Late rally falls short in Game 2, but gives AquaSox hope

EUGENE, Ore. — After their bats were quieted all night by the Eugene Emeralds in Game 2 of the 2025 Northwest League Championship Series at PK Park on Wednesday, the Everett AquaSox started a rally in the ninth inning.

Troubled by the Eugene pitchers to the tune of 11 strikeouts — eight from starter Josh Bostick — the AquaSox finally showed some life while trailing 4-0.

Shortstop Felnin Celesten and designated hitter Matthew Ellis each worked up to a full count, then walked in back-to-back plate appearances to put two runners on with no outs. Third baseman Luis Suisbel stepped up looking to do some damage.

Suisbel fouled off three of the first five pitches, taking the other two for balls before driving the sixth into center field. The RBI single scored Celesten and finally put Everett on the board. Outfielder Tai Peete grounded into a force out in the next at bat, leaving runners on the corners for catcher Josh Caron.

Except it would no longer be Caron up to bat. Instead, AquaSox manager Zach Vincej tapped Colin Davis to pinch hit.

Davis spent nearly a month on the development list before he was activated on Sept. 1, playing in four games against the Vancouver Canadians last week, where he went 5-for-13 (.385) with two walks and six strikeouts. In his first appearance of the championship series, the 26-year-old outfielder was tasked with delivering a big moment.

“He’s been having some good at-bats in Vancouver,” Vincej said. “I felt like the matchup was favorable in our way, and potentially could hit a double or a homer in that situation, and just to try to make things happen and close the gap a little bit on that score. …

“Caron, he’s been our guy all year. It just was a favorable matchup.”

Davis recalled members of the coaching staff nodding towards him and several other bench players earlier in the game, telling them to “be ready for anything,” so he had an idea that he might get in for an at-bat. With Eugene changing pitchers following Suisbel’s RBI single, Davis had some extra time to work on his timing before stepping into the box.

Suisbel, who was back in the dugout following Peete’s force out at second, stood on the far steps clapping.

“Vamo!” he shouted.

Davis took the first pitch high, barely scraping the top of the zone. It was ruled a ball.

“(Emeralds pitcher Ben Peterson) threw a high fastball at 97. I looked up and I was kind of like, ‘Damn, that’s pretty fast,’” Davis said. “But then I felt like I got my timing down a little bit, and he hung a breaking ball, and I just put a good swing on it.”

After taking strike one down the middle, Davis fouled off the third pitch low and inside. He stuck his bat under his arm as he adjusted his batting gloves, then settled himself back inside the box.

Peterson hung the next pitch, and Davis ripped it into left field, easily scoring Ellis at third with an RBI single to cut it to 4-2.

While hitting a game-tying home run was the main goal in Davis’ mind, he still cashed in on the opportunity, keeping the line moving.

But it didn’t last long. First baseman Brandon Eike grounded into a double play in the next at-bat to end the game. With a 4-2 final, Eugene tied the series 1-1 before it shifts to Everett on Friday.

“We know, too, they (have) a good team, they (have) good pitchers,” Suisbel said. “We’re aware (of) that, but nothing. We need to (make) adjustments for the next game, and be ready for that.”

Despite the loss, the AquaSox ended the game on a high note in the ninth, turning an overall quiet night into a real comeback threat. It ultimately didn’t affect the result on Wednesday, but it put their minds in a better place heading into Game 3.

“Honestly, man, it’s momentum-building,” Davis said. “This team thrives off momentum, and hopefully it can carry over (to) Friday.”