Not even the 8 to 12 foot high walls could contain the Orem Owlz tonight, as they defeated the Great Falls Voyagers 13-6. Orem combined for an amazing 5 long balls and capitalized on 5 Voyagers errors.
When asked about the turnaround in recent play, Owlz right fielder, Gary Mitchell pins it on confidence.
“I always try to play aggressive, but I’ve been working with the coaches on my hitting and the confidence that comes from that helps all around. It makes it easier to make plays on defense and taking extra bases,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell is second on the team with 25 RBI, and joined the home run fest that erupted tonight. Second baseman Taylor Lindsey added 2 solo home-runs and was accompanied by CJ Cron and Ryan Jones to round out the rest of the home run posse.
Owlz starting pitcher and third round pick out of the University of Florida, Nick Maronde, threw 4 innings of solid ball. He allowed one earned run prior to reaching his allotted pitch count for the evening.
“You don’t have games like tonight, where you hit 4 or 5 home-runs, very often,” said Owlz manager Tom Kotchman. “What helps in the long run are guys like Yakubik that just produce.”
In just one inning of work, reliever Suammy Baez gave up 4 runs, all of them earned. This brought Great Falls within striking distance with the score standing at 8-5.
Stellar relief pitching and the long ball put an end to any thought of a comeback by the Voyagers.
Garret Baker stepped in for Baez and pitched three innings, allowing just one run, and got the win. 6’8” Chad Yinger, threw a nearly flawless ninth to slam the door shut on Great Falls to keep pace with the Ogden Raptors and remain only one game back.
Ogden won in the bottom of the 11th inning on a walk off two run home-run, dashing Orem’s hopes of drawing even in the standings.
After falling back in the rankings midway through the first half of the season, the Owlz have battled and returned to top contention for the first half crown. They have gotten production from many players, even some from unexpected sources.
“You don’t have games like tonight, where you hit 4 or 5 home-runs, very often,” said Owlz manager Tom Kotchman. “What helps in the long run are guys like Yakubik that just produce.”
Owlz first baseman Frazier Hall, was a game time scratch due to injury, and Yakubik was moved from the outfield to first. Yakubik played first base in college and has proven to be an asset no matter where he has been assigned or what he’s been called upon to do.
“We had no idea he would be this good at the start of the year. He’s a main piece to what we’ve got going on here,” said Kotchman.
