SPORTS

Voyager all-stars set to represent in Spokane

Steve Schreck
sschreck@greatfallstribune.com

Zach Fish wants next week to be a home run in his home state.

Take a look at his stats this season, and that shouldn’t be too hard for the Great Falls Voyagers catcher.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy is one of three Great Falls players scheduled to appear in the inaugural Pioneer-Northwest League All-Star Game next Tuesday in Spokane, Wash. The game, to be played at Avista Stadium, will be hosted by the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League. (The 2016 All-Star game will be played at a to-be-determined Pioneer League stadium.)

“It’s in my home state of Washington,” Fish said, “so I’ll be able to have my family there and be able to see them and play in front of them for the first time in a little while.”

Fish, who grew up in Seattle, which he says has always had his heart, entered Thursday night’s game against the Helena Brewers tied for a league-best in home runs at nine.

Selected to participate in the home-run derby, Fish will join pitchers Tanner Banks and Evin Einhardt in the festivities next week.

“It’s a big honor,” Fish said. “Very blessed to be in the situation that I am, and if it wasn’t for my teammates, my coaching staff and this organization, I wouldn’t be in the position I am.

“The All-Star Game is not just for the three of us that are going, it’s the representation of everything that our team has worked for this year.”

Fish’s explanation for his uptick in power is that he’s not trying to do too much and his simple goal is to get on base. The home runs, he says, are just “accidents.”

“I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna do the best I possibly can,” Fish said of the derby. “It’s quite an honor to be selected for that. I’m very excited to be able to go out there and just try to put on a show the best I possibly can … I’m just gonna try to go out there and win the thing.”

Banks, of Salt Lake City, who is 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA, has been chosen to start the game on the hill for the Pioneer League.

It’s somewhat of a validation for the left-hander — and all three of the players, really — and all the work that he has put in.

“You do see people who go out and consistently put up good numbers that do get overlooked,” Banks said. “It’s really cool, though. It’s a good opportunity. I’m glad to be given the opportunity to travel to Spokane and represent Great Falls and kind of my upbringing, in a sense — my school, the White Sox and all of that.”

Einhardt, a righty from Michigan, has put together a solid season for the Voyagers, with a 4-1 record and a 3.40 ERA.

“I kind of had an idea, but I didn’t really even know when they were going to pick it or announce it, so I first heard on the bus,” he said. “I was kind of shocked. I felt like I deserved it, but like I said, I don’t really check my stats that much, so I didn’t really know where I was at compared to the other league.”

Said Fish: “Those two have pitched phenomenal all year. And I’ve had the pleasure of catching both of them.”

Fish’s parents had a chance to visit Great Falls in early July when the Voyagers were on an extended homestand. They’ll see him again in just a few days.

“To be able to have family and friends and my parents drive down for that game, it’s going to be special,” he said. “To be able to go back there and play in front of them and do it on the stage that I am, in front of a packed house, the 6-7,000 people that are going to be there, it’s just going to be a great moment.”

THE VOYAGERS welcomed the Brewers to Centene Stadium on Thursday night for the first of a four-game series. Great Falls, in front of 1,137 fans, jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first four innings of play and never looked back, winning 4-1.

Johan Cruz, Sikes Orvis, Victor Velasquez and Grant Massey all registered an RBI as Great Falls, which managed 13 hits to Helena’s three, improved its record to 19-20 on the season, 2-1 in the second-half. Helena fell to 17-22.

Matt Ball, who started on the hill for the Voyagers, went six innings, giving up one hit on 66 pitches while surrendering no runs. He struck out a career-high eight batters, earning the victory. Dylan Barrow recorded the save.

The Voyagers and Brewers are back at it Friday night at 7 at Centene Stadium.