OCR Text |
Show /port/ MONDAY • AUGUST 28 -2006 B7 Owlz get back to winning Ben Webster Sports Writer The Orem Owlz, the minor league team that plays here on campus, returned home after a disappointing seven game road trip, where they lost six of those games and got shut out twice, to beat the Billings Mustangs 6-4 in the first of three games with the help of two home runs by third baseman P.J. Phillips. "At Billings every thing we did ended up being wrong and everything they did ended up being right," Manager Tom Kotchman said. "That out played us in Billings and they out coached us in Billings. With the game knotted at four runs a piece in the bottom of the seventh inning Orem was able to load the bases on a Peter Bourjos single and two walks. Brooks Shankle drove a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Bourjos time to tag up and get home to give the Owlz the lead for good. The Owlz added another run in the bottom of the eighth on Catcher Scott Knazek's single that brought Phillips home for the final score of the game. Phillips gave Orem a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth on his second solo shot of the game. "I was battling, it was a 2-2 count and I got the pitch I was looking for and just drove it," Phillips said. The Mustangs quickly came back to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. While Owlz manager Kotchman was trying to juggle pitchers Billings managed to get two runs on a Chris Heisey double to left field. The Billings Mustangs were riding a 10-game win streak and swept the Owlz in four during the recent Jamie Teerlink/NetXNcws road trip. Even with the loss Billings is still in first place in the northern division. The Owlz remain in lead in the Southern Division of the Pioneer League but lead Ogden by just a game and a half. "We're feeling real good right, this game will give us momentum going into the playoffs," Phillips said. Orem scored a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead when Chris Pettit hit a chopper to Mustang short stop Chris Valaika, but Valaika couldn't handle it and Pettit trot the RBI single. With a single in the first innina; Valaika tied the Pioneer League hitting streak at 30 games with a hit. Billings was quick to recover after being down a run. In the top of the fourth Billings' first two batters singled then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Right fielder Denis Phipps drove in one runner on a single and the next batter, Justin Tordi, got a RBI on a ground out giving Billings the lead. Tordi collided with Owlz first baseman Abel Nieves forcing Nieves to leave the game with injuries. "We don't have much room to play with the line up with (Darrell) Sales going out last week and hopefully Nieves is alright," Kotchman said. " We need to check on Nieves and see how he is. I think he got a slight concussion." Orem bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, both coming after two outs. Third baseman P.J. Phillips hit his first solo home run of the night to left field to even the score. Then Ryan Mount doubled to drive in Tyler Johnson for the go-ahead run after Johnson doubled on a hit that went back to the left-center wall. "Billings is probably the best team in the league. You don't win 10 games in a row by being lucky." Kotchman said. Orem scored their six runs on 1 [ hits. Phillips led the way with three hits and designated hitter Johnson got two hits. "It's one game. It was nice to win a close game. Hopefully we can get back in the mind frame of winning again," Kotchman said. We k n o \ ™ l t i f s like to have a good time YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE BROKE "World class skiing at "Dude, loan me a Ijm.k prices ; • . •M^ff-W^mm ' ' • / • ' ! • fthsnonyochyrriesarttnUtah, -: T_ e've got three low-do/^n, ctir&j passes]. r . . .^ ijptng-ljy-iocals like yourself That means you can -^ xtown all 3,700 seres, al! season; flndstifi sfcsy fost' * K • • • • • • • • • • • " . , • ' . . • • '-'•-. "; lamen noodles. So don't be a aowia&r. ' ' and get an extra brcok an the pn.ee..,. |Put $100 down £bySfjpt. 4 to tociwn the early |jseason prices -aejif *~"" *'"•""* *"" NoBrai EXIT-UNIVERSITY PARKWAY $159 through Sept. 4. The New SJuper Cherrtf * parkwaycrossing.com 801.431.00®0 1270 W. 1130S.Orem ^ 4 3 per dny thrdugh Sept. 4 S55.p«r day threwgh Newt..i3v t h e c a n y o n s , c o rn |