Voyagers Sweep NCO Owlz in First Home Series of 2022

(Great Falls, Mt.) The Great Falls Voyagers (3-0) came in to the third game of the year versus the Northern Colorado Owlz (0-3) looking to get a sweep. The Owlz had other plans as they were looking to pick up their first win of their Northern Colorado era.

The Owlz started the game  by picking up 6 runs in the first inning with five hits and assisted by an error from the Voyagers. The Voyagers were able to answer back with two runs in their half of the first without getting a hit. Breyden Daniel and Jake Malek started off with walks and moved up a base on a called balk. Andy Atwood hit a deep fly ball to right to score one run and move Malek to third. Michael Deeb grounded out to first scoring Malek for the first two Voyager runs of the game.

The Owlz came right back with three runs of their own in the 2nd inning taking a 9-2 lead after two as the Voyagers were unable to score in the 2nd. The Voyagers were able to keep the Owlz off the scoreboard in the 3rd and as it turned out for the rest of the game.

Voyager bats came to life for the third inning as Daniel was hit by a pitch, and stole second base and on the throw down error by the Owlz catcher took 3rd. Malek drew a walk, then stole second base. Malek moved to 3rd on a ground out to short by Atwood which drove in Daniels. Malek was then able to score on a wild pitch by Owlz pitcher Chase Wilkerson. Deeb took four straight balls for a walk and Riley Jepson was hit by a pitch. Collin Runge drove both of them home with a line drive double to left center. The Voyagers found themselves within striking distance after 3 innings only down 3, 9-6.

Baseball can be a funny game sometimes and it didn't dissapoint today as the pitching suddenly showed up and the bats didn't. Anthony Becerra-Lopez came in the 4th inning and pitched out of two bases loaded jams in the 6th and 7th innings to keep it a 3 run game.

Brad Demco came in to shut down the Owlz in the 8th and 9th and the Voyagers were down to their last three outs. Owlz closer, Noah Parsons, a hard throwing right hander was brought in to close out the game. Voyagers shortstop, Adam Oviedo, got to a full count and drew a base on balls. He was then knocked around the bases quickly as Daniels hit a towering shot over the right field fence energizing the crowd and the team.

Malek hit the first pitch he saw for a ground ball single to right field. Atwood just missed hitting one and flew out to center field. Bring up fan favorite, Michael Deeb. Deeb had not had a hit this game grounding out twice to first base and striking out his last plate appearance in the 7th. One thing Deeb does very well, is come through in pressure situations, and hit fast balls. On a 1-1 count Deeb turned on an inside fastball and line drived it over the right field fence for a walkoff homerun shot giving the Voyagers the win and a perfect 3-0 to start the season.

The Voyagers will face off against the defending Pioneer Baseball League champions in the Missoula Paddleheads who come to town for 3 games. The Paddleheads also come in with a perfect 3-0 record. So come on out to the ballpark to see the Voyagers in action Saturday at 7 p.m. Sunday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 1 p.m.

Written by Ross Drishinski