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PL Northern Colorado Owlz

Ten Unanswered Runs the Perfect Answer in Owlz' Bounce Back Win

August 12, 2022 - Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release


Northern Colorado Owlz' Preston Snavely in action
Northern Colorado Owlz' Preston Snavely in action
(Northern Colorado Owlz)

JOHNSTOWN, Colo. -- NoCo combined a bounce-back performance in the batter's box and brilliance on the bump to bag win number one of this home series.

Amazingly, despite lasting five-plus innings in 10 of his 11 starts, it's also win number one for Preston Snavely (W, 1-2). The NoCo native made it seven innings on Thursday, supplying him with his new season high. Snavely struck out eight, allowed seven hits and three earned runs, and threw a hefty 118 pitches. Talk about a workhorse.

The Owlz offense went to work too. After NoCo (9-11) knocked a measly five hits on Wednesday, it etched eight between the fourth and fifth innings in Thursday's throwdown alone. Not to mention the six runs that swung the game in the Owlz favor.

Each team had taken a lead to that point, but the Owlz owned a lead first. Abdel Guadalupe laced a single up the middle before Brandon Crosby crushed a triple that scored him. Entering the game, Crosby led the Pioneer League in triples (and doubles) this second half. By adding to that triple total, he added a run.

After one, 1-0 Owlz.

Two innings later, they led by two. Robbie Kellerman coaxed a leadoff walk. Alex Jackson jolted his first hit of the night to move Kellerman to third. Kellerman crossed home plate the next at-bat on a double play.

But the Rockies (15-6) responded right after that with a furious four-spot, taking a 4-2 lead in the process.

Not so fast, my foe. NoCo nullified that advantage almost as quickly as Grand Junction jumped out to it.

The Owlz first four hit inning went like this: Tim Bouchard bopped a single, Cameron Phelts tattooed triple, Dakota Popham popped a double, and Kellerman mashed his own double. All three extra-base hits brought home RBI. After the four-hit fourth inning, the home team held a 5-4 lead.

It built on it in bottom five, another four-hit effort that produced another three runs. Guadalupe lifted a double. Then Crosby induced a walk. They pulled off a double steal, putting each of them in scoring position. And they each scored: Guadalupe on Bouchard's sac fly, and Crosby after Grand Junction airmailed an attempt to catch him stealing third base. Phelts fired off his fourth big fly number of the season not too long after that.

The birds bounced back to the tune of eight runs through five innings. But they weren't even done.

You like homers? Jackson loves homers. The leadoff man led off the sixth with a solo shot, staking his claim as the club's home run king once again. Make it eight on the year for Jackson, a total that returns the team lead to the toolsy Texan.

Kevin Higgins singled to start the seventh and eventually scored after a Popham sac fly. In the eighth, the Owlz offered up two more insurance runs. Guadalupe got hit by a pitch. Bouchard got aboard after the Rockies intentionally walked him. Phelts recorded another ribbie by scoring Higgins with a single. Matthew Turner turned in an RBI of his own by singling in Bouchard.

Ten unanswered runs. Talk about an answer after last night's performance.

Grand Junction got two back in bottom nine, but things were well in hand by then. Chase Wilkerson and Austin Schneider made sure of it. After Snavely stepped aside, they each pitched in an inning of work. Wilkerson struck out the side in the eighth. Despite allowing two runs, only one of which was earned, Schneider struck out two batters himself, securing the dub for his club.

With 13 strikeouts in all, NoCo tied its highest strikeout total against Grand Junction this season. Its 16 hits ties the most they've rocked against the Rockies all year.

In short, the birds brought a beautiful balance to bank this bounce-back dub.

Friday's conflict could be the perfect chance to build on it. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. from Nelson Farm Park.

See you then!

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Images from this story

Northern Colorado Owlz' Preston Snavely in action
Northern Colorado Owlz' Preston Snavely in action
   



Pioneer League Stories from August 12, 2022


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