PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Range Riders Avoid Sweep in 14-11 Loss Sunday

Published on June 18, 2023 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


Kalispell, MT- The offense of the Missoula PaddleHeads had another outstanding avernoon in the series finale against the Glacier Range Riders on Sunday afternoon. Behind an early inning rally, Missoula had the advantage on the road fighting for a road sweep of Glacier. The PaddleHeads would tally 16 hits as a team with the home run playing a major role in the attack.

The Range Riders would bring all their bats with them as well on this Father's Day however challenging Missoula at every turn. A pair of 2-out swings would prove to be the difference in the contest.

The Range Riders would strike with a 5-run rally in the 6th, and a 4-run rally in the 8th to take the lead late. Clutch 2-out hits in both innings would do the bulk of the damage as Glacier would score 8 runs with 2-outs recorded. Missoula would do all they could to keep pace themselves, scoring in each of the final 4 innings. Ultimately, the Glacier offense would do enough to hold on for a 14-11 win to avoid the sweep on their home field.

Missoula would grab an early lead thanks to a 4-run rally in the top of the 2nd inning. Kamron Wilman got the PaddleHeads on the board initially with a solo home run to right center to knot things up at 1. McClain O'Connor, and Jack Guenter would also double home runs in the frame as the PaddleHeads would jump out to a 4-1 advantage. Glacier would find an answer in the next half frame. O'Conner finished the day 3-for-6 and Guenther was 2-for-6.

Masen Dinesen would strike with his first of 2 home runs in the bottom of the 3rd as part of a 3-run rally. Jackson Raper would also bring home a run with a double of his own to knot things up at 4. Dinesen would later provide another key swing to put the Range Riders on top for good.

Raper finished the afternoon 2-for-5 with 2 driven in.

Rookie catcher Sam Olsson would provide a spark for the PaddleHeads in the top of the 6th with a solo home run to the left of the scoreboard. This home run for the Eugene native was the first in the professional career of Olsson who finished the ballgame 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. The 5-4 advantage did not last long however as Glacer would strike with their biggest rally of the day in the next half inning.

Crews Taylor immediately gave Glacier the lead back in the 6th with a 2-run blast that made the score 6-5. Later with the bases loaded, Dean Miller provided a clutch 2-out swing on a double to clear the bases to give Glacer a 9-5 advantage. Missoula would continue to fight down the stretch but would never find themselves on top again the rest of the way. Miller finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and 3 RBIs.

Willman, and Cameron Thompson would get the PaddleHeads on the comeback trail in the 7th to cut the Glacier lead to 2. Willman would knock in a run with a triple before scoring himself on an RBI single that made the score 9-7. Later in the 8th, back-to-back home runs from Keaton Greenwalt, and Jared Akins would cut Glacier's lead to 10-9. That would be the closest Missoula would come as Glacier would prove to have one more big swing in them. Willman,and Thompson would both finish 2-for-4 in the loss.

Dinesen gave the Range Riders the cushion they needed in the bottom of the 8th. In another bases loaded scenario, the 2nd year professional would launch a towering home run over the wall for a grand slam to put Glacier up 14-9. Dinesen finished with a game high 6 RBIs as part of a 3-for-6 performance at the plate.

Despite the loss Sunday,Missoula is still 5 games clear of the 2nd place Range Riders (12-10) in the Pioneer League Northern Division standings. After an off day Monday, the PaddleHeads (18-6) will continue their 6-game road trip on Tuesday against the Idaho Falls Chukars (11-13).

This will be the first time these 2 Northern Division rivals have gotten together this season. First pitch on Tuesday evening is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Keep up with all the action from Melaleuca Field on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from June 18, 2023


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