Riders settle for split

Glacier's Christian Kirtley (1) connects on a double in the ninth inning against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Range Riders starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander (24) delivers in the first inning against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier shortstop Andy Atwood (21) gets a force out at second but holds on to the throw to first in the eighth inning against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Sunset over Glacier Bank Park as the Glacier Range Riders take on the Yolo High Wheelers in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier second baseman Gabe Howell (10) fields a ground ball for an out against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier second baseman Gabe Howell (10) throws to first for an out against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Range Riders third baseman Christian Kirtley (1) fields a grounder against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Range Riders third baseman Christian Kirtley (1) throws to first for an out against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier right fielder Ryan McCarthy (5) catches a fly ball for an out against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Ben Fitzgerald (8) connects on a single against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Gabe Howell (10) connects on a double in the first inning against Yolo in Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier shortstop Andy Atwood (21) puts the tag down on Yolo's Brayland Skinner (5) after Skinner was picked off first base in the third inning of the Pioneer League Championship Series at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by JOSH AMICK
Reporter | September 18, 2024 11:00 PM

In yet another pitcher’s duel, the Range Riders’ offense fell silent in the final eight innings and the Yolo High Wheelers took Game 2 of the Pioneer League Championship Series 2-1 at Glacier Bank Park on Wednesday night.

The Range Riders offense struck in the first inning when Gabe Howell led off with a double and scored on Christian Kirtley’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

That might have been the Range Riders’ best chance for a big inning, as Yolo’s centerfielder Brayland Skinner made a diving catch in the gap to rob Kirtley of extra bases.

Yolo’s Brandon Mitchell started and lasted five innings and just the one earned run. Patrick Wicklander was opposite Mitchell and pitched six innings, with seven strikeouts and one earned run.

“We were trying to do a little do much and hit into too many double plays, rolling over stuff,” Manager Paul Fletcher said. “We knew what he was going to do, we just didn’t execute it well like we’ve done in the past.”

This was just the second matchup between the two teams, in Yolo’s inaugural Pioneer League season.

After putting up 21 runs in the first two games of the first round against a familiar opponent, the Range Riders seem to be trying to find their way at the plate so far in this series.

“I think the first time through the lineup was a little tough, trying to feel the guy out instead of being aggressive,” Fletcher said. “They have been throwing a lot of off-speed stuff at us and we have to learn to go with it and take what he gives you.”

Yolo’s bullpen flipped the script from Game 1 and held the Range Riders offense hitless over the final three innings, until the bottom of the ninth.

There, Kirtley lined a one-out double down the left field line that brought the packed ballpark to its feet.

Chad Castillo made great contact on the next pitch, but it was hit right at the left fielder. Kingston Liniak struck out to end the game.

In the last series, the Range Riders’ only road trip game to Missoula resulted in a 17-run outburst.

Game 3 will take place in Yolo on Friday at Dobbins Baseball Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain.

Yolo 000 100 010 — 2 9 1

Glacier 100 000 000 — 1 6 1

Brandon Mitchell (5), Andrew LaCour (6), Jack Zalasky (7), Connor Langrell (8), Ty Buckner (9) and Angel Mendoza. Patrick Wicklander (6), Rayne Supple and Aidan McEvoy (8), Justin Coleman (9) and Freddy Guilamo.

YOLO HIGH WHEELERS — Brayland Skinner 1-3, Braylin Marine 0-4, Bobby Lada 2-4, Jose Gonzales 2-4, Braedon Blackford 1-4, David Glancy 2-4, Tanner Smith 0-4, Kirkland Banks 0-4, Angel Mendoza 1-3, Alejandro Figueredo 0-1.

GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — Gabe Howell 2-4, Ryan McCarthy 0-4, Christian Kirtley 1-2, Chad Castillo 1-4, Kingston Liniak 0-4, Ben Fitzgerald 2-3, Andy Atwood 0-3, Ty Penner 0-2, Freddy Guilamo 0-2, Jerry Huntzinger 0-1.

2B — Skinner, Gonzales, Mendoza. Howell, Kirtley. RBIs — Lada, Blackford. Kirtley.