Range Riders falter in 8th

Glacier starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander (24) delivers in the first inning against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier shortstop Andy Atwood (21) fires to first base for an out against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Chad Castillo (28) connects on a single in the fourth inning against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier second baseman Christian Kirtley throws to first base for an out against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier right fielder TJ Clarkson (27) catches a fly ball at the warning track against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier second baseman Christian Kirtley fields a grounder for an out against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Andy Atwood (21) knocks a sacrifice fly into right field scoring Christian Kirtley in the sixth inning against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's River Orsak (9) singles in the fifth inning against the Missoula Paddleheads at Glacier Bank Park on Tuesday, Aug. 6. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by JOSH AMICK
Reporter | August 7, 2024 12:00 AM

Newcomer Patrick Wicklander dazzled in his Range Riders debut before things fell apart in the eighth inning and the Missoula PaddleHeads won 7-1 on Tuesday.

In the Range Riders’ first game back home, Wicklander looked comfortable pitching at Glacier Bank Park for the first time. He pitched seven innings and struck out 10 against the best hitting team in the Pioneer League.

Released from the AA Montgomery Biscuits, Wicklander had his agent contact the Range Riders’ bullpen coach. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Arkansas University and has made it as high as Triple-A.

“He is a great pickup,” manager Paul Fletcher said. “He’s been to higher levels, he knows how to pitch and attack the zone, he knows what he is doing and had them fooled all game.”

Wicklander was at 100 pitches when he was pulled to start the eighth and that’s when Missoula started hitting.

Ricky Tibbett was brought in for relief and Missoula hit four-straight singles to tie the game at 1-1. Rayne Supple relieved Tibbett and immediately gave up a two-run base hit to Alec Sanchez and suddenly the game was 3-1.

Missoula plated two more runs off Supple and two more in the ninth off Jack Lynch while the Range Riders bats fell silent after the fifth inning.

Wicklander was one of two Range Riders who made their debut on Tuesday as outfielder Ryan McCarthy was also signed.

McCarthy played for the Great Falls Voyagers in 2023, then signed with the Minnesota Twins and was released earlier this season.

Tommy Thompson, who managed McCarthy at Great Falls, reached out to him about a possible Range Rider signing.

“When I got released from the Twins, Tommy called me and said they would love to have me here,” McCarthy said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue to play, I had some lingering injuries. I went home, got those figured out and when I realized I was going to be OK, I called Tommy and said let’s go.”

McCarthy and Wicklander are two of the seven Range Riders that have been signed in recent weeks, all hoping to play a big part when the playoffs come.

“We have added some guys who have played at a higher level and can compete a little more and give us better chances,” Fletcher said.

“With four to five weeks left, we have to start getting into playoff mode and I do believe adding these new guys brings some energy and brings some new life to the team.”

Missoula 000 000 052 – 7 12 2

Glacier 000 001 000 – 1 5 0

Reece Fields (5), Mark Timmins (6), Andrew Garcia (7), Ethan Swanson (8), Arman Sabouri (9) and Taylor Smith. Patrick Wicklander (7), Ricky Tibbett, Rayne Supple (8), Jack Lynch (9) and Freddy Guilamo.

MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS – Patrick Chung 2-4, Roberto Pena 1-5, Mike Rosario 1-4, Adam Fogel 2-5, Alec Sanchez 3-5, Colin Runge 1-5, Cameron Thompson 0-5, Taylor Smith 1-2, Kamron Willman 1-4.

GLACIER RANGE RIDER – Gabe Howell 0-4, Ryan McCarthy 0-4, Christian Kirtley 0-3, Chad Castillo 2-4, Andy Atwood 0-3, TJ Clarkson 1-4, Freddy Guilamo 0-3, Ty Penner 1-2, River Orsak 1-3.

2B – Sanchez. RBIs – Rosario, Willman, Thompson, Sanchez 2, Collin Runge 2. Atwood.