PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Dropped Ball Gives Chukars Win

Published on September 5, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


A cat-and-mouse ninth inning between the Idaho Falls Chukars and Orem Owlz went the Chukars way Wednesday night, as a five-man infield committed two costly errors allowing the Chukars to score two runs and win 5-4.

The Chukars and Owlz entered the ninth inning with only one combined error and deadlocked at 3-3. That quickly changed in the top of the frame when the Greybirds committed two errors, which allowed Orem to score an unearned run and take a 4-3 lead.

Not to be outdone, the Owlz defense would repay the favor in the bottom of the ninth with two errors of their own resulting in two unearned runs and an Idaho Falls the victory.

The home half of the ninth started with Chukars first baseman Jared Schlehuber walking and being replaced by pinch runner Carlos Garcia. Right fielder Elier Hernandez then laid down a sacrifice bunt, only to watch Owlz pitcher Jake Boyd slip and throw wildly to first allowing runners to reach second and third with no outs.

Owlz manager Tom Kotchman then put his unique touch on the game by intentionally walking Chukars second baseman Nick DelGuidice and replacing left fielder Jonathan Walsh with infielder Caleb Bushyhead to give the Owlz five infielders for the bases loaded, no out situation.

The strategy seemed to immediately pay off when Greybirds left fielder Jerico Blanco chopped a ball to the newly inserted Bushyhead, but Bushyhead's throw home came too late and Garcia scored the tying run.

Following a strikeout to pinch hitter Parker Morin, Chukars leadoff hitter Ethan Chapman hit what should have been an easy out ball to third baseman Michael Bolaski. Catcher Anthony Bemboom, however dropped Bolaski's throw home, and the second error of the inning allowed Hernandez to score the winning run.

The bizarre walk-off ending gave the Chukars a win in a game in which they struggled to score. Idaho Falls was shutout and trailed 2-0 through the first five innings before light-hitting catcher Tyler Smith launched his first home run of the season over the left-center field wall to put the Greybirds down 2-1. The Chukars would later tie the game in the inning thanks to a single from Chapman and an eventual RBI fielder's choice by Nick Cuckovich.

Idaho Falls took their first lead of the game in the seventh when Schlehuber hit a solo blast of his own to dead center to put the Chukars up 3-2 before the wild ninth.

Schlehuber finished the game 1-3 with his fourth homer of the year, while Smith also went 1-3 with his blast.

The ninth inning comeback made a winner out of Chukars reliever Cory Hall (2-1) who retired the final two batters in the top of the ninth. Boyd (2-1) took the loss for Orem after only retiring one batter in bottom of the ninth.

With the win the Chukars (18-19) move one game ahead of the Owlz (17-20), who fall into last place in the South Division with one game left to go in the season. The two teams will conclude the 2012 campaign Thursday night at 6:15 pm.

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from September 5, 2012


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