Wednesday Pebble Report: Dust Devils Sweep Their Way to Championship Series

Short Season-A Tri-City - W 9-1, Northwest League Semi Finals Game 2

The Dust Devils are looking to ride their pitching staff all the way to a championship. So far, itseems like a good plan. Tyler Gagnon (2009, 15th round) struck out six while allowing just one run in six innings to help lead Tri-City to a 9-1 victory. The win clinched a first round sweep against the Boise Hawks, outscoring the Cubs affiliate 15-1 in the series. Jaron Shepherd (2011, 33rd round) and Brian Humphries (2011, 14th round) each had four hits and took part in a 4-run 4th inning which gave Gagnon plenty of breathing room.

Courtesy of a story by Ashley Marshall from MLB.com:

"I felt really good out there. I was able to get ahead with all of my stuff. We played great as a team and the pitching staff was able to shut it down again...Everybody is playing for a ring. It would mean the world to get one. We definitely popped some bottles tonight. It was only apple cider, but it was a great victory and it's always nice to win." - Tyler Gagnon

Only Chris Jensen (2011, 6th round) and Ryan Casteel (2010, 17th round) are under 21 on the roster, but then again, apple cider tastes so good.

Vancouver (Blue Jays) and Eugene (Padres) each won on the road in the other series, so the Dust Devils will have to wait another day to find out their opponent in the Northwest League Championship Series.

Rookie Casper - W 9-6 (16-20, t-3rd, 6.0 GB)

The Ghosts were last in the division coming in and the Orem Owlz were in first place, but you wouldn't know it by last night's game in Orem. The Ghosts pummeled the Angels affiliate early and often with seven extra base hits in the first four innings, led by a 3-run home run by Carl Thomore (2011, 2nd round) and solo shot by Harold Riggins (2011, 7th round). Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick) doubled home a run as well as every Ghost in the line-up had a hit by the fourth inning, with the exclusion of Rosell Herrera (2009, DR), who hit a sacrifice fly. After that, the bats mostly went to sleep, but the 8-0 lead was enough to hold up. Benjamin Hughes (2011, 10th round) pitched well until a 4-run fifth inning.

The Ghosts will make the long trek from Orem to Casper today in time to open their final series of the season, a two game set against the Ogden Raptors (Dodgers).