Link Report for Sun. 9/8 - Helena's Final Regular Season Game

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Helena: LHP Tyler Linehan at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers.

 

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Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Helena Box Score / Game Log

 

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STANDINGS:

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Helena, you'll notice an option at the link for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those this league.

 

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Weather.com:

 

Helena, MT

[Mass Haas]

New this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

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For eight games in 2008, he was a Helena Brewer!

 

Happy 27th Birthday to Logan Schafer!

[battlekow]

Final: Great Falls 7, @Helena 4

 

Regular Season Ends on Down Note

By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers

 

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Although Sunday's game meant nothing in the standings it could not have gone the way the Helena Brewers would have liked.

 

Aided by a four-run seventh inning, the Voyagers swept Helena with a 7-4 victory at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The Brewers finished the regular season with a record of 43-33 and they will take on these same Voyagers to begin the Pioneer League playoffs on Monday in Great Falls.

 

It was a tough way to end the regular season but on once the postseason begins the slate will be wiped clean and Helena skipper Tony Diggs says the mindset of the team must stay consistent.

 

"It's the same thing as we have been doing. Go about your business the right way and be ready to play tomorrow. Does it mean more tomorrow, yeah, but be ready to play tomorrow," he said.

 

The Brewers led 4-3 in the seventh inning when Great Falls took the lead for good.

 

With one out Dillon Haupt walked and Dane Opel singled. After a the runners advanced to scoring position thanks to a passed ball, Adam Engel pulled a double down the line just past the dive of Jalen Harris at third to give Great Falls a 5-4 advantage.

 

The Voyagers would add to the lead when Engel scored on a passed ball and Tyler Shryock came home on a wild pitch by Eduard Reyes.

 

"We didn't make pitches that we needed to make and then we made a few wild pitches on top of that to allow runners to move around. So nothing [happened that inning] that we haven't done but it is something that we should be doing a lot better at this point and time," said Diggs.

 

Tyler Linehan (above) made the start for Helena and he only allowed one run, a solo homer by Haupt in the second, in three innings.

 

The Brewers would take their second lead of the series in the third inning when Nathan Orf hit a RBI single, Angel Ortega scored on a wild pitch, Charlie Markson drove home a run with a single.

 

After Great Falls had tied the game in the fifth thanks to a two-run shot by Jairo Kelly, Helena would regain the lead in the bottom half of the frame when Michael Ratterree doubled and scored on a single by Adam Giacalone.

 

The Brewers scored a series-high four runs on nine hits as they tried to generate some offensive momentum heading into the playoffs.

 

"The guys' approaches are pretty solid. They are still doing everything they need to do. The hits will come they just need to keep the approach," said Diggs.

 

The task will not get any easier as Helena will face Jake Sanchez on Monday, the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year.

 

Taylor Williams will be on the hill for Helena.

 

First pitch of Game One of the North Division Playoffs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Centene Stadium.

 

Helena box score

Jose Pena had two hits and a walk, and Harris drew three free passes. Reyes allowed six runs (five earned). Andy Hillis pitched a scoreless inning of relief to finish with a regular-season ERA of 0.44 in 20.2 innings.

 

Helena play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Photo by James Ridle, Blackfoot Media Group

 

Eduard Reyes delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Voyagers.

 

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