Watch & Listen to Vibes @ Yolo

ROCKY MOUNTAIN VIBES (19-23) @ YOLO HIGH WHEELERS (21-21)

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Listen to the Audio Only Commentary on YouTube LIVE

Pitching Matchup:
Rocky Mountain–RHP–Zach Ottinger (1-4, 9.64) @ Yolo–RHP–Brandon McPherson (1-0, 4.50)
Probables for Rocky Mountain (Friday, 2:00 p.m., Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Sunday, 1:05 p.m.)
7/12–Rocky Mountain–LHP–Daniel Nunan (2-1, 6.75) @ Yolo–LHP–Brandon Mitchell (2-1, 6.61)-Game One
—Rocky Mountain–TBA @ Yolo—RHP–Ben Ferrer (2-2, 7.07)---Game Two
7/13–Rocky Mountain–LHP–Nick Powers (0-3, 7.40) @ Yolo–RHP–JC Ariza (0-3, 7.64)
7/14–Rocky Mountain–RHP–Christian Day (2-4, 7.04) @ Yolo—TBA

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER-RHP-6-BRANDON McPHERSON–(1-0, 4.50)

-seventh start/appearance of 2024; first appearance ever against Rocky Mountain
-second year in Pioneer League, last season with Billings was 3-0, 5.23, eight games/seven starts
-manager last season with the Mustangs is Yolo manager Billy Horton
-Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week (8/21-28) last year
-played three seasons at Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, Ill.), career with Huskies was 4-7
-went to Wabash Valley College prior to NIU
-originally from the western Chicago suburbs (North Aurora, Illinois)
-father Darryl played baseball at Spring Hill College (Al.) with Billy Horton
-dad is a United States Marshal based in the Chicago area

DATE OPP IP H R ER BB K DEC SCORE
5/30 GJ 6 2 1 1 4 6 W 4-1
6/6 '@OAK 6 7 6 5 1 7 ND 8-8 (lost 2-1 KO)
6/13 '@NOCO 5 5 2 2 2 8 ND 5-6
6/20 OAK 4+ 7 3 3 6 2 ND 8–4
6/27 '@IDF 5 9 5 5 1 4 ND 9-12
7/4 OAK 6 6 1 1 1 6 ND 5-5 (lost 2-1 KO)

HIGH WHEELERS POSITION PLAYERS
2 KIRKLAND BANKS Last Game: DNP in either game yesterday Hitting Streak: Three Games (4-9)
-was 7-19 in six games vs. Oakland (.368); Grand Slam on 7/7 at Oakland
-homered in last two games @ Oakland (7/6-7); Slam was first as a pro, last one was in High School
-first four-hit game of season on 6/12 @ NOCO
-Lamar University alum, originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana; loves eating alligator
-with Frederick (MLB Draft League) last year, (.387, 7, 29, 6 SB)
-was multi-offensive threat in five seasons of football at Lamar, primarily played wide receiver
-graduate of Barbe High School; helped lead the Buccaneers to three state titles in baseball

4 BRAYLIN MARINE Game One: 2-3; 2 RBI's Game Two: 1-4 Hitting Streak: Five Games (9-21)
-eleven RBI's over last five games; five RBI's 7/6 @ Oakland
-extended streak of reaching base safely to 28 games w/three hits/one walk combined yesterday
-inside park two-run homer on 7/2 vs. OAK; first inside park HR in Yolo history
-two homers on 6/30 at Idaho Falls (first two-HR game), was 12-25, 8 RBI's , 11 R in series @ IDH (,480)
-on 6/26 @ IDF was the second game this season with at least four hits (6/18 vs. Oakland had five hits)
-five hits 6/18 vs. OAK; first five-hit game in team history; five runs also tops on Yolo in one game
-pro career best six RBI's on 6/16 at NOCO; went 3-6; three-double in 9th
-five seasons at NCAA—Division II-- Newberry (SC) College; all-time SB leader with 100

