Gamblers head into final week in first place

The Tri-County Gamblers stumbled, dropping one game against the Napa Sheriff’s over the weekend, but they still managed to take 2-of-3 games from the Napa team to remain in first place in the North Bay League East Standings.

Tri-County is 12-3 overall and leads the Vallejo Spartans (10-3) by one game. Napa is 10-4 while Napa R & L is 6-8 and the Vallejo Mets are 5-7. St. Helena and Middletown are tied for last at 2-11.

Tri-County is playing in the Keith Connelly July 4th Tournament this weekend and will have one three-game series left against St. Helena before heading into the postseason tournament.

The Gamblers dropped the opener against Napa on Saturday, falling 6-5 despite outhitting the Sheriff’s 8-5.

Chris Cole took the loss, his second of the season. He went three innings while Will Enos threw the final three.

Alex Galvan blasted a home run to spark the offense. Derek Carothers was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Ray McIntyre was 2-for-3 with a double. Cole also had a two-bagger and an RBI while Matt Vedo drove in a run with a single. Kevin Rowell also had a basehit.

In the second game on Saturday, the Gamblers got off to a good start thanks to a grand slam by Cole in the first inning. Cole finished with five RBI in the 9-2 victory.

John Cummings added a solo home run while Will Clark added two hits and a double. Kyle Tobler, Enos and Brian Case each had one hit apiece.

Rowell went the distance to get the victory.

On Sunday, Vedo went six innings to get the win. Carothers entered the game in the seventh and earned the save.

The two teams were tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Kaplan Smith delivered a two-out, two-run double to give the Gamblers the win.

Smith’s two-bagger was the best of Tri-County’s seven hits. Enos, McIntire, Rowell, Carothers, Cole, and Mitchell Barsotti all had singles with McIntire, Carothers, Cole and Barsotti each driving in a run. Stephen Carmack added a sacrifice fly.

Tri-County is 16-3 overall.