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One patient at-bat, several defensive plays give Ogden Raptors 5-4 win over Boise

By Brett Hein - Standard-Examiner | Jun 30, 2022

Photo supplied, Ogden Raptors

In this June 19, 2022, photo, Ogden Raptors outfielder Reese Alexiades (18) arrives at third base during a game against Idaho Falls at Lindquist Field in Ogden.

OGDEN — With three lead changes and two ties through the first four innings alone, the Ogden Raptors and Boise Hawks played a tight, nine-inning contest Thursday at Lindquist Field.

With a 5-4 lead and after a four-pitch walk to start the ninth, Ogden closer Jackson Lancaster struck out the side — with a crowd of 4,801 fans on its feet when Boise outfielder Tyler Jorgensen swung through the final pitch — and the Raptors held on to a one-run win to keep their one-game lead in the Pioneer League South Division.

In the eighth, Evan Parker gave up a solo homer to Hawks third baseman Raymond Gil, who pushed one the opposite way to right to make it 5-4. With one out, Parker walked two hitters and gave way to Chase Stratton on the hill.

Myles Harris, who homered in the second, hit a screaming grounder to Freddy Achecar at first. He gathered it cleanly and fired to Jesus Valdez at second base as Stratton dashed to cover first base. Stratton needed a perfectly timed arrival with impeccable footwork to get Harris on the return throw, and he did, retiring the inning.

In the seventh, Raptors reliever Jake Mulholland hit leadoff batter Trevor Minder and put him on second with a wild pitch, but defense saved the day again. Mulholland started it by fielding a chopper just off the mound, holding Minder in place and spinning to throw for an out at first.

Pat Adams caught a hot liner over his shoulder going back in left field and, for the final out of the seventh, second baseman Dakota Conners made a stellar sliding stab and stop on a grounder up the middle, making a sharp throw to first to get Jorgensen at first when a misfire would’ve allowed Minder to round third and score.

With the game tied 3-3 in the fourth, an at-bat from Josh Broughton led to Ogden’s win. Broughton has now hit 6 for 9 at the plate this series but this at-bat didn’t count in that tally. After Conners singled to lead off the fourth, the next two Raptors quickly recorded outs.

Broughton came up to bat and quickly got down 0-2 in the count — then patiently drew a walk to extend the inning. Adams immediately cashed in with a single to centerfield, scoring Conners, and outfielder Reese Alexiades followed by cracking a single of his own, scoring Broughton for a 5-3 lead.

Conners finished 3 for 4 at the plate, and Adams and Alexiades joined Broughton with two hits apiece. Those four players each hit one double.

Frankie Jezioro doubled on the first pitch in the top of the first for Boise and came around to score on a Gil single.

Ogden answered in the bottom half when Broughton led off with a single and scored on a double from Adams off the wall in right-center, flying around to score standing up despite having to hold near first on the fly ball. Alexiades (sacrifice bunt) and Freddy Achecar (sac fly) pushed across Adams for a 2-1 lead.

Harris’ solo homer in the second tied it 2-2, and Jacob Cruce singled in Jezioro in the third to put Boise ahead 3-2.

Alexiades hit his double to lead off the bottom of the third, moving to third on an Achecar single and scoring on a Jesus Valdez sac fly to make it 3-3, setting up the important fourth inning when Ogden took the lead for good.

Ogden and Boise finish the series at 7 p.m. Friday before giving way to the women’s baseball “A League of Their Own” tribute game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

THURSDAY SCORES

Ogden 5, Boise 4

Grand Junction 3, Northern Colorado 0

Billings 4, Rocky Mountain 3

Great Falls 3, Glacier 2

Missoula 13, Idaho Falls 11 (8th, in progress)

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

NORTH DIVISION

Missoula 21-9

Idaho Falls 18-12

Great Falls 19-13

Billings 17-13

Glacier 12-19

SOUTH DIVISION

Ogden 18-14

Grand Junction 17-15

Northern Colorado 12-17

Boise 12-20

Rocky Mountain 8-22

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