Villa Leads PaddleHeads To First Victory of 2023 In Brilliant Effort

Billings MT- A night after action between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Billings Mustangs was postponed due to rain, both teams would continue their season Thursday night in a double header. After action was delayed due to more adverse weather conditions, a twin bill would get under way at Dehler Park after an hour delay. The PaddleHeads offense went dormant in a game 1 defeat that saw the Mustangs hold Missoula off the board. Looking to right the ship after 2 consecutive losses, a likely source of power would kick the offense into gear in Game 2 of the night. A newly acquired right-hander on the mound would then do the rest. 

Reigning Pioneer League MVP Jayson Newman put the PaddleHeads on top right away with 2-outs in the top of the 1st inning in Game 2 of the double-header with his first home run of 2023. Missoula would then add a pair more in the second to stretch the lead to 4. That would be more than enough for starter Alfredo Villa who was simply sensational over 7 innings allowing only 1 run to earn the win for the PaddleHeads by a tally of 4-1. In the process, Missoula earned a split of the twin-bill, and first victory of 2023. 

Early offense would tell the story in a Game 1 victory for Billings for the second game in a row after their opening night victory Tuesday. Billings would score a pair in the first using a little small ball. One run would score on a fielder's choice before shortstop Casey Harford would knock in another on a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0. That would prove to be plenty for starter Jalen Evans. 

The third-year professional would earn the win for Billings in his first start as a Mustangs over 5 innings of work. Evans did not allow a single run over 5 frames while striking out 3 to earn the win. Second Baseman Conner Denning also held up his end on the offensive side pacing the Billings attack finishing 2-for-4 as the Mustangs would movee their record to  2-0 on the season. Missoula's offense would wait no time in Game 2 however to set the tone to turn momentum in their favor. 

After Newman's home run got the PaddleHeads on the board, Missoula would tack on more in the very next inning to get out in front early. After Patrick Chung was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second inning, Keaton Greenwalt would bring in a second run in the frame on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-0. Despite this being the last gasp from the PaddleHeads offense, it still was plenty of support for Villa. 

The 2nd-year professional turned in a simply dazzling performance over 7 innings of work allowing only 1-run to take the PaddleHeads to the finish line in the 7-inning affair. It was the first time since July 4 of 2021 that a PaddleHeads starter completed a game they started. Kevin Hilton threw a 9-inning complete game in a contest against the Great Falls  Voyagers at Centene Stadium that season. 

Denning provided the only spark offensively for Billings in the 3rd inning of Game 2 hitting a solo blast to right-center field that made the score 4-1. That would be the final time Billings would find any semblance of success against Villa. Denning has been a spark for the Mustangs so far over 3 games having recorded a hit in every game in the series. This production would be nowhere near enough to challenge Villa, and the PaddleHeads as the game wore on. 

Villa would retire all 14 batters he faced consecutively after allowing the home run to Denning in the 3rd inning. The Arizona native would also strike out at least 1 batter in 6 consecutive innings after the first. After the dust settled, Villa tallied 9 strikeouts over 7 to earn his first win of the season. Newman would lead the offensive attack on the flipside finishing 2-for-4 in the win. 

The PaddleHeads (1-2) will now look to even this 6-game slate opposite the Mustangs (2-1) in Game 4 scheduled for Friday night in Billings. First pitch from Dehler Park is set for 6:35. Hear the call on Western Montana's Sports Leader ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.