Hubbard Brings Missoula To Victory in ‘Knockout’ Win Thursday

MISSOULA, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads would lead for a large chunk of time in regulation in game 3 of a 6 game set opposite the Glacier Range Riders. Alfredo Villa would keep Glacier under control for the bulk of the night allowing Missoula to stay in the lead. Glacier would find an approach down the stretch however, scoring in the final 3 innings to tighten things up. Needing just one more victory to clinch the best regular season record in the Pioneer League, action would be decided in a 'knockout.'

A wild sequence of events involving a play at the plate saw the bottom of the 9th end in a 3-3 tie sending the game into a 'Knockout.' After winning a game in July at Glacier in a 'Knockout, Dondrei Hubbard would once again be called upon. The Texas native would hit 2 home runs in his 1st round effort. Dean Miller of Glacier would launch 1 home run on his first swing of round 1 seemingly looking confident in an effort to tie or get past Hubbard. Miller would slowly see the 2 minute clock dwindle by stuck on 1 home run. In the end, Miller would not be able to come through allowing Missoula to hang on in a 'Knockout' win. 

The win for Missoula was relevant for more reasons than one as it has an effect on the Pioneer League postseason. The victory ensured that the PaddleHeads will finish the regular season with the best record of any club in the Pioneer League during the regular season for the 3rd season in row. This also means that Missoula will have home field advantage throughout the Pioneer League Playoffs. 

The PaddleHeads would grab the early advantage in the 3rd inning in regulation thanks to Josh Elvir. Elvir would hit his 3rd home run of the season in a PaddleHead uniform to right field making the score 2-0. Villa would make sure that would be all Missoula would need for a bulk of the night on the other side. Elvir would finish the night 1-for-3. 

The PaddleHeads would score their final run of the night in the 5th on A sacrifice fly from Jake Guenther to score Hubbard from 3rd to make the score 3-0. It was the 65th RBI of the season for the Wisconsin native which ranks 2nd on the team. Hubbard would prove to be a huge factor in regulation, and in the 'Knockout' finishing the contest 3-for-4 with a double, and a run scored in hit at-bats. 

Villa would only allow 1 run on 5 hits through 6 ⅔ while striking out 6 batters.  The 2nd year pro would retire the side in 3 separate innings, controlling things for most of the night. The Range Riders offense would find success in the final 3 frames however to knot things up to force the knockout. 

After only tallying 2 hits through 6, 3 consecutive singles in the 7th inning would bring the Range Riders offense to life in the 7th. Crews Taylor would bring home a run after this sequence on a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-1. An inning later, Miller would hit a long home run to right center to cut the Missoula lead to 3-2. In the 9th, Glacier would almost find the win column in a wacky series of events. Miller has homered in the last 2 games and finished Thursday 2-for-4. 

Austin Bates immediately gave Glacier hope in the bottom of the 9th with a leadoff single. After seeing Taylor reach on a hit-batsman, Glacier would have the winning run aboard. One batter later, Ben Fitzgerald would hit a soft line drive into center field that would glance off the glove of Keaton Greenwalt. The tying run would score from 2nd base on this play. However, Greenwalt would manage to throw out Taylor at the plate to record the final out of regulation. Luis Navarro would also make a diving tag at the plate to save the run for Missoula. This ultimately would send the game to the 'Knockout' in a wild series of events. 

The PaddleHeads (59-22) will look to now build on the momentum of this dramatic victory in Game 4 of the series opposite the Range Riders (44-35) on Friday night at Glacier Bank Park. Action is slated to begin in the Flathead Valley at 7:05 p.m. Catch every pitch on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.