Great Falls White Sox July 4th game

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Saturday, July 5, 2003

 

Sox pummel Provo

By MIKE TOWNE

Tribune Sports Writer

 

 

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A season-high crowd of 4,346 was treated to a pair of fireworks shows Friday night at Legion Park -- one by the red-hot Great Falls White Sox and one that followed the Sox's 12-7 victory over the Provo Angels.

And it's debatable as to which show was better.

 

Great Falls exploded for 11 hits -- six that went for extra bases -- in the first five innings to build a 12-2 lead.

 

Provo provided some unwelcome fireworks in the eighth and ninth innings, scoring five runs on four hits off a pair of relief pitchers, to make the final score appear closer than it really was.

 

No. 5 hitter Brandon Bounds, Great Falls' first baseman, led a balanced offensive attack with a 3-for-5 effort. He tripled in the White Sox's three-run third inning, then doubled in both the fourth and fifth frames. He drove in two runs, .

 

Shortstop Cory Haggerty, the ninth hitter in the lineup, plated four runs with a bases-clearing double in the fourth and a single in the sixth.

 

Second baseman Antoin Gray, right fielder Ricardo Nanita and designated hitter Seth Morris, who was making his first start, all had two hits apiece for the hot-hitting White Sox.

 

Great Falls' first seven hits came off Provo southpaw Nic Touchstone, who hadn't given up an earned run in nine innings entering the game.

 

"Everyone in the lineup, one through nine, can hit the ball," Haggerty said. "When we put the ball in play, it puts pressure on the defense. Everybody is seeing the ball really well.

 

"The team as a whole is playing great. We couldn't ask for anything more.

 

"I was happy I hit the double. It really set us forward." The two-base hit, to right-center field, plate Bounds, Clinton King and Morris to give the White Sox a 10-2 lead.

 

"Everybody is doing a great job offensively," Great Falls manager Chris Cron said. "It's an old clichÈ, but hitting is contagious. That's holding true on this team.

 

"It's nice to see everyone contributing and making the most of their chances. They all know they're going to play, and they can't wait to getting when they get their chance."

 

Morris provided a good example, as he belted a two-run home run in only his ninth 10th at-bat, which came in the second inning.

 

Great Falls starter Sean Thompson pitched well after giving up a run in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Reggie Willits singled on Thompson's first pitch and came around to score.

 

Thompson worked five innings, allowing five hits while striking out four and walking one, to earn the victory.

 

"(Thompson) pitched well. He changed speeds well and kept them off balance," Cron said.

 

Paul Moviel, Fraser Dizard, Jeffrey Little and Randy Surratt pitched the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, respectively, for the White Sox.

 

"We hadn't seen those guys pitch, and we definitely wanted to get them in," Cron said. "It was good for them to get their feet wet with a big lead. It worked out fine."

 

Provo roughed up Little in the eighth, pushing across four runs on three hits. The big blows were a two-run double by Blake Balkcom and a two-run home run by Ryan Kenning.

 

The victory was the White Sox's third straight and their 10th in their last 11 games. They improved to 12-4 and remained in a first-place tie with the Helena Brewers.

 

"I'm happy with the streak. I told the guys before the game to try to keep it going," Cron said. "There's nothing better than winning. It's the best part of development.

 

"We want to develop the kids, but we also want them to have a winning attitude."

 

NOTES: The second game of the scheduled four-game set is on tap tonight, starting at 7. The White Sox and Angels meet at 4 p.m. on Sunday and at 7 on Monday. Wal-Mart/KFBB Night will be celebrated tonight at the park. Coupons for $1 tickets are available at Wal-Mart. The first of four Great Falls Tribune Family Days is Sunday. For $10 and coupon that can be clipped out of the newspaper, a family of four receives four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks ... Right-hander Matt Nachreiner (1-1, 13.50 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Great Falls tonight.