Rookie Roberto Pena stole the show for the Missoula Paddleheads Thursday night.
Zootown’s pro baseball team was locked in a 2-2 tie with the Glacier Range Riders after nine innings in Kalispell. That meant the game would be decided by the Pioneer League’s unique knockout format.
A winner was determined in the second round of the home-run-derby-style finish. In the first round, Ryan McCarthy of the Range Riders and Adam Fogel of the PaddleHeads each hit one home run. In the second round, Missoula’s Pena hit two and Glacier’s Christian Kirtley came up empty.
Zootown’s pro baseball team improved its league-best record to 53-16 with its sixth-straight victory. Glacier has the worst second-half record in the 12-team league at 5-16 and stands at 34-35 overall.
Both teams enjoyed strong pitching through nine innings. Missoula ace Alfredo Villa went six frames, allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Tim Cunningham, Andrew Garcia, Mark Timmins and Arman Sabouri combined to hold the hosts scoreless in the final three innings.
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Both teams scored in the first frame, with the PaddleHeads striking first on a Mike Rosario RBI single. The Range Riders went in front 2-1 in the third on a Gabe Howell home run but catcher Carlos Perez answered for Missoula with a round-tripper in the fifth.
The PaddleHeads finished with seven hits to six for Glacier. Patrick Chung had a double and single for Missoula and teammate Colin Gordon had two singles.
Bill Speltz is Missoulian Sports Editor. Email Bill at bill.speltz@missoulian.com.