Kafka Holds Missoula Bats In Check In Glacier Win

MISSOULA, MT - Starting pitching would tell the story for a large bulk of the contest in action Saturday between the Missoula PaddleHeads and Glacier Range Riders. Nick Parker of Missoula and Cullen Kafka of Glacier would both be up to the challenge from their side of the equation, holding offenses in check. After the departure of Parker in the 6th however, the winds would begin to shift. Thanks in large part to a pair of hitters in the middle of the order, Glacier would pull away down the stretch. 

Chad Castillo, and Christian Kirtley both played big roles in a pair of rallies for the Range Riders in the 7th and 8th innings tallying RBI hits in both frames. Glacier would bring home 9 runs in those 2 innings combined. In innings 6 through 8, the Riders' would outscore the PaddleHeads 10-1. The end result would be a comfortable win for the visitors from the Flathead Valley by a final score of 12-3. This sets up a rubber match of a 3-game series in the finale on Sunday afternoon. 

Missoula's offense would find its only success against Kafka in the 2nd inning. After a pair of walks set it up, Taylor Smith would take advantage, hitting a double into right center field giving Missoula 2-0 lead. This would prove to not be sustained success however as Glacier did not allow the lead to last long. 

Castillo would kick off a huge offensive night in the 3rd with a double down the right field line to bring home a pair. The Southern California native would knock in 6 runs throughout the course of the contest in a 4-for-5 effort. With action tied at 2, both starting pitchers would settle in throughout the rest of their respective outings. 

Parker would strike out 8 batters in 5 ⅓ innings of work for Missoula allowing just the 2 runs to his credit. Kafka would match this effort in 6 innings of work allowing only 2 hits while striking out 4. After both pitchers departed, the Range Riders offense would figure things out in a big way. 

A 6-run tally in the top of the 7th would push Glacier to an advantage they would never relinquish. Castillo would hit his 2nd 2-run double of the contest to get things rolling in earnest. Kirtley would also knock in a pair with a single in the frame as the lead grew to 7-2. A triple from Andy Atwood to score Castillo would help put on the finishing touches as Glacier's lead ballooned to 9-3. Kirtey, and Castillo would put the game away in the inning that followed. 

A 2-run single would put the finishing touches to Castillo's 6 RBI performance in the 8th. Kirtley would also see his night end offensively with an exclamation point hitting a double to knock in a run as Glacier's lead grew to 9 in a 3-run rally. Kirtley would finish his night 3-for-4 with 3 driven in. Castillo, and Kirtley would prove to be a 2 man wrecking crew finishing with 7 hits and 9 RBIs combined in the contest. Now a rubber match is set for a Sunday afternoon at Allegiance Field.

The Series finale between the PaddleHeads (41-12), and Range Riders (30-23) is set for Sunday afternoon. A 'Kids Free Sunday' is scheduled to get underway with a 2:15 p.m. First pitch. Catch all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.