Vila Leads PaddleHeads to Sweep Of Voyagers Sunday

GREAT FALLS, MT- Both offenses would be held in check for most of the day Sunday in the series finale between the Missoula PaddleHeads, and Great Falls Voyagers. Only 2 runs combined would be scored over the course of the first 5 innings of action with Missoula being held scoreless. Despite this, Alfredo Villa kept Missoula right in it thanks to a fabulous outing on the bump.The PaddleHeads would also mount a rally for the 1st time in the 7th inning trying to back up the outing of Villa. One swing in this frame would prove to make all the difference coming down the stretch. 

Trailing 2-1, Missoula would see a pair of runners reach base to start the bottom of the 7th. After a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Cash, newly acquired catcher Reece Yeargain would stride into the box. After a clutch home run in the 7th on Friday, Yeargain would once again come through in the situation, sending a base hit through the middle to bring home a pair to give Missoula their 1st lead of the day. The Voyagers would only see one man reach in the final 3 innings allowing the PaddleHeads to escape with a 3-2 victory to earn the sweep at Centene Stadium.   

Great Falls would find themselves in front after their only push offensively in the 3rd inning. After a single to left field by Xane Washington, a run would score as a result of an error in the outfield making the score 1-0. Washington would later score in that frame on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Riley Jepson to give the Voyagers a 2 run cushion early. Washington finished the afternoon 2-for-4 and Jepson was 1-for-2. Great Falls would never find the scoreboard the rest of the way with Villa doing the bulk of the heavy lifting keeping the Voyagers in check. 

The 2nd year pro would become the first pitcher in the league to earn 10 wins thanks to his efforts through 7 on Sunday. Villa would allow only 1 earned run over those innings on 3 hits while striking out 4 batters. The Arizona native is now 2nd in the league in ERA (3.18) and is 1st in the league in strikeouts (101). Villa would prove to get just enough help from the offense in the 6th, and 7th to get Missoula in the win column. 

Dondrei Hubbard would bring the PaddleHeads attack to life with 1 swing in the top of the 6th to get Missoula on the board. Hubbard would hit a line drive over the wall in left to get Missoula on the board making the score 2-1. Hubbard would be the only man in the order finishing with a multi-hit day finishing 2-for-4 Sunday. It was also a very productive series on the road for Hubbard who finished 6-for-12 in hits at-bats in Great Falls. The work from the bullpen down the stretch ensured the Voyagers would have no thoughts of a comeback in the final innings. 

Cody Thompson, and Mark Simon would slam the door shut in the final 2 frames allowing only 1 baserunner combined in 2 scoreless innings. Simon would earn his 9th save of the season for his work in the 9th striking out a pair. The former league pitcher of the year has been outstanding since returning from injury on August 8 having allowed no baserunners in his last 4 outings. 

The PaddleHeads (52-20) will enjoy an off day on Monday before kicking off another week of action in the Garden City on Tuesday evening. The PaddleHeads will welcome a Southern Division opponent to Allegiance Field as the Boise Hawks (37-34) will come calling to open a 6-game series. This rematch of the 2021 Pioneer League Championship Series will get rolling at 7:05 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.