The Portage Padres couldn’t have scripted a better start to their championship series.
A massive seven-run second inning and a complete game from Chad Melnic lifted the Padres to a 13-5 victory over the Plumas Pirates Wednesday night at Republic of Manitobah Park, kicking off the best-of-five Santa Clara Baseball League Final in commanding fashion.
“Chad pitched the game we needed, seven innings, no complaints about that,” says Padres manager Andrew Moar. “We got off to a hot second inning that propelled us, we never really looked back. Great to get the Game 1 win.”
It’s the second straight year these two teams have met in the final. Last season, the Padres edged out Plumas in a dramatic Game 5 to claim the SCBL crown, and early signs suggest this year’s series could be just as intense.
For Melnic, it was a long-awaited return to the mound.
“It’s been a long time coming, I haven’t pitched in a while,” he says. “Guys had my back all the way through. It was a pretty good outing.”
Despite the lopsided score, Moar expects a strong response from Plumas.
“We definitely don’t expect them to go away, and they’ll be better next game and hopefully so will we,” he adds. “Always good to get off to a good start, but we’re definitely looking to put the pressure on next game in Plumas.”
The Padres are now one win away from putting the Pirates on the brink of elimination. Game 2 goes Tuesday, August 5 in Plumas, with Game 3 set for Wednesday, August 6 back in Portage.
Should the series go the distance, Game 4 would be August 14 in Plumas, and a decisive Game 5 back in Portage August 15—following the Padres’ appearance at the Senior AA Provincial Championships August 8–10.
After a hard-fought semifinal win over Carberry and a 2-1 edge in the regular season against Plumas, Portage continues to show why they’ve been a force in the league, capturing five titles since 2016.
With momentum building and another strong crowd expected next week, the Padres are eyeing another deep playoff run and possibly another championship celebration.
- with files from Jared Thiessen
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