The Storm played their first series of the year against the Bakersfield Blaze, had an off day and played Lancaster JetHawks for the fourth time this season.

Lake Elsinore took the Blaze series 3 games to 1 and won the first two games of the Lancaster series to be 5-1 on the week. They continue their good hitting and the pitching is really picking up as the season warms up. They had five great starting pitching performances with only one (Reyes) giving up more than 8 eights or 4 runs. The best performance of the week was turned in by Anthony Bass (3-2) who pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up only 2 hits with 4 SO in his defeat of the JetHawks. Juan Oramas followed up his near perfect outing with 6 strong innings against the Blaze, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 5 SO while his ERA went to 1.67. Oramas was named Cal league pitcher of the week for his performance the previous week.

Brad Brach picked up two more saves in his scoreless/hitless appearances.

The hitting profile changed during this week with Cumberland and Figueroa remaining consistent while both C. Decker and Belnome trailed off a little in their hitting. J Decker raised his average a little but continued to strike out a bunch (12) with only 4 hits (3 2B). Catcher Robert Lara has benefitted from more playing time with 8 hits, 4 runs scored, 2 2B, 2 HR, and 4 RBI to raise his average to .288. But the best performance of the week was CF Blake Tekotte with 5 runs on 10 hits, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI 3 BB, 3 SO and increasing his average to .339/.431/.523.

The Storm continues it’s torrid winning ways and remains on top of the Cal League South with a 4.5 game lead on High Desert. The coming week brings a completion of the Lancaster series followed by a return matchup with High Desert.