PaddleHeads Jayson Newman Sets 60-Year Pioneer League Record with 27th Homerun!

PaddleHeads Jayson Newman Sets 60-Year Pioneer League Record with 27th Homerun

The two-way star ties and breaks record in only 65th game of the season for PaddleHeads Missoula, MT.

The Missoula PaddleHead’s slugger Jayson Newman did something no one has done over the last 60 years of the Pioneer League during Sunday’s game at Great Falls. He belted his 26th homerun in the 1st inning to tie the modern day Pioneer League record for homeruns in a season. Then two innings later, he crushed number 27 of the season to establish the new record. What makes Newman’s record amazing is that he has accomplished it in the team’s 65th game of the season. More impressive, due to injury, Newman has only played in 58 games so far this season. From 1963 to 2020 the Pioneer League was a 76 game schedule. Since 2021, the Pioneer League is now a 96 game schedule. By homering in game number 65 he shattered the 60 year Pioneer League record by 11 games.

Newman’s record breaking homerun broke the record set last year by Missoula PaddleHead Zac Almond of 26 homeruns. Almond ended up being named the Pioneer League MVP last season for his spectacular efforts. Prior to Almond, the Pioneer League record was 23 homeruns set by Gregory Morrison of the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in 1997. The Pioneer League was a 76 game season in 1997. Almond hit his record breaking homerun in game 81 last season. Newman did it in game 65. By far the best in the last 60 years of Pioneer League baseball. To make Newman’s record even more impressive, he was injured early in the season after being hit on the ankle by a pitch and missed seven games. So he has reached the record in his 58th game played.

The PaddleHeads still have 30 games remaining for Newman to add to the record. Newman have proven to be much more than a homerun hitter this season. Newman came into today’s action hitting .380 with a .444 on base percentage. He leads the league in HR, RBI, and slugging percentage. To top all of that, Newman is also a reliever for the PaddleHeads and is tied for 7th for the league lead in saves with 6. Newman has both hit two homeruns in a game and gotten a save in two separate games this season. Special stuff from a special athlete.

At the time of this release, the PaddleHeads and Great Falls Voyagers are still in action today. Following the game, the PaddleHeads will return home. After an off day on Monday, the PaddleHeads will return home for a three game series versus the Boise Hawks in a re-match of last year’s Championship Series combatants.

Boise and Missoula will meet Tuesday, August 9 th through Thursday, August 11th at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Tuesday, August 9 th is Non-Profit Tuesday. Wednesday, August 10th is Woof Wednesday sponsored by Scheels, and Thursday, August 11th is Thirsty Thursday sponsored by Cambie Taphouse. Tickets for this series and all the remaining games in the season are available at www.gopaddleheads.com or by visiting the box office at the PaddleHeads Post Gift Store in downtown Missoula located at 140 N. Higgins Ave.