PL Missoula PaddleHeads

PaddleHeads Look to Clinch First Half Pennant Tuesday Opposite Voyagers

Published on July 12, 2022 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


Great Falls, MT - The Missoula PaddleHeads have been on an extraordinary run over the last few weeks finishing 18-1 in their last 19 games. Missoula also has a chance to win their tenth consecutive game Tuesday which would match a season high. But that is not the main thing on the minds of the PaddleHeads. With a victory over the Great Falls Voyagers on Tuesday night, Missoula would clinch the First Half Pennant in the Northern Division of the Pioneer League.

The First Half Pennant is a huge step for a team on the journey that is the Pioneer League season. This title ensures the opportunity for the winner to secure a position in the Northern Division Playoffs at the end of the regular season in September. This would also mark the second season in a row that the PaddleHeads have reached that season milestone.

Furthermore, the defending Pioneer League Champions would further cement that they are still the Kings of the North.

The PaddleHeads open a 6 game slate opposite the second place Great Falls Voyagers Tuesday night in the Electric City. Missoula holds a 6 game advantage over Great Falls in the Pioneer League North standings entering the series with 6 games remaining in the first half of the season. This means one victory for the PaddleHeads this week will wrap up the race in the Pioneer League North. No other team in the division is mathematically alive in the race entering action this week.

The Pioneer League Northern Division Playoff will be played at the conclusion of the regular season in September. The First half pennant winner will go up against the winner of the second half pennant in a best of 3 series. The winner of this playoff will then go on to face the team that advances to that point in the Southern Division in a best of 3 series.

The PaddleHeads have been led to this point by players like Jayson Newman who leads the Pioneer League in home runs (17), and is second in the league in RBIs (53). The Southern California native has also been stellar in his late inning relief role out of the bullpen leading the Pioneer League in saves (6).

Newman has not been the only player to perform well on the hill as the PaddleHeads hold the lowest team ERA of any club in the league (5.11). Spearheading this effort has been rookie

right-hander Nick Merkel who has been sensational in his first 6 outings as a professional. The Spokane native is second in the league in wins (5). Merkel has also pitched into at least the 5th inning in each of his 6 starts. The first year professional also holds the lowest ERA in the Pioneer League (minimum 5 starts) amongst starting pitchers (2.94).

The PaddleHeads (31-10) will look to clinch the Pioneer League North First Half Pennant in game 1 of a 6 game slate on Tuesday night opposite the Great Falls Voyagers (25-16). First pitch from Centene Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. Hear the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.

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Pioneer League Stories from July 12, 2022


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