Owlz battling for top spot

Casper continued its winning streak against Orem and came closer to clinching first place in the pioneer league.

Pioneer day brought fireworks, country music, cowboy entertainment, and a record-breaking crowd of over 5,000 people to the Brent Brown Stadium.

Although the game was crucial to the team’s placement for the playoffs, the Owlz still fell short 9-5 to the Ghosts.

It was a hopeful beginning. Southpaw pitcher Will Smith was on early with 2 strikeouts in the first two innings, allowing the defense to keep Casper at scoreless. But it was the offense that was struggling.

The Owlz had a chance in the bottom of the second when bases were loaded and Rian Kiniry stepped up to the plate. After a line drive to shortstop Carlos Martinez, the Ghosts pulled off a double play to blank the Owlz.

“You have got to do the little things. They did, and we didn’t tonight,” Orem Manager Tom Kotchman said.

And they certainly did when James Sims of the Ghosts put their first run on the board and the ball didn’t stop rolling. In fact, in the late fourth inning Casper had a blistering 6-1 lead.

It wasn’t until player-of-the-game Gabe Jacobo blasted two home runs and put four runs on the scoreboard by the bottom of the sixth.

The Owlz have met the Ghosts three other times to date on their home field and have not been able to defeat them. The Owlz now sit on a 23-12 record, and depending on the future could still be the best team in the league as they head into the playoffs.

The Owlz will hit the road for a three-game series in Ogden versus the Raptors. Then come back here for the weekend with another three-game home stand against Idaho.