Owlz sweep Helena, claim Pioneer title

HELENA — The Orem Owlz are the 2005 Pioneer League champions.

Dallas Morris tripled twice while pitchers Jose Arredondo and Kevin Lynch combined for a four-hitter to lead the visiting Owlz to a 3-2 victory Thursday over Helena in game two of the Pioneer League Championship Series.

Thursday's win, on the heels of Orem's 6-3 victory in the series opener Tuesday, clinched the best-of-three series for the Owlz.

After hitting three triples during the entire regular season, Morris nearly equaled that total in one night with a pair of clutch, two-out triples.

Morris' first triple came in the top of the first. He slapped a pitch from Brewers starter William Inman the other way and to the wall in right field. Morris subsequently scored when Mark Trumbo lined a single to center field, making it 1-0 in favor of Orem.

Trumbo scored in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 2-0. After singling to lead off the inning, Trumbo advanced to third on a Brett Martinez single and scored on rightfielder Colby Overstreet's single to right.

Helena answered right back in the home half of the fourth. The Brewers touched Arredondo for a run to cut the lead to 2-1. Helena shortstop Ryan Crew walked, stole second, took third on a fly out, and scored on designated hitter Angel Salome's single to center field.

Despite giving up only two hits and striking out eight, Arredondo left the game after seven innings with the Owlz leading 2-1. He struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh before departing. Rafael Cruz Chavez, a situational southpaw relief pitcher for Orem, relieved Arredondo in the bottom of the eighth. Cruz Chavez pitched to one Brewer — giving up a single to Stephen Chapman — before giving way to Lynch. Chapman scored from third with two outs when Mat Gamel legged out an infield single, tying the game at 2-2.

In the top of the ninth, Orem shortstop Hainley Statia walked with two down. Morris stepped to the plate and blasted a triple over the Helena center fielder's head to score Statia and put the Owlz back on top 3-2.

Lynch hit Brewers second baseman Kenneth Holmberg with a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth, but avoided a jam by getting Salome to ground into a double play.

The Owlz' title marks the second year in a row that the franchise is Pioneer League champion, although last season the team went by the now-obsolete moniker of "Provo Angels."