Kalawaia, Suarez lead Orem to Pioneer League title

Angels prospects carry Owlz to three-game sweep in championship series

September 17th, 2016
The Orem Owlz celebrate after winning the Pioneer League championship (Brian Philbrick/Orem Owlz).

L.J. Kalawaia drove in all of Rookie-level Orem's runs on Friday night to help the Owlz win their fourth Pioneer League championship in 12 years.
Orem topped Billings, 3-2, sweeping the best-of-three championship series.
Kalawaia gave Orem its first lead with a clutch two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, although Billings would push across a run in the following frame to tie the game, 2-2. But Kalawaia struck again in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead sacrifice fly, ultimately finishing 1-for-3 at the plate.

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Pacing Orem on the mound was Angels' No. 30 prospect Jose Suarez, who tossed five innings of one-run ball in a no-decision. The 18-year-old southpaw yielded two hits and one walk with three strikeouts en route to throwing 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Though he failed to record a win in the postseason, Suarez still posted a solid 1.80 ERA between his two starts, allowing just five hits in 10 innings.
The lone run allowed by Suarez on Friday came on Michael Beltre's groundout to third base in the fourth inning, while 2016 No. 35 overall Draft pick Taylor Trammell (Reds' No. 11) accounted for Billings' second run with an RBI single in the sixth.

MILB Video - Title: Watch: MiLB Video - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1170446083

Kalawaia, whom the Angels drafted in the 21st round in June, batted .348 in five postseason games, during which he paced all Owlz hitters with eight hits, five RBIs and four runs scored. The 22-year-old outfielder's home run on Friday was the first of his pro career after he tallied just seven extra-base hits (all doubles) while batting .268/.346/.317 over 41 regular-season contests.
Shortstop Keith Grieshaber also had a strong postseason for the Owlz, batting .333 with three runs scored in five games, while outfielder Zach Gibbons posted a .292 average with four extra-base hits.