The newest Port Angeles Lefties player, former Seahawks star Golden Tate proved he’s more than capable on the baseball diamond, thrilling the Civic Field crowd at the plate, on the basepaths and in the field in a 5-2 win over Bend on June 14 night.
Tate, a dual-sport athlete who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of high school, then hit .329 as a sophomore at Notre Dame and was picked by the San Francisco Giants but pursued football, winning a Super Bowl in Seattle and having a Pro Bowl career.
Baseball is Tate’s first love, however, and it didn’t take long to realize why.
Batting second in the order and playing center field defensively, Tate lined a 2-0 pitch to right field in the bottom of the first to score leadoff hitter Kemet Brown, who reached on an error.
In his first at-bat in the West Coast League, former Seahawks WR Golden Tate rips an RBI double to give the Lefties their first run of the ball game.
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Tate moved to second when Will Mulfur was hit by a pitch and showed off his wheels, scoring from second base on an RBI single by former Roughrider Ethan Flodstrom.
Tate nabbed his second hit of the night in the bottom of the second, blooping a fly ball that dropped into shallow right field just inside the foul line. He then stole second base, but was stranded when Mulfur flied out.
A broken-bat ground out and an infield pop out rounded out Tate’s plate appearances.
In the field, Tate nabbed two fly balls in two chances, including tracking down Ben Patacsil’s deep fly near the fence and finishing up the play and the third inning with an athletic tumble — a little of the “Showtime” flair Tate is known for.
The Lefties’ bullpen was a big part of the win with four pitchers coming on and holding Bend scorless in relief of starter Trey Maeker. Josh Flaugher picked up the win, throwing 2.1 innings and lowering his ERA to 1.69.
Lefties pitcher Trey Maeker throws in the first inning against the Bend Elks on Tuesday evening in Port Angeles. Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
Golden Tate lines an RBI double to right field in his first at-bat as a Lefties player as Bend catcher Isaiah Burke looks on during the first inning on June 14 at Port Angeles’ Civic Field. Photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group
Lefties’ center fielder Golden Tate rolls on the ground after making a diving catch in the top of the third to end Bend’s half of the inning on June 14 in Port Angeles. Photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group
