Owlz Soar Above Chukars to Make it Five Wins in a Row

The Mid-Season PBL Tryouts took place at the Future Legends Complex and culminated with the Mid-Season Draft on Saturday, while the Owlz are flying high atop the South Division second half standings, thanks to five wins in a row against Idaho Falls. The Chukars once again struck first with CJ Dunn in the series, this time as the DH with the only home run of the night from the top of the first. Nick Matthews, who had a four-hit game, drove Danny Perez home to tie the game in the bottom fourth, before the Owlz put up five runs in the following inning to take a 5-1 lead they would keep until the end of the night. Jose Diaz also had a strong game on the mound for the Owlz, going six innings strong while conceding just three hits and an earned run, while fanning five. Northern Colorado will bid for the six-game series sweep on Sunday at home, starting at 1:05PM.

Boise 13, Ogden 6: Hawks' batting consistency takes the Raptors down

Boise and Ogden were two of the best teams in the South Division of the first half of the PBL season, but have struggled so far in the second half. This weekly series has gone back and forth, tied at two wins for each team before Saturday's game, which followed the same pattern. The Raptors took the lead first from a solo homer by Logan Williams in the first, before a second inning that featured two lead changes. Boise then took control of the game, cutting the lead in the third and getting ahead in the fourth after a grand slam by Anthony Walters. The Hawks kept their consistency with the bat later in the game, scoring what came to be ten unanswered runs. Now, three of Boise's four wins so far in the half came over Ogden this week, as the Hawks will try for an away series victory on Sunday at 2PM from Utah.

Missoula 3, Glacier 2: Powered by McClain O'Connor, PaddleHeads beat Range Riders in "Home Run Derby"

Saturday's contest in Kalispell featured all runs coming from homers, a curious feat in the PBL. Both teams hit two home runs each, but an extra RBI for Missoula was the final difference in the scoreboard. Glacier scored first with a solo homer by Christian Kirtley, setting a lead that lasted until the top seventh, where McClain O'Connor hit his first home run of the day, to put the PaddleHeads in front. O'Connor would homer again in the top of the ninth, adding an insurance run that was cut short by Matt Clayton later in the inning. Izzy Fuentes recorded his sixth win of the season, playing for seven full innings and getting as many strikeouts, while keeping the Range Riders hitless besides Kirtley's homer. Zach Penrod was awarded the save in an eventful ninth inning, where he ceded a single hit in Clayton's home run plus two walks, but also got three clutch strikeouts to keep Glacier from coming back. Sunday's series finale from Kalispell starts at 1:05PM, where the hosts will try to even the weekly contest and keep the PaddleHeads from winning two series in a row.

Rocky Mountain 3, Grand Junction 4: Jackalopes Early Runs Enough to Contain Vibes Comeback

Justin Kleinsorge once again had a day of small worries on the mound, recording his sixth win in the season for Grand Junction. After six innings of work, he finished the day with only three hits and no earned runs, fanning six along the way. The Jacks' offense was also productive, with Ethan Smith, Jacob Cruce and Jaylen Hubbard all driving in runs from singles. Hubbard's hit brought two home, a crucial play that put the Jacks up three in the bottom of the seventh. All of the Vibes' runs came from doubles, thanks to Matt Hogan and Jacob Barfield, who drove in two in the top eighth to stage a comeback that ultimately came short. Grand Junction avoided losing the series on Saturday, but will have to get a home win on Sunday at 2:05PM to level the score against Rocky Mountain, who leads this weekly series 3-2.

Billings 10, Great Falls 13: Voyagers Complete Day of Comebacks at PBL with Late Surge Against Mustangs

A rain delay pushed for a late start to the last game of the day from Great Falls, an in-state North Division contest between the Mustangs and the Voyagers. Billings built a 5-0 lead by the top of the third that was quickly cut short by a four-run bottom of the third from the Voyagers. The Mustangs then had a four-run half inning of their own in the top fourth, once again getting five runs ahead in the scoreboard. The Voyagers then stormed ahead with seven runs in the bottom sixth, and added a couple more two innings later to make it 13-10 after a 34-hit contest that finished close to midnight local time. The Voyagers now fly solo on the top of the North Division Second Half standings, and will attempt to take a series win on Sunday's game, which will have an early start from Great Falls at 11:30AM where it is Sunday Brunch and Kids Eat Free by Pepsi.