The Whidbey Island Merchants, the local 28 and over mens team, split their first series of the season against the Lakewood Giants on Sunday afternoon.
The Merchants dominated game number one in a 14-4 victory that was called in the seventh due to the 10-run rule. Todd Melnick pitched the complete seven innings for Whidbey, striking out 11 Giants and only walking one. Of the four runs he gave up, three were earned.
Offensively, the Merchants pounced on the Giants early, taking an 8-0 lead after the first inning. Dave Moody was 2-for-2 in the first with two RBI, while Don Jenkins picked up a two-run single in the first.
Palmer Bodin came up with another big hit in the seventh inning, when he doubled in three runs.
The second game was a different story for the Merchants. Facing the Giants ace pitcher, they were only able to muster four hits in a 10-0 loss.
Moody picked up half of those hits on singles in the first and seventh innings.
The Merchants play their next double-header at 11 a.m., tomorrow, June 15 on the road against Stanwood. They won’t play their first home game until July 20 against the Whatcom Mariners.
The Merchants would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting them in the 2003 season: Alaska USA Mortgage, Scotties Plumbing, Whidbey Island Ford, Windermere Real Estate and the Oak Harbor Police Association.
