Range Riders fall Monday to Hawks
Trevor Minder’s two-run double in the fifth inning broke open a close game, and two solo homers finished off Boise’s 7-1 Pioneer League win over the Glacier Range Riders Monday night.
Sean Skelly homered in the sixth inning and Raymond Gil hit one out in the seventh at Glacier Bank Park for the Hawks, who are 8-11 this half-season. The Rangers fell to 6-12.
The Range Riders’ lone run came on a sacrifice fly in the third inning that scored Mason Dinesen — he’d tripled, one of his two hits — and cut Boise’s early lead to 3-1.
Hawks starting pitcher Matt Voelker (6-2) threw six innings, allowing seven hits, three walks and the one run. He fanned two.
Glacier starter Jack White (1-3) fanned five in 4 1-3 innings, but allowed five hits, four walks and five earned runs.
The teams continued their three-game series Tuesday night.
The Missoula PaddleHeads own a three-game lead in the North Division in this half and if they finish first — they’ve won the last five half-season titles — the next-best overall record makes the PL playoffs. RIght now the Range Range Riders (37-27) own a 10-game lead over Billings (28-38) overall.
CLIFF NOTES: Glacier first baseman Benjamin Fitzgerald entered Tuesday’s game having eight hits in his last nine at-bats, raising his average from .278 to .308. … No Ranger Riders were picked for the 2023 Pioneer League All-Star team which was released on Monday. Ogden, which won the Southern Division’s first half, had four picks, including third baseman Dusty Stroup, who in 2022 hit 24 homers for Idaho Falls. The complete list is at pioneerleague.com. … Part of Missoula’s continued magic is a 3-0 record this season in Knockout Rounds, a home run derby-style tie breaker the PL employs instead of a 10th inning. Glacier is 1-1 in tie breakers. The win came June 29 at Boise, courtesy of Dean Miller. Miller’s .345 average is tops among Glacier’s qualified hitters, which include Gabe Howell (.317), Jackson Raper (.304, team-high 53 RBIs) and Matt Clayton (.304). Dinesen checks in at .299 and Crews Taylor at .293.