Triple Play/Walk-Off Highlight Comeback
Owlz Turn Defensive Feat for 1st Time
An 11th inning walk-off single by Jon Karcich combined with the first triple-play in franchise history led the Orem Owlz to a 9-8 comeback-victory over the Casper Ghosts Monday night in Orem.
With runners on first and second in the bottom of the 11th Karcich drove a two-out, two-strike pitch from Casper reliever Steven Junker to the second baseman Dominic Altobelli.
Altobelli dove to his left fielding the ball in shallow left-field. Manager Tom Kotchman, who was coaching in the third base box, immediately waved the runner Michael Wing home sensing an opportunity to win the game.
Karcich had the play beat out at first forcing Altobelli to throw home to attempt to prevent the winning run from scoring. But Wing slid around the tag of the catcher sending the Owlz to their 5th walk-off win of the season.
"With two strikes I knew I had to battle," Karich said of the winning hit. "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."
The Owlz had escaped from a jam in the top of the same inning. Relief pitcher Jonathan Garrett allowed a lead-off double to pinch-hitter David Dinatale. Chandler Laurent then reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt when the Owlz elected to try to gun down the runner going to third.
With men on the corners and nobody out Casper sent the runner from first to second on a hit and run. The man at the plate, Nolan Arenado drove a line drive back at the pitcher. Garrett caught the ball and immediately fired over to third doubling off Dinatale. Casey Haerther then completed the trifecta by tossing the ball across the diamond to Dillon Baird at first.
The triple play is the first time in franchise history the Owlz have turned the feat.
Orem faced deficits of 5-0 and 7-3 but single runs in five different innings tied the score and sent the game to extra innings.
"The relief pitchers did an outstanding job for us tonight," Owlz Manager Tom Kotchman said. "They kept us in the game and we just kept pecking away at the lead."
Casey Haerther extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games knocking in the tying run with a single in the bottom of the 9th.
"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Haerther said. "I looked for a ball I could put in the air over the drawn in infield."
Orem (43-22, 23-4) and Casper (24-39, 12-15) will conclude their brief two-game series Tuesday evening. The Owlz lead the Pioneer League Southern Division by six games with 11 left to play.
Game Notes... Dillon Baird collected four hits including his fifth home run of the season. The Owlz first baseman now leads the Pioneer League with a .386 batting average....Michael Wing hit his fourth home run of the year with a solo shot in the fourth. The Owlz are now 21-5 in games when they hit a home run....The Owlz bullpen has not walked a batter in the last 21 2/3 innings.
With runners on first and second in the bottom of the 11th Karcich drove a two-out, two-strike pitch from Casper reliever Steven Junker to the second baseman Dominic Altobelli.
Altobelli dove to his left fielding the ball in shallow left-field. Manager Tom Kotchman, who was coaching in the third base box, immediately waved the runner Michael Wing home sensing an opportunity to win the game.
Karcich had the play beat out at first forcing Altobelli to throw home to attempt to prevent the winning run from scoring. But Wing slid around the tag of the catcher sending the Owlz to their 5th walk-off win of the season.
"With two strikes I knew I had to battle," Karich said of the winning hit. "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."
The Owlz had escaped from a jam in the top of the same inning. Relief pitcher Jonathan Garrett allowed a lead-off double to pinch-hitter David Dinatale. Chandler Laurent then reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt when the Owlz elected to try to gun down the runner going to third.
With men on the corners and nobody out Casper sent the runner from first to second on a hit and run. The man at the plate, Nolan Arenado drove a line drive back at the pitcher. Garrett caught the ball and immediately fired over to third doubling off Dinatale. Casey Haerther then completed the trifecta by tossing the ball across the diamond to Dillon Baird at first.
The triple play is the first time in franchise history the Owlz have turned the feat.
Orem faced deficits of 5-0 and 7-3 but single runs in five different innings tied the score and sent the game to extra innings.
"The relief pitchers did an outstanding job for us tonight," Owlz Manager Tom Kotchman said. "They kept us in the game and we just kept pecking away at the lead."
Casey Haerther extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games knocking in the tying run with a single in the bottom of the 9th.
"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Haerther said. "I looked for a ball I could put in the air over the drawn in infield."
Orem (43-22, 23-4) and Casper (24-39, 12-15) will conclude their brief two-game series Tuesday evening. The Owlz lead the Pioneer League Southern Division by six games with 11 left to play.
Game Notes... Dillon Baird collected four hits including his fifth home run of the season. The Owlz first baseman now leads the Pioneer League with a .386 batting average....Michael Wing hit his fourth home run of the year with a solo shot in the fourth. The Owlz are now 21-5 in games when they hit a home run....The Owlz bullpen has not walked a batter in the last 21 2/3 innings.