Vibes' Late Lapse Leads to Owlz' Series-Opening Win
August 2, 2022 - Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release
Northern Colorado Owlz celebrate win
(Northern Colorado Owlz)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Two unearned runs in the ninth nudged NoCo to a win in Tuesday's fun back-and-forth ballgame.
It's always something in Springs.
The last time the Owlz (7-5) took a trip to UC Health Park to play the Vibes (4-8), they lost the series by suffering consecutive collapses.
But Tuesday's turn of events may out-epic even those collapses.
It started, naturally, with controversy. To lead off the ninth inning, Kevin Higgins hit one to the hole on the left side. A spectacular spinning effort in the field apparently accompanied an on-time throw, but the field ump claimed the throw pulled the Vibes first baseman off the bag. Higgins reached with an infield hit, and a sac bunt moved him up.
After a strikeout, Cameron Phelts filled the batter's box with his team down to its final out. He singled to right field. When the ball got under the glove of Rocky Mountain's right fielder, Phelts flew all the way around to score the go-ahead run. A nightmare ninth-inning E9.
Then Christian Griffin (S, 7) grooved a great bottom of the ninth to nab NoCo a series-opening win.
Even more hurtful for the home team: just before the blunder, the Vibes looked like they'd survived again.
If this was a movie they thought they'd seen before, well, they witnessed a wicked twist.
Let's back up to the seventh for a sec. The Owlz owned a 6-4 lead entering that inning. Will Buraconak and C.J. Grant-DeBose had both pitched pretty well. The offense had fired off five extra-base hits and found three two-out runs.
But the Vibes bucked back with baserunners to start the seventh. Kyle Adkins lasted two outs, including a strikeout, before Robby Bales bought into a left-on-left matchup. So, the Owlz opted for Isaiah Ramos, who allowed a two-run, game-tying double.
The Owlz ended up escaping another bottom eight of terrible fate too. Chance Benton (W, 3-3) induced a ground ball, but Higgins could't handle it. The Vibes employed some small ball themselves, bunting over the leadoff man before Gio Diaz's third single of the evening scored him.
Vibes led 7-6, and then their vibes took a dive. Make it five losses in a row for Rocky Mountain. The Owlz, meanwhile, have won five of their last six.
On Tuesday, Higgins and Phelts each earned an RBI as a part of their three-hit nights. For Higgins, it's three-hit night number 10. One of Phelts three hits turned into a three-bagger, his team-leading sixth triple of the season. No other active Owl has hit more than three.
Tim Bouchard booked his 11th mutli-hit game with a singles in back-to-back at-bats. The mashing Massachusettsan is already up to 42 hits through 33 games.
In the sixth inning, NoCo newbie Abdel Guadalupe looped a double into right center for his first professional hit, first professional extra-base hit, and first professional RBI wrapped into one. They put the Puerto Rican in a pinch hit situation, and Guadalupe got it done. It was hit only at-bat of the night.
Many more to come, we're sure. Just like there are many more games vs. the Vibes to come.
The next one is Wednesday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. in Springs.
Images from this story
 Northern Colorado Owlz celebrate win |
Pioneer League Stories from August 2, 2022
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