Owlz Rally late to Defeat High Wheelers 6-5
Yolo High Wheelers
(0-0)
5
Northern Colorado Owlz
(0-0)
6
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yolo High Wheelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
|
Northern Colorado Owlz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
The Northern Colorado Owlz (15-6) struck for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as they came back to defeat the Yolo High Wheelers (8-10) 6-5 on Thursday night at 4Rivers Equipment Stadium.
Yolo was up by a run heading into the final stanza as NoCO pinch hitter Omar Ortiz (4) led off with a homer which tied it. Shortstop Garrett Kueber followed with a double to left, left fielder Henry George singled to left moving Kueber to third and center fielder Dario Gomez ended the contest with a single to left scoring Kueber. All against Yolo reliever Jack Zalasky (2-1), the losing pitcher.
The High Wheelers had leads of 4-0 and 5-2. In the eighth inning, the Owlz were able to take advantage of a lead off walk against Noah Estrella. NoCO scored twice in that inning which made it a one-run game. This was courtesy of a pinch single by Jackson Coutts and a ground ball hit by right fielder Euro Diaz where two errors were committed: one by Yolo first baseman Mason Minzey and after he was able to grab the ball he flipped it to Estrella covering first but the pitcher dropped the ball allowing a run to score.
Highlights for the High Wheelers included three homers: two-run clout in the fourth by third baseman Kirkland Banks (3), left fielder Jose Gonzalez (4) a two-run blast in the fifth and right fielder Justin Kirby (2) leading off the eighth. Second baseman Bobby Lada had three hits (all singles) and a run scored. Lada has nine hits through the first three games in this series. Every Yolo player in the starting lineup reached base safely.
Brandon McPherson was the starting pitcher for Yolo. He struck out a season-best for him eight over five innings. The right-hander allowed five hits, two runs (both earned), and walked two. Dutch Landis (1-0) fired a scoreless ninth for NoCO and earned the win.
The Owlz have won two-of-the-first-three in the set. The fourth game of this series will tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. PST. Right-hander Shaun Gamelin will start for Yolo against NoCo righty Mark Tindall.
HIGH TALES
Noah Lewis pitched a perfect seventh inning in his Yolo debut with one strikeout. He was signed Tuesday after starting the season with Marysville of the Pecos League where he was a starter. Lewis was at spring training for Yolo.
Yolo is 2-1 in one-run games
Kirby's homer was after earlier in the at-bat having what he thought was a homer ruled foul