Missoula, Ogden Dominate First Half, Streaking Range Riders and Surging Hawks Close Behind

After 237 combined games played in the 2023 Pioneer League season, the Missoula PaddleHeads are first-half North Division champions while the Ogden Raptors are the first-half champions of the South Division. Both teams excelled throughout the entire first half as neither team has given up their division lead since the first few weeks of the season. Both teams can attribute a lot of their success to their pitching as they are each top two in all defensive categories. The Paddleheads had a 21-5 record in June including a 10-game win streak, establishing their dominance on both sides of the game. The Raptors have stayed consistent, never losing more than two games in a row and finishing the first half on a 10-5 run in July.  

The two division leaders can thank their June Player of the Month winners for excelling throughout the season so far. For the PaddleHeads, pitcher Alfredo Villa leads the PBL in strikeouts while outfielder Keaton Greenwalt has been solid at the plate. Greenwalt leads the team in home runs and RBI. The June South Division Pitcher of the Month was Ogden's Brock Gilliam, who has eight wins and only one loss on the season while boasting a solid ERA. Ogden's Reese Alexiades won South Hitter of the Month with his remarkable power as he leads the league in home runs and extra-base hits. The 2021 PBL Draft pick is enjoying his finest season as a pro. 

While the division leaders have been impressive, there are teams not far behind. The Glacier Range Riders are in the midst of a nine-game win streak. While it looked like no one was going to be able to challenge Missoula in the North Division in June, the Range Riders have made the race very interesting, getting within three games back of the Paddleheads. Glacier and Missoula are far above the others in the division and will be battling for supremacy over the division throughout the second half.  

In the South Division, the Boise Hawks are not far behind the Raptors. After slowing down a bit in late June and early July, they have won eight of their last ten to get within three games of the Raptors' lead. The Raptors have a two-game advantage in the season series between them and the Hawks, although a big four-game series between the two teams is coming up soon. In the rearview mirror are the Northern Colorado Owlz, who are seven and a half games behind the division lead, but are tough to beat. 

The first half of the PBL season was not short of thrilling moments and performances. There were unbelievable comebacks, such as Grand Junction's ninth inning 11 run comeback walk-off win against Northern Colorado in June. There have been five knockout rounds so far this season, notably an Owlz victory over the Billings Mustangs after coming back from nine runs down late in the game.  

Different players stand out every week and have accomplished some mind-blowing feats, like Logan Williams of Ogden driving in 30 runs in one week and Abdel Guadalupe of Northern Colorado slashing 17 hits in another. Eight players have been picked up by major league clubs since the beginning of the season. 

The first half of the 2023 Pioneer League season was filled with amazing plays, moments, and performances and the second half is sure to do the same. The intensity is rising as teams begin pushing for this year's playoffs. This season is only going to get better.