Pitching Shines in 7-1 Victory over Owlz
By Tyler Petersen
GREELEY, Colo. – A dominating performance by Greyson Fletcher sparked the best performance by the Vibes pitching staff in a nine-inning game as they beat the Northern Colorado Owlz 7-1.
It was the fewest runs Rocky Mountain has given up all season. Fletcher combined with Pete Bayer and Seth Davis to only allow six hits and two walks to go along with 10 strikeouts.
The pitching staff had the lead the entire day thanks to a run in the top of the first from Gio Diaz and the Owlz pitching battery. Diaz hit a leadoff single then got a free 270 feet thanks to a wild pitch, a passed ball, and another wild pitch for a quick 1-0 lead.
The only run NoCo scored in the game came from their first batter as well. Alex Jackson continues to have a hot start to the second half, he hit another home run, this one leading off the bottom of the first.
After Jackson's home run, it was a symphony of strikeouts, groundouts, and 1-2-3 innings for Fletcher, who added the vibrato of a second professional win.
Kida De La Cruz was able to match Fletcher in the pitcher's duel until the fifth, when Mike Annone raked an RBI double to right center, giving the Vibes a 2-1 lead. Nick Michaels continued the scoring in the fifth, driving in Annone and himself on his first Springs home run to left.
Three more runs came across in the sixth: an RBI single by Ulysses Cantu, a run on another passed ball, and a run on a Michaels RBI fielder's choice.
For Michaels, he now has 12 RBI in his first seven games in a Vibes uniform.
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After a week, here's how the standings look in each division:
Southern Northern
Grand Junction 4-2 Idaho Falls 5-1
Rocky Mountain 3-2 Missoula 4-2*
Northern Colorado 2-3 Billings 3-3
Boise 2-4 Great Falls 3-3
Ogden 2-4* Glacier 1-5
*denotes 1st half champ
The Vibes sit a half game out of first place in the Southern division still with 43 more games to go. Yes it's early, I know. But now every win is important as the days go on. It will take a Southern division championship to make the playoffs, since the Vibes' overall record essentially eliminates them from a wild card spot should Ogden win again.
The Vibes travel to Grand Junction for a potentially standings-rocking series that will last six games starting on Tuesday.
The teams split the series earlier in the year, both are 3-3. If the Vibes can take the series in Grand Junction, they will have a winning record in the month of July and a winning record since June 20.
Currently they are 10-11 in July and 14-14 since June 20.
