File photo.
Wolcott native Jeff Nicol finished his professional baseball debut with a bang for Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League.
Nicol, the former Wolcott High School and Central Connecticut State University standout, doubled twice and homered in a 3 for 4 effort as Great Falls claimed a 13-11 win over the Boise Hawks on Sept. 7. Nicol’s doubles were his seventh and eighth of the season. The home run he hit was his fourth.
In the bottom of the first inning, Nicol doubled and drove in two runs. He doubled again in the third inning, this time as the leadoff batter. Nicol was stranded at third base.
Nicol walked in the fifth inning, but was again stranded at third. He struck out to end the sixth inning.
In the eighth inning, Nicol blasted a two-run home run to left field to make the score 13-10 in favor of the Voyagers.
In 13 games, Nicol batted .341 (15-44) with eight doubles, four homers, 13 RBI, nine runs scored, 35 total bases, five walks and two sacrifice flies. His slugging percentage was .795. On defense, Nicol had 130 chances with 121 putouts, seven assists and just two errors. He had just a single passed ball against him.
Great Falls (38-58) saw its season end on Sept. 8 in an 11-6 loss to Boise.
