Game Three Recap: Inland Empire 66ers @ Lake Elsinore Storm

By Larry Belmontes

The Lake Elsinore Storm shut down the Inland Empire 66ers in dominant fashion on Thursday night cruising to a 4-0 victory in game three of their early season series. With strong pitching, timely hitting, and crisp defense, the the Storm looked every bit the more composed and opportunistic club than they started out as.

Pitching Sets the Tone

Boston Bateman, the Storm’s 2024 second round pick, delivered a great performance in front of the home crowd. The 19 year old right hander from Camarillo High School showed why he’s considered one of the Padres’ top young arms, flashing a live fastball and sharp breaking stuff. Bateman held Inland Empire scoreless through multiple innings collecting strikeouts and generating weak contact in a strong outing.

In relief, William Thomas Varmette sealed the win with a clean ninth inning, notching the save and maintaining the shutout. The Wallace State alum continues to shine as a high leverage option out of the Lake Elsinore bullpen.

Inland Empire’s Peyton Olejnik, a sixth rounder out of Miami (OH), showed some polish but was frequently in trouble. The Storm lineup found ways to put pressure on him early and Olejnik was unable to work clean frames when it counted most.

Storm Offense Strikes Early and Often

Bottom 1st

Kasen Wells got the Storm rolling with a leadoff base hit and came around to score on a Kaden Hollow RBI single to right. It was the perfect tone setter for a confident offensive night.

Bottom 3rd

Lamar King Jr. reached and was eventually driven in by Ryan Wilson, who drilled a double down the left field line. Although a relay throw cut down Wilson trying to stretch it into a triple the damage had been done as the Storm extended the lead to 2-0.

Bottom 7th

Reliever Victor Garcia lost command, spiking a pitch that allowed Wells to score his second run of the game. Zach Evans also advanced setting the stage for more pressure.

Bottom 8th

Alex McCoy added the finishing touch with a grounder that deflected off the third baseman’s glove and into the shortstop’s range. Yendry Rojas crossed home to push the lead to 4-0!

66ers’ Bats Fall Silent

For Inland Empire, it was a night to forget at the plate. The lineup never found rhythm and managed only a handful of baserunners. Strikeouts were the main culprit with sluggers like John Wimmer, Raudi Rodriguez, and Caleb Bartolero falling victim to Bateman’s sharp stuff. No runner reached third base all night, as the 66ers were blanked and outplayed in every phase of the game.

Final Thoughts

Lake Elsinore’s complete team effort handed them a decisive win and a 2-1 series lead heading into game four. Bateman continues to impress in his debut season while the Storm offense capitalized on key moments to keep pressure on Inland Empire. For the 66ers, finding consistency at the plate and tightening up situational pitching will be key as they try to salvage a split.

Current California League Standings

In the California League South Division, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers) continue to dominate the standings with a (17-7) record. They’ve won nine of their last ten games and hold a six game lead over the second place Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks), who sit at (11-13), but have shown signs of life with a (7-3) run over their last ten. The Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) climb into third at (9-15) after Tuesday night’s win, now sitting eight games back of the division leaders. The Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) round out the South falling to (7-17) and riding a two game losing streak having dropped eight of their last ten.

Over in the California League North Division, the Modesto Nuts (Mariners) hold first place at (16-8), just ahead of the surging San Jose Giants (Giants) at (15-9) who have gone 7-3 in their last ten. The Stockton Ports (Athletics) remain in striking distance at (13-11) three games back. Meanwhile, the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) continue to struggle, falling to (8-16) and enduring a tough 2-8 stretch over their last ten contests.

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