corey.davis@gaflnews.com

OREM, UTAH-Days after getting drafted in the second round and pick No. 81 overall, Daniel Tillman was on a plane and headed for Orem, Utah.

In his short time with the Orem Owls in the Low A Rookie Advanced League affiliate of the Anaheim Angels, Tillman is mowing down his competition.

Through Sunday, Tillman is 2-0 overall with 6 saves with a 1.29 ERA in 11 appearances. In fourteen innings, he has allowed nine hits, two earned runs, one walk and no home runs while striking out twenty and holding opponents to a .184 batting average.

Tillman, 2007 Suwannee High graduate, didn’t wait long to make an impact, getting a win in his first start of his career in a 9-8 win June 27 over Idaho Falls.

In July he posted two saves and a win in the first week, before getting two more saves in back-to-back appearances July 12 and July 14. he picked up two more saves July 21 and July 23 in wins over Missoula.     

If Tillman keeps this up, he will in no time make the move to the High A Cedar Rapids Kernals, then to Double A Rancho Cucamonga Quakers and then to Triple A Salt Lake Bees.

The Owls dropped to 17-17 overall after a 4-2 to Helena Brewers Sunday, which cost them the first half Pioneer League Southern Division title.

Ogden clinched the first half title with a 24-13 record. Orem sits in second followed by Casper (16-18) and Idaho Falls (14-20). Great Falls (20-14) leads the Pioneer North Division over Billings (18-16), Helena (17-17) and Missoula (13-21).

Orem is the defending league champions having won titles in 2009, 2007, 2005 and 2004.