Bulldogs are on a roll
But if the Bulldogs continue to play as well as they have of late, it's going to be pretty hard for any other team to catch them for the league's No. 4 playoff spot.
Thursday, Provo took care of the Orem Tigers by an 8-3 score for the Bulldogs' third-straight league win, which evens their record at 4-4. It was also Provo's second win this week over one of the league-leading teams. Tuesday the Bulldogs handed Mountain View its first region loss. Thursday's loss was only Orem's second league loss.
"We're just having more fun," Provo coach Lance Moore said. "The kids are being vocal, they're excited to come here, and they're playing harder. Everything about it's just a better feel."
Provo has turned things around with a combination of clutch pitching and a lot more offensive production. It's helped to have starter Colin Bigelow back in the rotation, and it's helped that the Bulldogs are stepping into the batter's box with a more aggressive attitude.
The Bulldogs were shut out twice in the region's first half. They've scored 25 runs in the past three wins.
Actually, Provo didn't really tear the cover off the ball Thursday. The Bulldogs just took advantage of their scoring opportunities, while the Tigers didn't. In fact, Orem stranded 12 runners and left the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Provo pitchers, Bigelow and reliever Brad Rigby combined to issue 12 free passes, but only one of those runners scored. Provo catcher Matt Griner also threw out two Orem runners trying to steal.
"Colin pitched with a lot of heart, and he made big pitches when he needed to. Brad came in and did the same thing," Moore said.
Provo went up 2-0 in the third on doubles by Kyle Valgardson and Adam Law. Orem cut the score to 2-1 when Jordan Johnston scored on a wild pitch. Two more Bulldogs crossed in the fourth on Morgan Ventura's single to left.
The fifth is the inning where Provo really took charge with four runs to take an 8-1 lead. The first two scored on an error on a bases-loaded grounder to third. The others crossed on Griner's sacrifice fly and Andy Isom's RBI single.
Orem was poised for a comeback in the bottom half with the first four hitters reaching, with one scoring on Jordan Sargent's bases-loaded walk. But the Bulldogs avoided further damage when Harrison Gray lined into a double play and Rigby came in and left the bases full with a strikeout.
"Our goal is simply to win the next game, and that's going to continue to be our goal," Moore said.
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com
Recent comments
Dawgs!
Here Come The | April 25, 2008 at 9:00 p.m.
The grounder to third base was the hardest hit grounder i have seen...
Big Mac | April 25, 2008 at 12:54 p.m.
