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Raptors Eliminated by Orem in 11 Innings, 8-7

Ogden was just one strike away from advancing
September 11, 2016

With the Raptors clinging to a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the 11th inning, Orem's John Schuknecht hit a two-run double to left field to send the Owlz to the Pioneer League championship series. Ogden had the Owlz down to their last out and last strike before surrendering the game winning knock.

Moises Perez, Ogden's number nine hitter, put the Raptors up by one when he homered in the top of the 11th. It was the second baseman's second home run and fourth hit of the game. His first blast was a two-run shot in the second inning. He had four RBIs in the game. 

Ogden used five pitchers and Orem used seven as both teams battled extra-innings in a winner-take-all game. Both starters, Zac Grotz and Ty Barkell, gave up five runs. Neither team held more than a two-run advantage as the game intensely swung back and forth all afternoon. 

The Raptors had a chance to win the game in regulation as well. Ogden took a one-run lead in the eighth inning when Brandon Montgomery tripled and Cody Thomas drove him in with a single. It was Montgomery's fifth triple against Orem this year.

Ogden brought in Vinny Santarsiero to close it out in the night. In eight appearances this season, Santarsiero had not given up an earned run. But Zach Gibbons doubled in L.J. Kalawaia to tie the game and send it to extras where Schucknecht would eventually end Ogden's season. 

It was a riveting series between the Wasatch Front rivals in which two of the games went into extra innings. Orem will now face the Billings Mustangs for the title, with game one in Billings Wednesday night.