PaddleHeads Claim First Half Pennant in Victory Over Voyagers

Great Falls, MT - Leading by 8 in the early going, the Missoula PaddleHeads looked to be well on their way in action opposite the Great Falls Voyagers at Centene Stadium on Wednesday night. A five run rally from the Voyagers in the bottom of the fifth made things interesting however as Missoula's advantage would be cut to 3. This would make many believe that this would set up a fight between these two teams down the stretch after action in game 1 of the series came down to the wire in the ninth inning. That idea would quickly evaporate in the top of the seventh. 

Powered by a pair of grand slams from Jayson Newman, and Lamar Sparks, Missoula would score an astonishing 12 runs in the top of the seventh to take a 21-6 lead. When the inning was all said, and done Missoula would send 17 batters to the dish collecting 8 hits. This frame would prove to be a fitting exclamation point for what has been a fabulous run so far this season as the PaddleHeads would clinch the Pioneer League North First Half Pennant for the second straight year with a 22-10 victory. This title clinches a place in the postseason after the conclusion of the regular season in September. It also proves that the PaddleHeads still reign as Kings of the North.

Newman's performance on a night that saw the PaddleHeads clinch a playoff berth was simply remarkable as the second year PaddleHead would finish with a season best 7 RBIs the most by any player for Missoula this season. Newman has also been a catalyst for the offense leading the Pioneer League in home runs (18), and RBIs (61). But Newman only told part of the story as Keaton Greenwalt, Brandon Riley, McClain O'Conner, Nick Cici, and Sparks all finished with at least 2 hits each in the victory. 

The Southern California native made a name for himself in the Garden City late last season with his contributions down the stretch on Missoula's title push in 2021. This time around however, Newman has been a part of this run from the beginning which has proven to be a very gratifying experience. 

"It's a very exciting thing to be a part of, we have come such a long way as a team," Newman said. "A lot of these guys have been here since Spring Training began. We also have seen players added into the fold along the way that have also made immediate impacts. It's great to see all of the success that this group has had. We are excited to be in this moment, and for what the future may hold." 

Newman, and Sparks were not the only ones that got in on the act with the long ball as Cici, and Riley would help the PaddleHeads set the tone in the early innings. Riley would lead off the ballgame with a solo home run in the first to immediately put the PaddleHeads out in front. Cici would then give Missoula a 2-1 advantage with a solo blast to left in the third. Cici would finish the night 3-for-5, and Riley was 3-for-6. 

The PaddleHeads would start to pull away in innings 4 and 5 taking a 9-1 advantage behind a 7 run effort over that stretch. Singles in those innings from O'Conner, Riley, and Newman would do a lot of the damage as the PaddleHeads would take a 9-1 lead in the top of the fifth. The Voyagers would fight back with a rally in the bottom of the fifth, but would never lead at any point in the contest. O'Conner was 3-for-6 on the night while Newman was 3-for-5. 

For PaddleHeads manager Michael Schlact, this is another chance to be part of a celebration after leading Missoula to the Pioneer League Championship a season ago. Success on the field is always a rewarding thing to be a part of. But for the Georgia native, the success of this team was about much more than just the play on the field. Furthermore, Schlact is thrilled to bring this success to the community of  the Garden City. 

"I told people last year when I arrived in Missoula that I felt like this was my second home, and I still hold that to be true," Schlact said. "It's an amazing place, and I feel honored that I have the opportunity to raise my family in this town with the support of the entire front office.  This is a special ballclub to watch. To watch this team perform so well on the field while also being such great people off of it has been so rewarding. It is a real honor for me to coach these guys." 

The PaddleHeads have cleared a major hurdle in the journey that is the Pioneer League season with this First Half Pennant. However, this does not mean that the work ends here. This is just the beginning for this Missoula club on their journey of this 2022 season. But for one night at least, it will be time to celebrate in the Electric City as the club that remains at the head of the table in the Pioneer League. 

The journey for Missoula (32-11) continues on Thursday night in game 3 of a 6 game slate opposite the Voyagers (26-17) at Centene Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.