Vibes Bats Flip a Switch in 14-4 Drubbing of Ballers on Strikeout Cancer Night

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Rocky Mountain Vibes (36-39) showed out in front of a 4,332-person crowd clad in pink with a 14-4 bashing of the Oakland Ballers (58-18) on Strikeout Cancer Night and Firework Friday. Runs in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames buoyed the squad to victory wearing the specialty Strikeout Cancer jerseys. The first 1,000 fans through the gates also received free pink t-shirts to further support the cause.

A three-run 430 ft. blast from first baseman Dane Tofteland set the tone early before finishing with four RBIs, however that lead was short-lived. A two-run fifth inning spurred the ultimate lead for the hometown crew. Right fielder Hank Himrich and second baseman Tristin Garcia piled on RBI knocks to take the advantage. That was only the beginning for Garcia, too; he followed up with hits in his next two at-bats, adding in two more RBIs.

The Vibes sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning to contribute to the five-run win. Left fielder Sam Linscott's four-hit charge marked his sixth such performance on the year. Garcia, Tofteland, and shortstop Garrett Kueber bounced up to three knocks, each, as well.

Left-hander Tom Peltier cruised on the mound with his second win as a starter, fourth on the year. The Upstate New York-native allowed three runs on five hits across six innings, walking five, and striking out two. The one hit that reliever Wyatt Tucker allowed traveled 445 ft., but he suffered zero knocks besides that while striking out three across two frames. Southpaw Quinn Waterhouse wrapped up the evening with a shutout ninth, striking out two.

Rocky Mountain pulled back to .500 with the win, and kept the gap separating the Vibes from the playoffs at just 6.5 games behind Missoula in the second half.

The final Hispanic Heritage Appreciation night of the year brings back La Lloronas de Montaña Rocosa with the Vibes rebranding for the evening. A post-game Home Run Derby also follows the nine innings of action. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. MDT after the coverage begins on Flo Baseball with the Rocky Mountain Pre-Game Report.

Jesse Cook

Friday, Aug. 15