2024 PLAYOFF RECAP: SEMI-FINALS, GAME ONE
Home Teams Hold the Advantage – Glacier and Yolo Take One Game Lead
The 2024 Pioneer League Playoffs kicked off last night with the Glacier Range Riders and Yolo HighWheelers, winning at home to take one game leads in the best of three first round.
Ballers vs. High Wheelers
The High Wheelers jumpstarted their playoff run with a dominant performance over the Oakland Ballers in game one of the three game series, winning 14-4.
The Ballers opened the scoring with a two-run second inning, scoring one on a single from infielder Tyler Best, and on the next at-bat, shortstop Brad Burckel scored Dondrei Hubbard on a ground out to second base.
However, the High Wheelers would respond in the bottom half of the second, scoring a pair of runs on an RBI single from David Glancy and a sacrifice fly from Angel Mendoza.
The High Wheelers would continue their scoring in the third and fourth innings, scoring four runs to bring the score to 6-2 after the fourth.
The Ballers responded in the fifth when catcher Tripp Clark hit a single to left field, bringing home Daunte Stuart. They would go on to tack on another run in the top half of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Brett Carson.
With the score still close at 6-4 in the seventh inning, Yolo began a two inning offensive onslaught,scoring eight runs to put the first game of the 2024 Playoffs out of reach. The highlight of this rally was a solo home run by Angel Mendoza in the eighth inning.
On the mound, right-hander Cameron Repetti got the win for the High Wheelers, going five innings and surrendering three runs on ten hits with three strikeouts.
However, the bullpen was the difference maker for the High Wheelers in this game. Manager Billy Horton utilized four pitchers each going an inning and only surrendering a single run on just two total hits.
For the Ballers, starting pitcher Justin Kleinsorge received the loss, pitching three innings and surrendering four runs on five hits and three walks. Their bullpen faltered, giving up nine earned runs.
Game two of the three game series begins Thursday, September 12th at 6:35pm PDT at Raimondi Park in Oakland, CA. You can watch the full coverage at https://share.flosports.tv/SHbH
Missoula PaddleHeads vs. Glacier Range Riders
The Glacier Range Riders began their playoff run with a narrow victory at home over the Missoula PaddleHeads, winning 4-2.
The Range Riders jumped out to an early lead with a single from third baseman Christian Kirtley that scored leadoff hitter Ryan McCarthy. The Range Riders would tack on another run in the bottom half of the second when PaddleHeads starting pitcher Alfredo Villa hit Range Riders catcher Freddy Guilamo with the bases loaded. The PaddleHeads would however get out of that inning, limiting the damage to just one run.
At 2-0 in the top of the fifth, the PaddleHeads went on to tie the game off a two-run homer from their leadoff hitter Patrick Chung. This stalemate would be short-lived as the Range Riders would go on to score another run in the bottom half of the inning on a fielder's choice by Andy Atwood that brought home Kingston Liniak. One inning later, the Range Riders would increase their lead by another run off a Chad Castillo double, bringing the score to 4-2.
Pitching proved to be the difference maker for the Range Riders. Starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander pitched a total of seven innings, giving up two runs on just four hits and striking out eleven.
With the score at 4-2 in the eighth, manager Paul Fletcher turned the ball over to reliever Noah Owen to finish out the final two innings. Owen would give up just one hit while striking out four on his way to picking up his third save of the season and bringing the Range Riders just one win away from the Championship series.
PaddleHeads' ace Alfredo Villa managed to go 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and three walks. Manager Michael Schlact utilized three bullpen pitchers who only gave up one run on three hits between them.
The Range Riders and PaddleHeads will play game two of the three game series in Missoula on Thursday, September 12th with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm MDT. You can watch all the live action at https://share.flosports.tv/SHbH