5 BRAYLAND SKINNER Game One: 2-4; 3 R Game Two: DNP Hit Streak: Six Games (9-26)
-four stolen bases 7/7 @ Oakland; matching most for a High Wheeler (Lada 6/18 vs. OAK)
-six three-hit games this season
-first two homers on 6/8 @ OAK & 7 RBI's in game (along with Lada most in one game)
-played two seasons at Mississippi State and one year at University of Memphis
-member of the 2021 NCAA College World Series Champion Mississippi State Bulldogs
-last season was in the MLB Draft League with Williamsport (.333, 1, 19, 12 SB)

7 BRAEDON BLACKFORD Game One: 1-3; 2B; R; Game Two: 0-3 Hitting Streak: No Games
-homers in two straight games 7/3-7/4 (seven this season, five round trippers vs. Oakland)
-first pro Grand Slam on 6/21 vs. OAK; 9-21(.429) in last series vs. Oakland (6/18-23) .
-three hits and four RBI's are most for him in one game this season on 6/21
-homered in three straight games @ OAK; 6/5-7, all solo, first High Wheeler with HR's in three consecutive games
-first hit in Yolo history with a first inning single on May 21
-played two years at Purdue Fort Wayne (NCAA-D-I, Horizon League)
-All-Horizon League First Team senior year at PFW, had 14 homers; prior to PFW played at Illinois State
-spent 2023 with State College (MLB Draft League), in 46 games, .270, 5, 34, 3 SB

9 MASON MINZEY Game Two Only: 0-3; 2 K Hitting Streak: No Games
-three hits (all singles) in season opener on May 21; three runs on 6/28 @ IDF most for him
-three seasons of college ball was at Ohio University after beginning varsity career at Texas Tech
-played 32 games last year w/Williamsport (MLB Draft League) (.268, 0, 6)

11 BOBBY LADA (LUH-DAY) Game One: 0-3; SF; RBI; R Game Two: 1-3; 2 R Hit Streak: One Game (1-3)
-hit safely in seven-of-last-eight games (8-32, .250)
-tied for team-high in homers with Jose Gonzalez; has four four-hit games
-series at Idaho Falls (6/25-30): 11-27 (.407) with 13 RBI's
-seven RBI's on 6/29 at IDF; matches Braylin Skinner for most in one game with Yolo
-reached base safely a team record six times on 6/18 vs. OAK along with four steals–tied for team-high in a game
- four hits (triple shy of the cycle) on 5/28 along with six RBI's vs. Grand Junction
-Grand Slam on 5/28 vs. GJ was first homer in Yolo history
-played last season for West Virginia in the MLB Draft League
-two seasons for the University of Louisiana, and finished college career at NAIA William Carey

14 JUSTIN KIRBY Game One: 2-4; 2 RBI's Game Two: 1-3; 2B Hitting Streak: Two Games (3-7)
-two singles in sixth inning in Game One yesterday; second hit was two-run single in eight-run frame
-three homers over last two games at Oakland (two on 7/6, one on 7/7)
-streak of ten straight games scoring at least one run ended 6/25 (12 in that span)
-first pro homer was 6/11 @ Northern Colorado; two total in series
-outfielder signed on May 28th for his first pro contract; two hits on 5/28 in pro debut vs. GJ
-went to spring training with Fargo (American Association) and Missoula (Pioneer League)
-played four seasons at Kent State University (Kent, Ohio) & last year at Auburn
-amassed 29 homers with Kent State and eight at Auburn; originally from Alpharetta, Ga.
-was Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year at Kent State in 2019 (.313, 9, 30)

18 ALEX EPP Game One: 0-3; BB; R Game Two: 1-3; 2B; 2 RBI's Hitting Streak: One Game (1-3)
-came through with two-run double in second inning in Game Two yesterday; first hit with Yolo
-acquired from Lake Erie of the Frontier League yesterday for future considerations
-at Lake Erie hit .243, 0, 3 in 15 games; nine hits in 37 AB's; first year pro is primarily a shortstop but can also play third
-other MLB Parner League assignments this year, Lincoln of the American Association & Lake Erie
-five seasons at William Jewell (NCAA-DII, Liberty, Mo.), this past season hit .411, 19, 57 for the Cardinals
-third in average, second in homers, and first in walks with 55 Great Lakes Valley Conference
-Epp Earns Honorable Mention All-America Honors From NCBWA - William Jewell College Athletics (jewellcardinals.com)
-Pre-Season Conference All-Second Team and Academic All-American Honors; Civil Engineering Major at William Jewell
-originally from Wichita, Kansas (Maize High School)

