By Michael Moffat
With a playoff birth on the horizon, the Orem Owlz dug itself a hole by falling to the lowly Casper Rockies 6-3 Wednesday (July 26, 2006) at Owlz Field.
At the half way mark of the season on Friday, the top team from each division gains an automatic playoff birth. The loss Wednesday dropped the Owlz one game behind south division leader Idaho Falls, whom they face next in a three game set.
While the Casper Rockies rolled with three home runs and seven hits, the Owlz struggled offensively with only four hits for the third night in a row to go with 12 strikeouts.
The Owlz put some pressure on in the ninth with a leadoff double by Chris Pettit. After a few walks and wild pitches, the Owlz managed to load the bases twice and bring a run in to make it a three run game. But Orem would get no closer.
Orem left fielder Chris Pettit had a standout game with two doubles and two RBI”s.
“First of all it would have been better to win,” Pettit said. “I saw the ball well, hit a couple doubles, that”s always good. We just need to get some more hits as a team and help out the pitching staff.”
Regardless of the Owlz” continued offensive struggles, they are within striking distance for the playoff bid. They must win the next two games against Idaho Falls to secure the spot.
Owlz Manager Tom Kotchman seemed more interested in the upcoming series with Idaho Falls than the loss to Casper.
“We”re playing a team that”s obviously the favorites ”cause they”re a much older club,” Kotchman said of the Idaho Falls Chuckers. “You can”t use that as an excuse, you got to go and you got to play the game. They”re the team that”s got more experience than we do, we”ll just see how our kids react.”
The Owlz offense has been inconsistent this season but Kotchman said his team has been taught the basics and it is only a matter of time before it all comes together.
“At some point its got to click,” Kotchman said. “All we can do is prepare them, after that the ball”s in their court.”
Regardless of their offensive struggles, the team has had a good first half. Fans also seem to enjoy having the team in their town.
“I think it”s gaining in popularity,” Julie Tracy said, a fan and host family of many players for the last five seasons. “I think people really like the fact that they”re here, especially with the Triple A team being in Salt Lake, because there”s a lot of players in Salt Lake that we watched down here.”
The team hopes to ”click” and carry some of their ninth inning momentum into the crucial series tonight with the Idaho Falls Chuckers.
“It would just take a lot of pressure off the guys knowing you don”t have to go out there and win every game the second half,” Pettit said of winning the next two and securing the first half playoff spot.
