'Spokane needed a title': Rockies' High-A affiliate snaps championship drought

For the first time since 2008, the Spokane Indians took home the Northwest League title after a back-and-forth Championship Series against the 2023 victors, the Vancouver Canadians.

After three one-run games, Game 4 followed the same script. Knotted at 1 after nine innings, Vancouver struck first in the top of the 10th with a go-ahead sacrifice fly. A chaotic fielder’s choice scored a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and set the stage for a thrilling walk-off -- a hit by pitch, of all things -- to give Spokane the 3-2 win at Washington Trust Field.

No matter the method, the championship marks the Indians’ ninth as a franchise, moving them into sole possession of the Northwest League lead. Second-year manager Robinson Cancel is happy to see Spokane, which has been the home to Minor League Baseball since 1890, return to its winning ways.

“I think the city of Spokane needed a title," Cancel said, "and we made it happen.”

Teeming with top-ranked talent, Spokane greatly improved upon its sub-.500 record from a year ago. They started the season with eight straight wins, ultimately coasting to both first- and second-half titles. In the overall standings, they finished the regular season 10.5 games ahead of Vancouver with a 79-51 record.

The Indians typically play their home games at Avista Stadium, but due to renovations, the club has called Gonzaga University's ballpark home for the postseason. Through the first three games of the series, Bryant Betancourt powered the team to two wins with clutch hits. In Game 1, the Venezuelan catcher demolished a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, his first homer in over a month. Fast forward to Game 3 with the series tied one apiece -- once again, Betancourt delivered with a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.

“I was impressed with the way he handled himself being a 20-year-old competing in a big spot, on a big stage,” Cancel said. “I thought he did a really good job in all four games. Even the game we lost, he handled the staff really well and the bullpen really well, and he got some key hits for us.”

To start Game 4, Rockies No. 17 prospect Michael Prosecky kept the Canadians at bay, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five over five innings. The lefty started the season in Rookie ball before joining the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies in early July. He was promoted to Spokane two weeks later. Welinton Herrera and Carlos Torres contributed a combined three scoreless frames in relief to send the game into extras.

“He has a good fastball, and he was using it,” Cancel said of Prosecky’s performance. “He was up to 95 [mph], and he’s a tall guy with extension, so he got by hitters.”

At the plate, Charlie Condon did what he typically does -- drive in runs. The Rockies’ top prospect, who was selected third overall in the Draft two months ago, hit a game-tying RBI single in the fourth and added a single in the seventh -- the team’s only multihit performance.

The championship concludes a historic year of baseball for Condon, who led the NCAA in batting (.443), home runs (a BBCOR-era record 37), slugging percentage (1.009) and OPS (1.565) while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs.

“Having a guy with that much power, it was helpful for us.” Cancel said of the team’s late-season addition. “He fit right in. The guys loved him.”

But with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, there was perhaps one person best suited for the bright playoff lights. After leading the Northwest League in RBIs during the regular season with 78, Kyle Karros came to the plate ready to swing following an intentional walk of Dyan Jorge. But as fate would have it, the Rockies’ No. 18 prospect was plunked on the first pitch of the at-bat, trotting to first before launching into championship festivities.

“I’m not going to step on anyone’s toes, but I think he’s the MVP of the league,” Cancel said of his third baseman. “He’s done it all year, and I wish Vancouver gave him the opportunity to hit with bases loaded. He got it done -- not the way we expected, but he got it done.”