Tightrope Rocky Mountain Victory Arrives Following Cat-and-Mouse Run
The Rocky Mountain Vibes (12-1) snuck away with their sixth-consecutive victory, taking down the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers (9-5) by an 11-10 margin on Wednesday night. After trailing by four runs, the Vibes bats battled back with a five-run sixth inning.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Rocky Mountain Vibes (12-1) snuck away with their sixth-consecutive victory, taking down the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers (9-5) by an 11-10 margin on Wednesday night. After trailing by four runs, the Vibes bats battled back with a five-run sixth inning.
Four RMV hitters notched multi-knock performances: right fielder Sam Linscott finished with a 2-for-4 line adding in an RBI. Left fielder Stephen Wilmer put up a 3-for-5 showing with his third home run, tying first baseman Will Butcher for the team lead. Butcher headlined the scoreboard with four RBIs off of three hits. Designated hitter Kellum Clark missed the last three games dealing with a sickness, but it looked like he wanted to make up for lost time in his return, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, an RBI, and a double. Clark and Butcher came through especially clutch to take the lead and add insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Wilmer's day would have been better if not for an injury suffered during his last at-bat. The undisclosed ailment came during a sharp swing that would have counted as an RBI single had he been well enough to run to first. The third-year Vibes outfielder was not the only casualty. Catcher Austin Chouinard departed mid-game with apparent muscular discomfort, too.
On the mound, starter Riley Phillips went 3.1 IP with five hits, six runs allowed (five earned), walking six, and three strikeouts. Left-handed reliever Doug Olcese kept his perfect ERA dealing 2.2 IP, letting up four hits, two walks, striking out one, and working out of a bases loaded/no outs jam to close out his ledger. Following up was a perfect seventh inning from righty Hunter Bryan including a K. LHP Tom Peltier struggled through the eighth, being pulled after allowing three runs and three walks on one hit with a strikeout in 0.1 IP.
After earning the win on Tuesday, RHP Trey Morrill reprised his relief role for the wins on back-to-back days, tossing 1.2 IP with three hits, one run, zero walks, and a trio of strikeouts.
The Vibes and High Wheelers play the third match of the six-game setup on Thursday night with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. YUB sets to throw left-hander Brett Wozniak while the Vibes trot out righty Malik Binns. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Jesse Cook
Wednesday, Jun. 4
