DeBonville Leads Missoula to Sweep of Glacier

Missoula MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads wrapped up a 3-game set opposite the Glacier Range Riders on Thursday night in the Garden City. The electricity in the ballpark at Allegiance Field would be felt through the night as the PaddleHeads hosted 'Pride Night' at the Ballpark. After winning the first 2 games of the series, Missoula would look to give the fans even more to cheer about. Thanks to more solid pitching, and an opportunistic offense, the home crowd would get their wish. 

After a quiet first inning, the PaddleHeads would grab the lead first in the 2nd with a 3-run rally. Glacier would battle in the middle frames tying the game briefly at one point in the 5th. That would be the only time the Range Riders would challenge Missoula in the contest however, and never led at any point. Thomas DeBonville's production at the plate combined with the work of the bullpen down the stretch would prove to be too much for Glacier as Missoula would earn the sweep in a 7-3 win. 

After an RBI double from Jake Guenther, DeBonville would kick off his offensive night in the 2nd with an RBI single of his own to give the PaddleHeads a 3-0 lead. This would only be the first sign of things to come for the former Idaho Falls Chukar who would contribute offensively throughout the evening. Guenter also enjoyed a productive night finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. 

Glacier got itself on the board for the first time in the third inning thanks to first baseman Dean Miller. The 2nd year Range Rider would double home a run in the frame to make the score 3-1. Later in the 5th, leadoff man Gabe Howell struck with a 2-run home run to right field to knot things up at 3 with one swing. This would be the final time however Glacier would find the score column. Missoula also would immediately find success offensively after the Range Riders leveled things up. Miller finished 2-for-3 in the loss and Howell was 1-for-4. 

Jared Akins would bring home a run in the 5th on an RBI single as part of a 3-run rally that saw Missoula's lead go to 6-3. Defensive mistakes by the Range Riders would also play a role with Glacier committing a pair in the frame. This rally would prove to be all the PaddleHeads would need thanks to the effort of the bullpen. However, DeBonville would have one last swing in his bat to the delight of the Missoula crowd in the 6th. 

The Nebraska-Omaha product would launch a ball over the fence in right-center field to put an exclamation point on things in the 6th to give the PaddleHeads a 4-run advantage. This moment brought the Missoula crowd to its feet as DeBonville rounded the bases to highlight 'The Peanut Inning.' DeBonville would conclude the night finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and 2 runs scored. The bullpen would then slam the door shut over the final 4 innings. 

After the departure of Pilot after the 5th, the combination of Mark Timmons, Karl Blum, Cody Thompson, and Mark Simon would keep things in check over the final 4 innings. The group would collectively allow only 2 baserunners over the final 4 frames. Simon would prove to be the highlight in the 9th inning, striking out the side in the frame as Missoula would complete the sweep. Pilot also earned the win for his 5 innings of work allowing only 3 runs while striking out 4. 

The PaddleHeads (16-5) will look to keep to their winning ways with action now heading to the road for the next 6 games. Their opponent over the weekend will be these same Range Riders (11-8) as Missoula is set to make their first appearance at Flathead Field Friday night to open a 3 game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. All the action will be covered live on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.