First Half Title Secured Courtesy of Players of The Month
The Pioneer Leagues' first-ever Players of the Month award voting was a clean sweep for first-place teams in both divisions, with the Missoula Paddleheads and Ogden Raptors reeling in all four selections. Representing the Raptors, Reese Alexiades, and Brock Gilliam brought the accolades home to Ogden, posting some of their finest performances as professional ballplayers all month long.
Starting off the festivities, Reese Alexiades, the Raptors run supplying centerfielder, showcased his exceptional skillset throughout June, marking his most dominant stretch as a professional. During his molten hot streak, Alexiades’ consistent play on both sides of the ball has delivered game-changing performances time and time again, with his .443 batting average in June speaking for itself. On top of this, Reese's on-base percentage and slugging percentages stood at .508 and .896 respectively, solidifying his status as one of the Pioneer Leagues' most feared hitters.
In 126 plate appearances, Alexiades paid spectators the price of admission as he launched an unrivaled 11 home runs, hammering out an additional 15 doubles as well. His strength showcase at the plate was complemented by his thievery on the basepaths, as he successfully swiped nine bases without being caught once. Moreover, his adept abilities on the bases only helped in contributing to drive-in runs, with his 37 runs truly highlighting his impact on the team's overall success.
During this stretch, Alexiades announced his presence hitting home runs in three games straight, on two separate occasions in the month. Also worth noting, from June 24 to June 27, he blasted five home runs and accumulated 13 RBIs over the course of just four games. Furthermore, he embarked on an eight-game hitting streak from June 10 to June 17 and also posted a 14-game hitting streak from June 20 to July 5th. Remarkably, in 10 of those 14 games, he recorded multiple hits, demonstrating his consistency and offensive firepower.
Alexiades' dominance extended to an impressive 17 multi-hit games in June, including a staggering nine consecutive contests from June 20 to June 30. These prodigious performances have catapulted him to the front of the Pioneer League Leaders, leading the league in home runs and extra-base hits. Moreover, he ranks second in doubles, fourth in batting average, and fifth in RBIs, solidifying his position as one of the league's most valuable players. Reese contributes a large part of his success to his “mechanical point of view” breaking-down different areas in his swing, and looking to “make adjustments”, as well as sticking with what works. His superstar-level month is a testament to his skill, passion, and impact on the field. With his remarkable offensive contributions and consistent play in centerfield, he has become an invaluable asset to the Ogden Raptors and one of the premier players in the Pioneer League.
Brock Gilliam emerged as a rock-solid presence on the mound for the Raptors throughout June, playing a pivotal role in leading the team to a first-half title in the South Division. Demonstrating remarkable consistency in each appearance, he secured victories in three out of his four starts, showcasing his ability to provide workhorse length for the Raptors.
Gilliam's command and precision in the strike zone have been shining all season long; In Gilliams' 9 starts on the season, he has an absurd record of 8-1, securing a Win nearly every time he takes the bump. This is made possible largely by his pinpoint accuracy, having a strikeout-walk ratio of 4.53 (59:13), and having surrendered just 6 home runs to opposing hitters (only 2 in May-June). His exceptional control has only been further highlighted on the road, posting a 2.56 ERA, a K/9 of 11.08, and tossing a lengthy 31 ⅔ innings in 5 starts. During June however, Brock somehow tuned it up another notch, giving up just 5 BBs and 1 HR in 23 ⅓ IP, with 26 K’s sprinkled in as well.
Consistency was Gilliam's hallmark in June, as he limited opposing teams to three or fewer runs in his last three starts. Moreover, he showcased his durability, pitching at least six innings in each of these outings, ensuring he provided stability and length for the first-rate bullpen behind him.
One of Brock’s most notable performances was against Boise on June 14, where he cruised through 6 ⅓ innings, striking out 8 and asserting his presence on the diamond, allowing only one run on five hits. Undeterred, he followed this up with another strong performance against The Rocky Mountain Vibes on June 20, tossing 6 innings to a tune of just one run and seven hits, skillfully stranding 6 runners on base. While Gilliam did give up 28 hits in 23 IP, he shined brightest with traffic on the base paths, proving to be a pressure cooker on the mound by allowing just 10 of 33 baserunners to score in June.
Gilliam's exceptional contributions have positioned him among the top performers in the league. Currently, he ranks third in strikeouts, second in wins, and fourth in earned run average (ERA). Notably, he consistently has demonstrated elite control, allowing the fewest home runs and walks among qualified pitchers.
Brock Gilliam's unwavering presence and remarkable performances have contributed boundlessly to the Raptors' successfully securing their first-half South Division Title. With his combination of dominating opposing batters at home or on the road, his consistently provided length in starting bids, and his impressive rankings among league leaders, Gilliam has proven himself to be one of the Pioneer League’s best hurlers demonstrating freakish control, and unrivaled length week in and week out.
The combined efforts of rock-solid Brock, and run-scoring Reese have provided immeasurable value to the Raptors' first-half success’. After helping their team secure a playoff bid, winning the south division in the first half, these two headliners will look to keep the flame burning moving into the second half of the season.