19 EDDIE NIEMANN Game One: 1-2; HP; RBI Game Two: 2-3; 2B; HR; 2 RBI's Hit Streak: Two Games (3-5)
-first two games as a High Wheeler yesterday; accomplished first pro homer with two-run clout in game two
-signed on 7/9; second year pro; Empire State Greys (Frontier League) last year
-main position is catcher but can play first base; alum of St. Leo University (St. Leo, Florida)
-final year at St. Leo was 2023, led the Lions with seven homers, and 39 RBI's; played there 2021-23
-hails from Scottsdale, Arizona (Pinnacle High School)

23 JOSE GONZALEZ Game One: 2-3; 2B; 3 RBI's Game Two: DNP Hitting Streak: Three Games (4-9)
-reached base safely in his last 16 straight games; six games of at least three RBI's
-hitting streak of 12 games ended on 7/4, was 22-50 over the dozen contests (.440)
-four hits on 6/25 @ Idaho Falls; other four-hit game was June 2; 12-26 at Idaho Falls (.462)
-three homers in series @OAK (6/4-9) and three more in series at Northern Colorado (6/11-16)
-two homers 6/4 @ Oakland; first two homers of season; first Yolo player with two HR in a game
-amassed 33 homers in his Texas State University Bobcats career with a .290 average; played in 2022 NCAA Tourney

31 TANNER SMITH Game One: 1-3; R; RBI Game Two: 3-3; 2B; R RBI Hitting Streak: Two Games (4-6)
-snapped 0-15 drought yesterday in G1, sixth inning bunt single, four hits in last four AB's
-broke game open 7/5 @ OAK with three-run double in 8th (most RBI's for him in a game this year)
-streak of reaching base in 16 straight games ended on 6/22 going 0-1 as PH
-nine-game hit streak (11-34, .324) snapped 6/18; hitless in first 15 AB's this year
-second professional season; last year with Tri-City (Frontier League) .289, 3, 23
-homered in back-to-back games at Oakland 6/7-8; first two homers of the season
-ALL-TIME Oregon leader in homers with 31, RBI's with 58, games started 246, doubles with 69
-Honorable Mention, All Pac-12 Conference in 2023 (.327, 11, 45)

35 ANGEL MENDOZA Game One: Caught seventh inning Game Two: DNP Hitting Streak: No Games
-five hits in last 51 AB's (.098); hitless in last 21 AB's
-second homer on 6/28 @ Idaho Falls; solo in third inning; first pro HR was 6/4 @ OAK
-last year was with Trenton (MLB Draft League), .185, 0, 8 , hit homer against the Savannah Bananas
-Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of Year in 2023 at Union College (KY); third in league batting at .404
-established single season school record with 25 homers, and 27 hit by pitches (.404, 25, 53)
-won the Gold Glove as catcher for the conference; helped lead Bulldogs to the NAIA Playoffs

37 KYLE GUERRA Game One: Pinch Ran; R Game Two: 2-3; 2B; R; RBI Hitting Streak: Four Games (7-15)
-scored a run in each game yesterday; current four-game hit streak is his longest this season
-played second base for the first time this season on 6/28
-became first position player to pitch for Yolo; scoreless ninth inning on 6/19 vs. Oakland
-second professional season; signed by the High Wheelers out of a tryout camp
-last season in Pecos League with the San Rafael Pacifics (42 games, .365, 4, 44, 32 SB)
-at Cal State Monterey Bay (NCAA-Division II); played four seasons with Otters (.296 lifetime)

