Grand Junction Advances to Pioneer League Championship Series

GRAND JUNCTION – Niko Decolati drove in three runs in the first two innings, and Grand Junction claimed the best-of-three first round of the Pioneer League Playoffs with a 6-5 victory over Ogden on Sunday night.

The Rockies now advance to the best-of-three championship series against Northern Division champion Great Falls at Grand Junction on Tuesday night. Game 2, and if needed a Game 3, will be played at Great Falls on Thursday and Friday.

The Rockies jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings, and then held on for the victory.

After Will Golsan led off the bottom of the first with a single, and went to third on a two-out double by Grant Lavigne, Decolati singled to drive in both runs.

Daniel Montano led off the second with a single and stolen base, and John Crusto delivered the home run to put the Rockies up 4-0. With one out in the second, Will Golson and Hunter Stovall singled, and Coco Montes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Lavigne walked to force in the fifth run, Delocati picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice ground ball.

Aneudy Duarte got the final out in the seventh and all three outs in the eighth to be credited with the victory. Alexander Martinez worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, his second in the two post-season victories.

No. 1 draft choice Ryan Rolison started and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits, striking out six, in three innings.