Range Riders build second-half momentum

First a walk-off, then a gem. 

Ty Bothwell set the Glacier Range Riders’ team record for season strikeouts Friday, in a 3-2 Pioneer League baseball win over the Billings Mustangs at Glacier Bank Park. 

That came a day after JT Mabry’s two-out, two-run double capped a five-run ninth-inning rally in the Range Riders’ 9-8 walk-off win. 

The victories continued the improved play of the Range Riders, who have won nine of their last 11 games and are 12-10 this half of the season. 

Range Riders 9, Mustangs 8 

The Thursday win didn’t look likely when Billings (9-13) scored six runs in the first — sending 11 men to the plate, with Efrain Manzo’s three-run double the big blow — and another in the third to lead 7-0. 

Mabry hit an RBI single and Eli Paton a two-run home run in the Range Riders’ half of the third to start the comeback.  

In the ninth, Glacier worked reliever Jack Maruskin for four walks, wrapped around a Gabe Howell RBI single. A walk to Jack Millan cut the gap to 7-5 and left the bases loaded. 

Cole Calnon came on to pitch, struck out Kyle Ashworth and gave up a sacrifice fly to TJ Clarkson.  

That brought up Mabry, who stroked the game-winner to end the lightning-delayed game. 

Rayne Supple (2-6) got the win, pitching a scoreless ninth ahead of the Range Riders’ rally. He and fellow relievers Davis Pratt and Jacob Hasty threw four innings of shutout ball, with one hit allowed. Pratt fanned three in his two innings. 

Billings    601    000    000    -    7    8    1 

Glacier    003    000    005    -    8    5    2 

Justin Fuson, CJ Colyer (6), Garrett Ouellette (8), Jack Maruskin (9), Cole Calon (9) and Charlie Munoz. Jared Engman, Davis Pratt (6), Jacob Hasty (8), Rayne Supple (9) and Angel Mendoza. 

BILLINGS MUSTANGS — Cameron Bowen 0-5, John McHenry 2-5, Charlie Muniz 1-4, Tyler Shelnut 0-4, Jacob Kline 0-0, Patrick Mills 2-3, Efrain Manzo 0-4, Briley Knight 2-4, Chase Hanson 1-3, AJ Shaver 0-3. 

GLACIER RANGE RIDERS — TJ Clarkson 1-2, John Mabry 2-5, Eli Paton 1-3, Jack Lynch 0-3, Kingston Liniak 0-3, Carson Garner 0-3, Gabe Howell 1-4, Angel Mendoza 0-3, Jack Millan 0-0, Kyle Ashworth 0-4. 

2B — Hanson, Clarkson, Mabry. HR — Paton (2). RBIs — Hanson 3, Manzo, Knight, Shaver, Mabry 3, Paton 2, Millan, Clarkson, Howell.    

Range Riders 3, Mustangs 2 

Bothwell (3-4), coming off his second Pitcher of the Week award from the PBL, gave up three hits and three walks in six innings, with eight strikeouts. 

When he fanned Charlie Muniz in the fourth inning, it was his fourth strikeout and 93rd of the season — a new team record. Noah Barros (2023) and Kaleb Sophy (2024) each had 92, according to Range Riders director of communications Scot Gladstone. 

Bothwell’s 97 strikeouts lead the league. 

Meanwhile Glacier again had to rally, after Casey Sorg’s double put Billings up 2-0 in the fourth inning. 

In the fifth the Range Riders wrapped singles from Angel Mendoza and TJ Clarkson around a walk to Kyle Ashworth, then got a sacrifice fly from Mabry. 

Paton followed with a two-out, two run single. 

That capped the scoring, and Glacier held on thanks to Bothwell and more stellar relief: Nicholas Ferazzi, Nick Zegna and Luke Cooper each threw an inning and faced nine batters total. Cooper fanned two and picked up his second save. 

The teams continued their series Saturday night. 

Billings    000    200    000    -    2    3    1 

Glacier    000    030    00x    -    3    6    0 

Hudson Boncal, EJ Johnson (6) and Muniz. Ty Bothwell, Nicholas Ferazzi (7), Nick Zegna (8), Luke Cooper (9) and Mendoza. 

MUSTANGS — Bowen 0-4, McHenry 0-3, Muniz 0-4, Shelnut 0-3, Mills 1-3, Manzo 0-1, Hanson 1-3, Casey Sorge 1-3, Knight 0-3, Shaver 0-3. 

RANGE RIDERS — Clarkson 1-4, Mabry 1-3, Paton 1-2, Millan 0-4, Lynch 1-3, Xavier Casserilla 1-4, Liniak 0-0, Howell 0-0, Logan Beard 0-4, Mendoza 1-4, Ashworth 0-2. 

2B — Hanson, Sorg. RBIs — Sorg 2, Paton 2, Mabry. 

 The sun sets at Glacier Bank Park as the Glacier Range Riders face the Billings Mustangs on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 

    Glacier starting pitcher Jared Engman (12) delivers in the first inning against Billings at Glacier Bank Park on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier shortstop Gabe Howell (10) charges a ground ball in the first inning against Billings at Glacier Bank Park on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's JT Mabry (4) drives in TJ Clarkson in the third inning against Billings at Glacier Bank Park on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier shortstop Gabe Howell (10) throws to first after charging a ground ball against Billings at Glacier Bank Park on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier right fielder TJ Clarkson (13) catches a fly ball against Billings at Glacier Bank Park on Thursday, Aug. 7. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider