due to the Vancouver Canadians 6-4, 11-inning victory over the Eugene Emeralds earlier in the day, the AquaSox went into their season finale playing for pride – or maybe to boost individual statistics.
Once again Everett broke out the offense with a 15-5 Northwest League win over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Sunday.
Everett ended the season with a three-game winning streak and finished 41-35, one game behind Vancouver in the West division.
For the third straight night the AquaSox hitters poured on the hits showing Salem-Keizer why they were the top scoring team in the NWL.
Everett clubbed four home runs and 16 hits and outscored the Volcanoes 31-9 in the series, with 44 total hits.
Sox shorstop Oswaldo Navarro started the hit parade early, leading off the game with his first pro home run. He would later double twice to break Ismael Castro’s franchise record for doubles in a season with 27.
Navarro finished 4-for-6 with two RBI, three runs scored and fell a triple short of the cycle.
Seldom-used outfielder Elvis Cruz came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Yung Chi Chen, and finished 2-for-3 with four RBI, a home run and double, that barely missed clearing the fence.
Outfielder Mike Wilson hit his team-leading ninth home run, and drove in eight RBI in the final series – including three Sunday – in raising his RBI total to 51, second on the team only to Brandon Green (55).
Aaron Jensen (7-4), making his 16th start for the AquaSox, pitched five innings, and other than the second inning when he allowed four runs on six hits, gave the Sox another strong start.
Volcanoes outfielder Brian Horwitz finished the season as the NWL batting champ with a .347 average.
For the Frogs, it was an exciting way to finish their 76 game season, and put to rest a frustrating final two weeks at the same time.
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