IDAHO GOES DOWN After losing to the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers in the series finale and having their Thursday game against the Ogden Raptors canceled, the Chukars are on the verge of being eliminated from the first-half playoff race.
At Melaleuca Field on Sunday, Idaho Falls (26-15) scored in eight of nine innings. The Chukars maintained their lead into the fourth and eighth innings, but the High Wheelers (28-14) were too strong for the pitching staff to stop them. They scored 19 runs after the fourth inning to win the last game of the three-game set, 23-18.
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After starting and pitching into the fifth inning, Connor Harrison (ND, 5-2) was removed from the game after giving up eight runs with two down.
Harrison was replaced by Tyler Curtis, who managed to escape the fifth inning but allowed three runs without recording an out in the sixth. For the bullpen, it was more of the same the rest of the way. Robert Hughes was the only one of the six pitchers that took the hill for Idaho Falls, including Harrison and Curtis, to avoid giving up his own run. However, he did give up three runs to Curtis’ record before the sixth inning ended.
In the ninth inning, Dante Zamudio was tagged for three runs, all of which were unearned. Luke Hempel (L, 0-1) gave way to Zamudio in the last frame after taking the defeat for his six runs (four of which were earned).
The Chukars’ offense was successful all afternoon, despite their pitching and defense struggling.
After a scoreless first frame, the Chukars scored two points in the second. For the remainder of the game, they scored at least one run in every inning.
Garret Ostrander added three hits and three runs from the lead-off position, continuing his recent hot streak. Benjamin Rosengard (9), Trevor Rogers (8), and Simon Baumgardt (13) each hit a home run, and Gabriel Vasquez contributed three hits, four RBIs, and one run scored.
With a much-needed series sweep in their sights, the Chukars continued to match the High Wheelers’ runs with their own, taking a 17–14 lead into the ninth inning. However, Zamudio and Hempel were credited for nine runs between them.
In the ninth inning, the Idaho Falls offense rallied once more and recovered one of the runs. However, with the bases loaded, Ostrander grounded out to end the game.
The Chukars are still in fourth place in the Pioneer Baseball League standings, with two postseason berths up for grabs this week. With six games remaining in the first half and trailing the second-place Missoula PaddleHeads (30-12) by 3.5 games, Idaho Falls would be out of the running if any one of the four Missoula victories or Chukars losses occurred.
Tuesday’s first half concludes with the Chukars opening a six-game set against the Great Falls Voyagers (9–33). The Grand Junction Jackalopes (18–24) will visit Yuba-Sutter, the Raptors (23–18) will visit Missoula, and the Oakland Ballers (32–10), who are now in first place, will host the Rocky Mountain Vibes (21–20) for six games starting Tuesday night.
Present PBL rankings1. The 32-10 Oakland Ballers2. PaddleHeads in Missoula (30-12)3. High Wheelers Yuba-Sutter (28-14)4. Chukars of Idaho Falls (26-15)5. Hawks of Boise (25–17)6. The 23–18 Ogden Raptors7. Feelings of the Rocky Mountains (21–20)8. Jackalopes of Grand Junction (18–24)T9. Mustangs from Billings (15–27)T9. Riders of the Glacier Range (15-27)11. Voyagers of the Great Falls (9-33)12. Sky Sox of Colorado Springs (8-32)
