Fogel Breaks Pioneer League Home Run Record In PaddleHeads Win

MISSOULA, MT - Home runs have played a big role for the Missoula PaddleHeads offense throughout the course of the 2024 season. That would prove to be true once again Thursday in a battle with the Glacier Range Riders. Missoula's attack would prove to have the advantage thanks in large part to 3 home runs in a 13-6 victory in action at Allegiance Field Ogren Park. A home run in the 1st inning would give the PaddleHeads a lead it would never give up. More notably however, It would also break a single season league record. 

With a runner on the bases in the bottom of the 1st, Adam Fogel would launch a home run over the right field wall to give the PaddleHeads a 2-1 lead. This brought the rookie left fielder's total to 33 on the season, eclipsing the previous high mark of 32 set by former PaddleHead Jayson Newman in 2022. The Southern California native would also help add a run of insurance in the late innings to ensure Missoula would also find the win column. 

This league record is surely a special individual honor for the Kentucky product who is in the midst of a truly special season. In Fogel's eyes however, this moment was also about helping his team get itself into a good position ahead of a long stretch on the road. 

"In recent games we have been playing from a deficit right off the bat in early inning instances which can be difficult to bounce back from," Fogel said. "I think seeing that trend change in the 1st inning for us tonight was big from a mental standpoint. It also was great to contribute in this way in front of a big crowd in Missoula ahead of a long road trip we have coming up."

Home run power in this iteration of the Pioneer League for the PaddleHeads has become a trend to say the least. Fogel became the 3rd PaddleHead in the last 4 years to break a single season league record. Zach Almond's mark of 26 home runs in 2021 was surpassed by Newman the next season. Now Fogel is a part of this fraternity of sluggers  in the Pioneer League.

"As a friend of his (Newman) off the field, I think about him every time I put on this jersey," Fogel said. Newman was a big factor in coming to Missoula in the first place. I have put in so much work to get to this point. I cannot say that I expected that effort to lead me to this point, but I also am not surprised in how things have played out." 

4th year PaddleHeads manager Michael Schlact has had a front row seat to this offensive success over the last 4 seasons in the dugout. Being a special player on the field surely has made Fogel stand out. But in the eyes of the skipper, seeing this record fall was even more sweet considering the man he is off the field.  

"We are so excited for what Adam has accomplished with breaking the Pioneer League single season home run record," Schlact said. "But what makes it even sweeter is seeing the type of teammate he is. Fogel shows up with a selfless and hard working attitude every day. We couldn't be more proud of him."

As for Thursday's contest, Home run power would fittingly play a big role throughout the rest of the contest for Missoula. A 2-run blast from catcher Taylor Smith would bring home Fogel making the score 5-2 in the 4th. In the next frame, Josh Elvir would clobber a 3-run blast to blow the game open making the score 8-2. Elvir would knock in 5 runs in the win finishing 2-for-3. Fogel would help put the finishing touches on offensively in the late innings. 

A single from Fogel would knock in Missoula's 9th run of the contest in the 7th. The former Rainbow Warrior would knock in 3 runs collectively on the night finishing 2-for-4. Another push in the 8th would ensure Glacier would have no thoughts of a dramatic comeback. 

Elvir knocked in a pair more runs in the 8th with a single as part of a 4-run rally that saw Missoula's lead expand to 7 runs. After bringing home a run with a bases loaded walk, Roberto Pena would also score a run in the frame on a wild pitch making the score 13-6. The win for the PaddleHeads also snapped a season long 6 game losing skid. 

With 15 games remaining during the regular season the question now becomes how many more home runs will be on the way for one Adam Fogel. Time obviously will tell. But nothing will take away from what was a special moment at the ballpark at Allegiance Field Thursday night. What lies ahead in the grand scheme of things for this PaddleHeads team will also play out over the coming weeks. A home run down the right field line on a Thursday night surely seemed like a good launching for the stretch run of the regular season. 

The PaddleHeads (56-25) will now take on a lengthy road trip that will encompass the next 9 games overall. Their first stop will be Glacier Bank Park opening a 3 game set Friday with these same Glacier Range Riders (40-41). Action from the Flathead Valley gets underway with a 7:05 first pitch. Catch all the action from just off Highway 93 on 102.9 ESPN Missoula and 1029espn.com.