Ballers Clinch Playoffs, Seal First-Half Title with Thrilling 6-5 Victory
The Ballers are PBL First Half Champions
By Nevada Cullen
OAKLAND, Calif. -- In just their second year in the Pioneer League, the Ballers are going back to the playoffs. Oakland didn't lead until the eighth in its comeback, 6-5 victory against the Rocky Mountain Vibes on Thursday.
The cherry on top? With the Ogden Raptors beating the Missoula Paddleheads Thursday, the Ballers are not only playoff-bound – they are the PBL First-Half Champions.
Lou Helmig provided the late-game heroics with two clutch hits, including the game-winning knock. And when Oakland needed him most, Carson Lambert shut down the Vibes and shut the door with five strikeouts and two perfect innings.
Early on, it felt like a home-run derby between the Ballers and the Vibes. Believe it or not, the first nine runs of the contest all came via the long ball.
Rocky Mountain tagged Dylan Matsuoka for three dingers through the first three frames. Sam Linscott, Stephen Wilmer and Gary Lora went yard in the first, second and third respectively to create an early 4-0 cushion for the Vibes.
The Ballers did not pick up their first hit of the game until the third, when Tremayne Cobb Jr. hustled out a double to right. Then, Christian Almanza swatted an opposite-field blast to left, his 13th of the season, to slice the deficit in half.
One inning later, Nick Leehey smashed a hanging breaking ball for a game-tying, two-run homer to left center. Some (Tyler Petersen) are calling him "Dillon Tatum Jr.," as Leehey has five round trippers in his last five games.
The Vibes answered rather abruptly with their fourth tater of the evening. Carter Booth led off the fifth with a solo shot to left, putting Rocky Mountain back in front, 5-4.
Danny Harris IV started the sixth with a single, and rather chaotically, advanced to third on a pair of balks. With the infield in, Helmig laced a single over short to knot the contest at five.
In the bottom of the eighth, Helmig struck again. He untied the game, sending a single through the right side to score Cam Bufford from second.
Lambert was utterly dominant out of the Oakland bullpen. He entered in the eighth, struck out a pair and protected the narrow, one-run lead in the ninth by fanning the side in order.
First pitch for game four of the series against the Vibes is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. PDT Friday. As always, you can listen to the action on 860 AM The Answer and on the Oakland Ballers YouTube channel.
