Voyagers Lose Game Two of Six Game Series

(Great Falls, MT) - The Great Falls Voyagers (26-17) needed to win all six games against the Missoula PaddleHeads (32-11) to guarante a spot in the playoffs. Able to scrape out a win in game one, the Voyagers came up short in game two. The Voyagers held their own, but wuickly lost sight of the game, allowing the PaddleHeads to win 22-10. 

Missoula picked up its first run on a home run in the first, but were quickly answered by a home run from Voyagers outfielder Derek Kolbush in the second. The PaddleHeads were able to tack on three runs in the third inning, four in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 9-1 lead. 

The Voyagers weren't ready to give up yet, as they scored five runs in the fifth inning with two outs. Designated hitter Michael Deeb was up first with a single to left, followed by Christopher "Chino" De Guzman moving Deeb to third. Second baseman Myles McKisik hit a double to right, scoring both runners. Outfielder Breydon Daniel continued the hitting with a single up the middle. Centerfielder Jake Malec smashed a double to right, followed by a double from first baseman Riley Jepson to center. 

With the score 9-6 after five innings, it appeared the Voyagers were still in this game. Neither team was able to score a run in the sixth, but the seventh took a quick turn for the Voyagers as the PaddleHeads put up 12 runs, with 16 batters and two grand slams in the inning. 

Trailing 21-6, the Voyagers used position players as pitchers as McKisic and third baseman Collin Runge both took a turn on the mound. The Voyagers put two across in the bottom of the seventh as Daniel had a double, and Jepson singled him home, while Runge hit a double to score Jepson. However, the PaddleHeads were able to score again in the eighth. 

With the score 22-8 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Manager Tommy Thompson used his relief pitchers as batters. Brad Demco started the inning off with a single to center, while CJ Grant Debose had a single to right, and Quincy Jones had a single to left, scoring Demco. Breonn Pooler was able to get a single to right giving him an RBI as he scored Debose. 

The final score, after over four hours of game time, gave the PaddleHeads the automatic playoff spot by winning the first half of the season for the North Division. There are still 4 games left before the second half of the season starts, so it should be interesting to see if the PaddleHeads decide to rest some of their starters or keep their best in, as eight of their 11 losses have come at the Voyagers hands.

Come out to Centene Stadium and see for yourself what will happen, as game three is set for Thursday night at 7 p.m.