Potters look to get back in the win column

It was a tough week for the Lincoln Potters, as they have won just one of their last five contests. The silver lining is that only one of the five games counts toward Lincoln's California Collegiate League record, so the struggles are not reflected in the standings. The big inning has haunted the Potters all season and reared its ugly head again Wednesday, July 6, in an 8-4 loss to the Walnut Creek Crawdads. The Potters took an early 2-0 lead, but the Crawdads took control with a six-run fifth inning. Walnut Creek added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh while Lincoln tried to crawl its way back with two runs in the late innings, but it was too little, too late. The Potters returned home for a nonleague bout July 7 against the West Coast Kings. The teams met last year in the inaugural West Coast World Series championship game with the Kings winning 9-8. This year's West Coast team has another loaded roster with players from top programs such as Arkansas, Texas, Baylor and Florida State. Lincoln was unable to avenge last year's loss, as the Kings put up crooked numbers in three innings on the way to a 9-5 victory. The Potters only collected three hits but did have five players drive in a run each. The Potters then hit the road to Southern California for a rare chance to get a look at the CCL South Division. Though games against the South don't count against league records, it is still an important chance to get a look at some of the top talent in the state. Lincoln started the trip with a 4-0 win over last year's runner-up San Luis Obispo Blues. It was a pitcher's duel until the Potter offense stepped up with four runs in the eighth inning, two of which scored off the bat of Garen Caulfield. Craig Schmich gave a strong start in five innings on the mound, allowing five hits while striking out six. Nate Kujawski kept the Blues off the board for 1 1/3 innings, but it was Treven Crowley who earned the win in relief as he closed the final 2 2/3 innings. The Potters and Blues met again July 9, but this time it was San Luis Obispo taking a 4-3 victory to split the weekend series. The Potters struck first in the second inning, but the Blues responded with two runs in the bottom frame. The teams traded runs, and the Blues took the lead in the eighth on a solo shot by Kody Darcy. Lincoln ended the trip Sunday with a 16-5 loss to the Santa Barbra Foresters. Caulfield and Chase Weissenborn went deep for Lincoln, but former Potter Tanner O'Tremba returned the favor for the Foresters with a long ball of his own. The Potters will be back home for a three-game series against their former Great West League rivals, the Medford Rogues, beginning Tuesday. Last year the Potters and Rogues met in Medford with Lincoln taking two out of three.