PaddleHeads Clinch First Half Pennant In Win Over Voyagers

GREAT FALLS, MT- History in the game of baseball has a way of repeating itself. There is over 80 years of history to look back on in the Pioneer League. Teams have come, and gone. Franchises have changed names, and moved to different cities. Champions have been crowned leaving legacies in the professional baseball world. The Missoula PaddleHeads would enter action Wednesday opposite the Great Falls Voyagers with a chance to attain something that had only been done once in the 84 year history of the league. With a win, the PaddleHeads would claim their 5th consecutive half championship dating back to 2021. Furthermore, Missoula would also clinch a postseason berth with a win. Behind an offense that could not be stopped on this Wednesday night, Missoula would do just that.

2nd Baseman Ryan Cash would lead off the ballgame on Wednesday night with a solo home run to kickstart what would prove to be a huge night for the Oklahoma native, and the rest of the offense. The PaddleHeads would tally 21 hits as a team in the game. 7 batters in the order would finish with 2 hits or more in the contest. Each batter in the order would also tally at least one hit. This ensured that the PaddleHeads would leave absolutely nothing to doubt after the dust settled in a 15-5 win to claim the 1st half pennant. For the 3rd consecutive season, all roads to the Pioneer League Championship Series in the Northern Division will lead through the Garden City. 

The long ball immediately gave the PaddleHeads the upperhand in the 1st inning as Missoula would take a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of home runs. After the solo shot from Cash, right fielder Jake Guenther would get in on the act with a solo shot of his own down the right field line. Guenther would knock in a team high 5 runs in the win finishing the game 3-for-4. Cash would put the finishing touches on his huge offensive performance in the final inning of action. 

After Cash, and Guenther knocked in runs to extend the lead in the 2nd, and 3rd innings the PaddleHeads would begin to pull away behind a big rally in the 5th. Center Fielder Keaton Greenwalt knocked in 2 in the 4-run rally with a double down the left field line to extend Missoula's advantage. After a 2-run single from Guenter, left fielder Cameron Thompson would bring home a run with a single as the PaddleHeads found themselves out in front by a tally of 11-4. Thompson would finish the night 2-for-4 and Greenwalt was 2-for-7. 

Cash would fittingly bring the PaddleHeads final run of the night to the plate with an RBI single in the 9th that made the score 15-5. Cash would conclude the night 5-for-7 with 3 runs scored and 3 driven in. The former Range Rider was one of 3 players in the order with at least 3 hits as Guenther, and 1st baseman Luis Navarro would also be in that category. 

It has been a huge series for Navarro in particular who finished Wednesday 4-for-6. The 2nd year professional holds a .500 batting average over this 3 game stretch opposite the Voyagers to go along with 6 RBIs. 

Kelvan Pilot earned his 8th win of the season for Missoula on the mound over 6 innings of work. Pilot would allow 3 runs over those frames while striking out 3 to bring his record to 8-1 on the season. The California native  also ranks 1st in the league in wins.  

Missoula (33-12) claimed the 1st half pennant opposite the Voyagers (14-29) for the 2nd consecutive season at Centene Stadium Wednesday after claiming the title in the Electric City last season. Furthermore,  Missoula also claimed the 1st half pennant last season on this very same date back in 2022. 

The PaddleHeads would once again celebrate a playoff berth on this night after recording their 4th consecutive victory overall Wednesday. A 2nd half of the Pioneer League season still looms for this club. But it will also begin with the PaddleHeads sitting at their earned position at the Head of the Table as the Kings of the North in the Pioneer League.  

Catch the PaddleHeads back in action on Thursday night opposite Great Falls in game 4 of a 6 game set. First pitch from Centene Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Catch the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.