PaddleHeads Win In ‘Knockout’ Thanks To Fogel Friday

MISSOUlA, MT - After playing 3 games in the Flathead Valley, action between the Glacier Range Riders, and Missoula PaddleHeads would shift to Allegiance Field at Ogren Park Friday night. The first game of a 3-game set saw both teams lead for portions of the contest. After Glacier took an early lead, Missoula would slowly battle back and take a lead themselves doing so in the middle innings. The PaddleHeads would also extend its lead in the 7th. After not finding much  offensive success in late inning sequences at home, Glacier would come through with clutch offense to get itself right back into the contest.

The Range Riders would score 4 unanswered runs in the final 2 innings to erase a late PaddleHeads lead. A home run from Christian Kirtley would be the highlight in the top of the 9th tying the score at 6. After a quiet home half of the 9th, action would enter a 'Knockout'. After having a solid night in regulation, Chad Castillo would be quiet in the knockout leaving the door open for Adam Fogel. Needing only one home run in round 1, Fogel did not wait around launching the first pitch he saw well over the left field wall to send the fans home happy. The win in the 'Knockout' for Missoula was their first this season. 

Glacier would snag the lead first in the early going with success in the 2nd inning bringing 8 batters to the plate. Catcher Freddy Guilamo would single home the first run of the game on a base hit up the middle. Gabe Howell would then later turn in a great effort with the bases loaded drawing a walk in a 12 pitch at-bat to make the score 2-0. Glacier's offense would be quiet until the 8th however after this sequence as the PaddleHeads would score 6 runs unanswered in the innings that followed to take the lead. 

Missoula would knot things up with a 2-run push of their own in the 3rd inning. Collin Runge would get things started hitting a single to left field to drive in a run. Runge would score a batter later when Fogel laced a double to make the score 2-2. Fogel would have a big night in regulation finishing 3-for-4 before his successful stint in the knockout. Runge would score 2 runs in a 1-for-3 performance. 

Former Range Rider Colin Gordon would give Missoula the lead for the 1st time in the 4th inning, knocking in Cameron Thompson with a single to right center to make the score 3-2. Gordon would score a run and finish 1-for-3. Work from the bullpen in the middle innings then ensured Missoula stayed in front. 

Jestin Jones turned in a fabulous effort out of the pen in 2 ⅔ innings finishing with 6 strikeouts on the mound in that time. The Florida native would only allow 1 hit and no runs. Rookie left hander Kenny Jinks was also impressive in his professional debut as the PaddleHeads starter striking out 6 in 4 innings of work allowing just 2 runs. The Missoula lead would also expand in the 7th. 

Fogel would knock in a pair more runs with a single to right center to kick off a 3-run rally. Luis Navarro would then bring home Fogel on a single of his own to give Missoula a 6-2 lead. Navarro has tallied 10 hits in 4 games played this week opposite the Range Riders and finished Friday 2-for-5. The Glacier offense would prove to have a clutch gene coming down the stretch however sending the game to a knockout. 

The Range Riders would score 4 runs combined in the 8th and 9th innings. The biggest swing would come with Glacier's back against the wall in the top of the 9th. Kirtley would be down to his last strike in his at-bat with 2 runners aboard. The 2nd year Range Rider would not be fazed, launching a game-tying 3-run blast to deadlock the score at 6. It would prove to not propel Glacier further as the 'Knockout' would not play out in their favor in a win for Missoula in the Garden City. 

The PaddleHeads (41-11) will look to keep things rolling after winning their 6th consecutive game Friday. Glacier (29-23) will look to build on their success offensively in the late innings to find the win column on the flipside. Action in game 2 of this series from Allegiance Field is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. The PaddleHeads will also host their 3rd Annual Baseball Brewfest at the Ballpark with local Missoula breweries taking part on the concourse. If you cannot make it out for all the fun, tune in on 102.9 F.M. ESPN Missoula and 1029espn.com.