Range Riders’ Rollercoaster: Home Runs, Records, and Playoff Push
In this week’s Keeping Score podcast, host Josh Amick recaps the Glacier Range Riders’ rollercoaster series against the Missoula PaddleHeads. Kingston Liniak's explosive performance, including two home runs in game one, set the tone for a dramatic week. Gabe Howell and Adam Fogel also made headlines with their record-setting homers, while the Range Riders battled through ups and downs, highlighted by Drew Sims’ impactful return. As the season winds down, Josh previews what’s next for the team as they prepare for their final home games and an upcoming playoff appearance.
August 26, 2024
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Thanks to Hagadone Media Group for sponsoring! They provide effective digital marketing solutions that bring your brand to the forefront via Web Design, Web Development, PPC, Retargeting, SEO, and Print.
September 8, 2024
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome everybody to the Keeping Score podcast from the Daily Inter Lake and Hagadone Sports Network, I am Josh Amick. This week on the Range Riders recap, I will discuss the up and down two series they had with Missoula, what to expect for the final weeks and some old faces being reinstated to the team, so without further ado, let’s get into it.
In game 1 at Missoula, Kingston Liniak hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to lead the Range Riders to a comfortable 17-6 win over the PaddleHeads Tuesday night.
Liniak hit his second and third home runs of the season in his ninth game played and finished the day 4-for-6 with eight RBIs. Eight out of nine Range Riders starters recorded a hit, on their way to an easy win.
In game 2, Gabe Howell launched a two-run homer over the left field wall in the second inning and the Glacier Range Riders picked up a 5-3 win. It was Howell’s 9th home run of the season and moved him closer to the all-time Range Riders home run leader, behind Christian Kirtley.
Game 3, Adam Fogel blasted his Pioneer League record 33rd home run of the 2024 season as the Missoula PaddleHeads defeated the Glacier Range Riders 13-6. Fogel bested the modern Pioneer League record set in 2022 by fellow PaddleHeads player Jayson Newman-Dodd. Ryan McCarthy homered for the Range Riders and Kingston Liniak went 4-for-5 with three doubles in the loss.
Game 4, PaddleHeads hit three home runs to power them to an opening road series win over the Range Riders 14-5 at Glacier Bank Park Friday night. Fogel hit another home run, adding on to his record-breaking total and Jerry Huntzinger homered for the Range Riders for just the second time this season.
Saturday game 5 was my game of the week, as the Range Riders got back in the win column with an 8-4 victory. Drew Sims went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and four Range Riders pitchers combined for seven scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Andy Atwood also had a big game, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, including a bases clearing triple in the bottom of the fourth. Noah Owen, Aidan McEvoy, Nick Zenga and Ricky Tibbett combined for 7 shutout innings to help secure the win.
On Sunday, the Range Riders comeback attempt fell just short, as they lost the final game of the series 12-8. After joining the team on Tuesday, Ty Bothwell made his starting debut and pitched four innings allowing five runs. Bothwell pitched at Indiana University and was spending his time in collegiate summer ball.
Christian Kirtley hit his team-leading 18th home run of the year and Kingston Liniak hit his fourth home run of the year. The Range Riders loaded the bases in the eighth inning, down 12-3 and cut the lead to 12-5. With the bases still loaded the next two batters were retired to stop the rally. In the bottom of the 9th, they loaded the bases again and sent the tying run to the plate down 12-8. Ryan McCarthy barreled up a pitch, but it was right to right fielder to end the game.
That’s it for this week’s scoring recap, so let’s get into this week’s edition in case you missed it.
As mentioned in previous week’s Liniak rejoined the team this year after playing for the Range Riders in the 2023 season. Let's listen to what that process was like.
Bothwell is hoping to make an impact on a revamped Range Riders starting rotation. He joins Patrick Wicklander, Jared Engman and Noah Owen as some of the new starters on the team.
Drew Sims also made his return to the lineup. He was placed on the ineligible list back on May 30th and missed last year with the team due to an injury. He has appeared in three games and has gone 4-for-7 as a DH and first baseman.
That’s it for this week’s Range Riders Recap. The Range Riders play their final three games at home against the Billings Mustangs starting on Tuesday before heading to the road for their final 9 games of the season. They will host a playoff game on either Sept. 10 or Sept 12th once the second half standings become clearer. For the Keeping Score podcast from the Daily Inter Lake and Hagadone Sports Network, I am Josh Amick and until next time take care.