Howell, Trammell hit grand slams in Range Riders opener

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Brandon Trammell and Gabe Howell each hit grand slams as the Glacier Range Riders thumped the Rocky Mountain Vibe 15-1 in their first Pioneer League game Monday.

Howell had eight runs batted in for Glacier, a PL expansion team. The contest ended in rain with a temperature of 44 degrees.

Howell hit a two-run single in the third inning, a two-run double in the fifth and — one inning after Trammell hit one out with the bases juiced — made it 14-0 with a grand slam in the seventh. He was hit by a pitch in the ninth.

He hit a two-run single in the third inning, a two-run double in the fifth and — one inning after Trammell hit one out with the bases juiced — made it 14-0 with a grand slam in the seventh. He was hit by a pitch in the ninth.

Meanwhile Logan Vanwey, Chris Allen and Reid Johnson combined to throw eight scoreless innings, before the Vibe pushed across a run against Austin Steinfort in the ninth.

Vanwey and Allen each threw three innings. Vanway allowed three hits and a walk; Allen gave up two hits and two walks. Vanwey struck out six and Allen fanned five.

Johnson allowed two hits in two innings, and struck out three.

Ben McConnell had three hits and scored three times out of the leadoff spot for Glacier, and Brody Wofford had two hits and scored twice. McConnell, Wofford and catcher Jared Fry all doubled.

The teams are playing a six-game set, with the next game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Fans can watch a live stream of the games at https://www.pioneerleague.com/watch.