Voyagers outlast rain delay and Glacier to get the win

(Great Falls, Mt. ) The Great Falls Voyagers (13-5) and Glacier Range Riders (7-10) squared off in the final game of their six game series Sunday afternoon. The Voyagers looking to win the series and Range Riders looking to split it. The Voyagers had to wait through a rain delay that lasted over an hour, but came out victorious.

The start of the game once again went well for the Voyagers as they scored one in the first as Jake Malec drew a walk, stole second and in the process of stealing second had an error on the throw. The ball went off the Glacier short stops glove in to center field and Malec ran to third then was sent home by 3rd base coach, Brandon Kloess. The throw home made it close but Malec beat it giving the Voyagers a 1-0 lead after one.

Starting pitcher, Tyler Naumann, held the good hitting Range Riders squad off the scoreboard in the first two innings, but gave up 4 in the the 3rd. The Voyagers were able to score one in the 3rd themselves.

The 3rd inning started with Breydon Daniel hitting a grounder to short and an error was made. Breydon stole second base and was knocked home on a single by Andy Atwood to right. Trailing by 2 the Voyagers kept the Glacier team off the scoreboard while putting up one more in the 5th inning.

With two out in the inning, Andy Atwood hit a resounding shot over the left field fence to hit his 3rd ball over the fence in two games. Once again holding the Range Riders scoreless in the top of the sixth the Voyagers were looking t strike with two on and nobody out in their half of the inning when the rain delay came.

For over an hour and fifteen minutes the Voyager players waited, mostly on the field, as the Voyager staff put together a playable field according to the umpire staff. The two runners, Zane Zurbrugg at 3rd (pinch running for Tyler Krabbe) and Derek Kolbush at second.

Collin Runge stepped to the plate with nobody on and promptly hit a slow roller to second base, advancing both runners and scoring Zurbrugg. Tavis Brunson hit a line drive to center that was misplayed on the bounce by the center fielder allowing Kolbush to score and Brunson to reach 3rd. No more runs were scored but the Voyagers had the lead they had waited so long for.

Brad Demco came in for the 7th inning and Montana Quigly for the 8th and 9th. The two relief pitchers shut down the Range Riders and in the process gave Quigly his 5th save, putting him on top of the Pioneer Baseball League stats for that category.

The Voyagers have Tuesday off then travel to Missoula to play a Missoula squad that has won 4 in a row. They will play three there then come home Friday for a quick 3 game series versus the Billings Mustangs.

The weather is looking great for this coming weekend so set aside some time to come watch your Great Falls Voyagers team get some more wins!!

Written by Ross Drishinski