Grand Junction — For the first time in four years (three as a journalist) I was unable to attend the opening day festivities for the Colorado Rockies rookie-ball team in Grand Junction. And it sounds like I missed a classic.
Four years ago, David Dahl and Eddie Butler stole the show, the year after it was players like Jon Gray, Ryan McMahon, Raimel Tapia and Jordan Patterson. Then came Kyle Freeland and Forrest Wall and eventually Brendan Rodgers. As is often the case on both counts, many of the players with the spotlight were not yet in action for the opener but it was still a game that loudly announced the beginning of the baseball season in the western part of Colorado.
Luckily for us, I was able to contact a stringer in the area who is a far better writer than I am, a gentleman named Ira Creasman (sounds like he’s got good genes) who could attend the game. He filed this report for BSN Denver:
You’d think they’d won the World Series rather than the home opener of a Rookie League game in a town known as the biggest city between Denver and Salt Lake. Down by two in the ninth, the baby Rox were almost certainly about to lose. It’d been a solid game on both sides with a few high-sailing homers and a few impressive plays.
In the first inning, with men on first and second, third baseman Taylor Snyder fielded a ball hard in the dirt, raced the runner to third for the force and launched the ball like a cannon to first for a double play that kept the Owlz from burying the Rockies early.
Centerfielder Jahmai Jones for the Owlz upset an eighth inning rally for the Rockies by making a six-foot high, chest-thumping dive that was damn near a single, or maybe even a double in the gap with two on.
After a top of the ninth that saw Lorenzo Ozuna record two outs on two pitches, and work through amighty struggle for the third, it was 4 to 6 for the Owlz for the final half-frame. The announcer reminded the crowd of the score and bade them make some noise. For all that I grew up in Grand Junction, I am quite fond of my hometown, especially those who show up for opening day at a Rookie League game. The crowd obliged with gusto.
Outfielder Cole Anderson lead the ninth with a double and the crowd got excited. The next two batters struck out, but the crowd held out hope. Right-fielder Manuel Melendez then knocked a ball so hard to right there was barely time to watch it go.
Tied at six, the crowd goes wild.
In the following at-bat, Pedro Gonzales (who was playing center field instead of shortstop, by the way) gets hit in the hands with a pitch.
The crowd goes wild.
Shortstop Jose Gomes then hit a hard grounder up the first base line. The Owlz first baseman tossed it to the incoming pitcher, a routine play. But Gomez raced the pitcher to the bag like the game depended on it. It was a close one. Tie goes to the runner, right? That little drama let Gonzales get to third.
The crowd goes wild.
Next, Vince Fernandez, after many a swing of the bat, put a ball over the third baseman’s head but out of left fielders reach. Gonzales sprinted for home. The bench cleared like we were at the other end of the season as the GJ Rox won the home opener in spectacular style.
The crowd goes absolutely wild.
Fernandez was player of the game providing the final burst for the win, then there were even more fireworks ater the game.
I love rookie ball.
