Raptors edge Owlz, earn playoff bid

OGDEN — Juan Apodaca hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Raptors a 6-5 win over their in-state rival Orem Owlz.

The win clinched the playoffs for Ogden because they will lead the division after the first half of the season.

"We just needed one victory," manager Juan Bustabad said. "It was at home in front of the fans so it was sweet."

Bustabad said the team can't lose focus on the rest of the season.

"We enjoyed (clinching the playoffs) and we celebrated it," he said. "But the second half of the season starts on Saturday. Some guys who didn't get playing time will get more because we're in the playoffs."

Orem would tie the game in the eighth inning. After Brett Martinez singled and stole second, Mark Trumbo doubled to score Martinez. Trumbo would score three batters later when Johan Silva singled to left. Michael Hughes would bat next and single in Greg Dini to tie the game 5-5.

But Apodaca's solo home run in the bottom half of the inning would be the difference.

"It was a big hit," Bustabad said. "He had a fast ball the pitch before and missed it."

Starter Marlon Arias was on his game for Ogden. He pitched six innings, giving up two runs on only five hits and struck out four batters but picked up a no-decision. At one point, he retired 11 consecutive batters.

"He pitched great," Bustabad said. "We needed that type of game from him. He was clutch for us."

But Arias' magic would only last five innings as the Owlz pushed across their first two runs of the game in the sixth. Billy Boyer hit a one-out double to score Anderson Rosario. Boyer would score two batters later when Raptor shortstop Juan Rivera couldn't handle a hard grounder from Trumbo and deflected the ball into shallow left field. The unearned run cut the Ogden lead to 4-2.

The Raptors would come right back in the bottom half with a solo home run from B.J. Richmond, making the score 5-2.

Ogden started to pull away in the fourth inning. Leading 2-0, Juan Rivera hit an RBI double, allowing Juan Apodaca to score and then Adam Godwin hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Andrew Locke, giving the Raptors a 4-0 lead.

Ramon Troncoso would strike out two batters in the ninth and get credit for the win. Overall, the Raptor pitchers struck out 10 Owl batters.

The Raptors scored in their first at-bat of the game. Ogden had the bases loaded with no outs when Russ Mitchell grounded into a double play, allowing Adam Godwin to score.

The Raptors added another run in the second inning. Richmond led off the inning with a double to left-center field and then scored when Andrew Locke doubled to right-center, making the score 2-0.

Bustabad said he promised the team he would shave his head and mustache if they won the first half of the season. The team made him keep his end of the bargain in the locker room after the game.

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