PaddleHeads Finish 35-12 in First Half Setting New Franchise Record

Great Falls, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would look to end the first half of the Pioneer League regular season on a high in action on Sunday afternoon opposite the Great Falls Voyagers. A huge offensive output would highlight action on Wednesday when Missoula wrapped up the First Half Pennant in the Northern Division for the second consecutive season. Not only would the PaddleHeads end the first half on a high note, they would do it with an offensive effort that was on par with their effort Wednesday. 

Behind an astonishing 30 hit performance, the PaddleHeads offense would be an unstoppable force in action at Centene Stadium in a 21-8 victory over the Voyagers. The Victory saw Missoula claim a series win 4-2 in the six game set. Furthermore, the PaddleHeads would also finish the first half with a mark of (35-12). This record surpassed Missoula's (35-13) record from last season as the best record in a half in franchise history.

Brandon Riley wasted no time getting Missoula's offense rolling in the first inning, hitting a leadoff solo blast into right for the second time in the 6 game set. That would only be the start for Riley who finished 5-for-6 in the contest with a pair of RBIs, and 4 runs scored. 

Jayson Newman put a cap on an otherworldly first half with his performance Sunday as the 2nd year PaddleHead also would go deep in the first inning to give Missoula a 3-0 lead. That wouldn't be the final time in the game either as Newman would hit his second home run of the day in the fourth to give the PaddleHeads a 17-1 lead. Newman finished 4-for-6 on the afternoon with 4 runs scored, and 4 driven in. Newman finished the first half leading the Pioneer League in home runs (20), and RBIs (69). 

Lamar Sparks has also been a menace offensively throughout the regular season and had a career day Sunday highlighted by a third inning grand slam that blew the game open as Missoula would take a 11-0 advantage. The former Orioles product also struck with the long ball in the seventh to tack on Missoula's 20th run.  

Sparks would finish with a season high 8 RBIs to go along with 5 hits and 5 runs scored Sunday. The 8 RBIs also set a new high mark for the most RBIs in a game by a PaddleHeads player this season. Sparks is also the team leader in batting average at the end of the first half (.411). 

Nick Gatewood's single was a part of the PaddleHeads final rally of the day in the seventh that saw Missoula score their 21st run of the afternoon. That only told part of the story for 'Gator' who would finish with a career best 6 hits to go a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate. No player has recorded 6 hits in a game this season for the PaddleHeads. The Georgia native finished the first half with a team best 20 doubles in 46 games played. 

The PaddleHeads finished the first half of the Pioneer League regular season with a remarkable .744 winning percentage to go along with their 35 victories. Missoula will now have one day to reflect on the first half that was Monday before kicking things off in the second half Tuesday. It remains to be seen how things will play out in the second half. Teams will surely make adjustments as the rest of the North will now look to find success in the second half to claim the other playoff spot opposite Missoula. But make no mistake, the PaddleHeads are still firmly in their position as King of the North. 

The PaddleHeads will open the second half of the regular season opposite a Southern Division foe in the Ogden Raptors (29-19) in the Garden City Tuesday night.  Ogden was the top team from the South in the first half winning the pennant for the second consecutive year and also boasts the second best overall record in the league behind Missoula. This sets up a 'Clash of the Titans' Tuesday as the two teams open a 6 game set. First pitch from Allegiance Field at Ogren Park is set for 7:00 p.m. Hear all the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.