Rocky Mountain Looks to Make History in First Postseason Run

The Rocky Mountain Vibes clinched the South Division Title in dramatic fashion, winning a week-long series against their direct in-state rivals and defending PBL champions Grand Junction Jackalopes by four games to two. Rocky Mountain finished the PBL season with a 48-47 overall record, going 28-20 in the second half to claim the division title after a 20-21 performance in the first half. Now, the Vibes look into the postseason with the aim of making history in their first PBL Playoff appearance.  

Infielder Dusty Stroup played a fundamental role in the campaign, winning the honors of PBL Midseason All-Star and Vibes Player of the Year along the way. Stroup had 125 hits and 100 runs, with 20 home runs and 108 RBIs this season, hitting .342 and missing just one of 95 games. Jacob Barfield was another highlight of the Vibes' campaign, hitting a team-record 22 home runs, 10 of those coming in the month of August and one above his 2021 record. Barfield hit .357 while slugging .682, also surpassing the 100-hit mark with 102 total. Rocky Mountain's infield was the engine powering their offensive production, with Jake McMurray owning a strong .449 average, while Ethan Lopez and Elvis Peralta both were above 90 hits and .320 average.  

The Vibes pitching staff also shined, highlighted by the core of the rotation with Peyton Long, elected Vibes Pitcher of the Year after 18 starts in 19 games, racking up 9 wins, a complete game, 99.2 innings pitched and 67 strikeouts in the process, and Christian Day, with 8 wins on 18 starts and 62 strikeouts. Nico Zeglin joined the Vibes roster late in the season and had immediate impact, posting a 3.03 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 11.83K/9 after 39 strikeouts in six performances that earned him the South Pitcher of the Month award for August. Reliever Jackson Cunningham had a historical year, breaking the record for most PBL pitcher appearances in a season with 48, with an impressive 2.25 ERA in 16 innings pitched throughout 21 appearances in August and September. 

Rocky Mountain will play Ogden in the Divisional Round, hosting their first ever PBL playoff game at UCHealth Park on Monday at 6:35 PM, before travelling to Ogden. The contest was well-disputed this season, with the Vibes going 11-13 against the Raptors throughout the year.