44 ALEJANDRO FIGUEREDO Last Game: DNP Hitting Streak: Five Games (8-17)
-placed on injured list 7/9 with ankle issue; injured on 7/6 @ Oakland after hitting double
-nine hits in his last 13 AB's (.692) over course of his five games against Oakland
-first baseman joined High Wheelers 6/19 from Billings (Pioneer League) .329, 3, 23, 21 games (Billings totals)
-hit first homer in a Yolo uniform 6/20 vs. OAK; has four overall this year between Yolo & Billings
-hitting streaks of five & six games this season, two four-RBI games this year with Billings
-played at Billings last season (.287, 9, 38) for now Yolo manager Billy Horton
-originally from Sucre, Venezuela; three seasons at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Florida
-overall had 41 homers in college, Florida Gulf Coast University is NCAA-DI (Atlantic Sun Conference)
-Third Team All-America & First Team All Conference in 2023 at FGCU–.361, 23, 71

HIGH WHEELERS BULLPEN (CURRENT SERIES): (6 1⁄3 IP, 4 BB, 8 K, SV, 0.00)
10 NOAH ESTRELLA Last Appearance: 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One) (1 IP, BB, K, W)
-signed from Pioneer League tryout camp in Arizona; first pro win yesterday with scoreless sixth in game one
-pitched two seasons at New Mexico State (39 games overall with Aggies, was 5-3); appeared in 2022 NCAA
-last two summers with Pulaski in the Appalachian League (MLB Draft), combined 2-1 in 15 games
-father Erick was his high school coach at Flowing Hills in Tucson

17 JACK ZALASKY Last Appearance: 7/9 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, BB, K)
-winning pitcher 7/6 @ Oakland upping his record to 5-1; most wins on the team
-was 2-0 in series at IDF with two shutout frames; fourth win of the year on 6/29
-earned his first win of season on 5/28 vs. GJ; recorded final out & picked up first SV in team history on May 21
-last year at Mahoning Valley (MLBDL) 1-0, 7.88, 12 games; native of Sacramento, alum of Elk Grove HS
-five seasons at Sac State was 16-9, 3.23 with 26 saves; ; led Western Athletic Conference in saves in 2023 with 11
-father Pat pitched at Sacramento State; grandfather played football at Sac State

25 TY BUCKNER Last Appearance: 7/9 vs. Rocky Mountain (1 IP, K, SV)
-scoreless ninth inning the other day notching his team-high fourth save
-allowed first earned run in a home game on 6/22 vs. Oakland, home totals 7 2⁄3 IP, 1 ER, 1.17 ERA
-spent three years pitching for Missouri State and one with Gonzaga (college career 8-9, 5.32)
-State College last year (MLB Draft) was 1-2 in 26 games with six saves, 1.74
-originally from St. Louis; missed two years in college with Achillies injury & Tommy John Surgery

30 TURNER THOMPSON Last Appearance: 7/6 @ Oakland (1⁄3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 HR)
-eight earned runs over last four appearances; played two seasons each at Tulane & Samford University
-signed 6/18 by Yolo; grew up in Tampa where he still lives; father Mark was college teammate of Billy Horton
-this season at Samford (Birmingham, AL) was 0-0; 18 games, 8.55 ERA, 3-3 lifetime at Samford
-alum of Tampa Jesuit High School where the school won a state title when he was there

32 KRIS ANGLIN Last Appearance: 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game Two) (2 1⁄3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K)
-first win of season yesterday in Game Two; season-high 4 K's; first win since 7/28/22 while w/Braves Florida Complex team
-return to action on 7/6 @ OAK, pitched perfect sixth with three strikeouts; seven strikeouts over last three outings
-was on injured list from 6/18 through 7/4; removed from IL on 7/5; Frontier High alum from Bakersfield
-lone High Wheeler with affiliated experience (Atlanta and Detroit systems) ; 4-8 MiLB record
-didn't pitch competitively after spring training last season, spent 2023 working out and pitching on side

34 CONNOR LANGRELL Last Appearance: 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game Two) (1 IP, H, BB, K)
-third save of the season on 7/6 @ OAK with perfect ninth inning
-struggled in two prior outings (both vs. Oakland) six runs (all earned) in two innings, nine hits
-earned first win of the season on last road trip on 6/16 @ Northern Colorado with 1 2⁄3 shutout effort
-last season with Williamsport (MLB Draft) (0-0, 2.52, 23 games (all relief) ; three seasons DII Newman University in Wichita
-spent last college year (2023) as graduate player at Bradley University (2-1, 11 saves); much of youth spent in Las Vegas

47 JACOB STOBART Last Appearance: 7/7 @ Oakland (1 1⁄3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, K)
-struggled over last four outings giving up ten runs (nine earned) in six innings, 13.50 ERA
-first win in team history pitching two innings in resumption of game from May 21st vs. Rocky Mountain
-second year in Pioneer League, played for manager Billy Horton last year with Billings (2-1, 2.38, six games)
-pitched much of last year with Aigles de Trois-Rivieres in Frontier League (0-0, 6.26, 22 games)
-attended Stephen F. Austin University; six wins in three seasons with Lumberjacks; originally from Phoenix

TEAM GAME HIGHS
Runs: 19 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Runs Allowed 14 7/7 @ Oakland
Hits: 21 5/28 vs. Grand Junction
Hits Allowed: 17 7/6 @ Oakland
Home Runs 5 6/8 @ Oakland
Errors: 3 4X last: 7/3 vs. Oakland
Runs in inning: 9 5/28 vs. Grand Junction (Eighth Inning)
Strikeouts for Pitchers: 14 6/4 @ Oakland

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Hits 5 Braylin Marine 6/18 vs. Oakland
RBI's 7 Accomplished Twice last: Bobby Lada 6/29 @ Idaho Falls
Walks 3 Multiple Times last: Braedon Blackford 6/4 @ Oakland
Runs 5 Braylin Marine/Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Reaching Safely 6X Bobby Lada 6/18 vs. Oakland
Home Runs 2 Accomplished 4X last: Justin Kirby 7/6 @ Oakland
Stolen Bases 4 Accomplished 2X last: Brayland Skinner 7/7 @ Oakland

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING SINGLE GAME HIGHS
Innings 7 Accomplished 2X last: Cameron Repetti 7/9 vs. Rocky Mountain
Hits 12 Dawson Lane 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)
Strikeouts 10 Dawson Lane 7/10 vs. Rocky Mountain (Game One)
Walks 6 Brandon McPherson 6/20 vs. Oakland
Earned Runs 7 Accomplished 4X last: JC Ariza 7/7 @ Oakland

STARTING GAMES BY POSITION
C Mendoza (27), Minzey (14), Niemann (1)
1B Gonzalez (18), Figueredo (10), Kuchinski (6), Blackford (4), Minzy (3), Niemann (1)
2B Lada (26), Banks (12), Marine (2), Epp (1), Guerra (1)
3B Blackford (20), Banks (16), Kuchinski (2), Epp (2), Leslie (2)
SS Marine (32), Lada (10)
LF Kirby (15), Gonzalez (10), Smith (9), Banks (4), Blackford (2), Guerra (2)
CF Skinner (36), Guerra (6)
RF Smith (24), Kirby (10), Guerra (6), Gonzalez (2)
DH Kuchinski (9), Gonzalez (6), Marine (5), Blackford (4), Figueredo (4), Lada (3), Skinner (3), Smith (3),
Banks (2), Minzey (2), Kirby (1)

STARTING BATTING ORDER
1—Skinner (36), Marine (6)
2—Marine (30), Lada (9), Smith (3)
3–Lada (25), Blackford (7), Smith (3), Gonzalez (2), Minzy (2), Banks (2), Kuchinski (1))
4-Gonzalez (27), Kuchinksi (10), Blackford (4), Niemann (1)
5-Figueredo (12), Blackford (8), Banks (5), Gonzalez (5), Smith (5), Kuchinski (4), Figueredo (1), Lada (1), Minzey (1)
6--Kirby (10). Blackford (9), Smith (8), Banks (3), Kuchinski (2), Lada (2), Marine (2), Minzey (2),
Epp (1), Figueredo (1), Gonzalez (1), Skinner (1)
7—Kirby (12), Smith (12), Banks (10), Lada (3), Minzey (2), Blackford (1), Mendoza (1), Skinner (1)
8—Banks (13), Guerra (8), Minzey (5), Smith (5), Kirby (4), Leslie (2), Mendoza (2), Blackford (1), Epp (1), Skinner (1)
9–Mendoza (24), Guerra (7), Minzey (7), Banks (1), Epp (1), Gonzalez (1), Niemann (1)