PaddleHeads Begin Postseason Run Monday Opposite Mustangs
September 12, 2022 – Pioneer League (PL) – Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
Billings, MT – The stage has been set for Monday evening as the Pioneer League Northern
Division Playoffs are set to begin. In the process, the Missoula PaddleHeads will begin another
postseason journey in search of their second consecutive Pioneer League Championship. After
taking down the Idaho Falls Chukars at this juncture in 2021, this season’s challenger from the
Northern Division will be the Billings Mustangs (53-41). Jim Riggleman’s club comes in boasting
a solid pitching staff that finished 1st in the league in team ERA (4.96). When looking at specific
streights of the PaddleHeads however, there is not one specific area to hone in on. It was
difficult to find anything that this club did not do well during a truly remarkable run over the
course of the 2022 regular season.
No professional ballclub that has taken the field in the city of Missoula was able to win at the
rate of the 2022 Missoula PaddleHeads. Missoula finished the regular season with a record of
(69-26). The PaddleHeads winning percentage (.726) exceeds the previous high in Missoula
professional baseball history previously held by the 2001 Missoula Osprey which finished with a
(.684) winning percentage. It also ranks as the highest winning percentage of any club in all of
professional baseball this season. No team across all levels of professional baseball currently
has a winning percentage over .700. So how did this club put together this astonishing run? The
question should be more about what this club did not do well on the field to achieve success.
The PaddleHeads attack at the plate proved to be a lethal group finishing with a .324 team
batting average which ranks 2nd in the league. While doing so, Missoula would also go on to
lead the Pioneer League in home runs (137) for the second consecutive season. The most
unique aspect of this offense however was its depth throughout. Every PaddleHeads player that
appeared in at least 60 games this season finished with a batting average at or above .289.
There were truly no breaks in the lineup that proved to be a relentless attack throughout the
season. A trio that routinely appeared in the middle of the order however oftentimes proved to
be the driving force.
The trio of Lamar Sparks, Jayson Newman, and Nick Gatewood proved to be a lethal
combination in the heart of the PaddleHeads order. Newman put together a truly historic season
as the cleanup hitter finishing with a league record 32 home runs. Furthermore, Newman would
surpass the previous league home run record of 26 home runs in just 64 games. This means
the record was broken in line with the previous league schedule that saw 76 games played a
season. This means Newman was able to hit home runs at a clip that has not been seen in the
league since 1963. The Southern California native would also lead the league in RBIs (115)
while boasting a .369 batting average.
This would be only one factor to the equation however as Sparks would also finish in the top 5
in the Pioneer League in batting average (.399). Gatewood would also finish in the top 5 in the
league in RBIs (96) while leading the league in doubles finishing with 36. Collectively, this unit
would tally 156 extra base hits, and 280 RBIs over the course of the regular season. This
accounted for nearly 40% of the runs driven in by Missoula’s offense. Despite receiving plenty of
offensive support, PaddleHeads hurlers would also do more than hold up their end of the
bargain.
Finishing second in the league in team ERA (5.24) Missoula would also lead the league in
strikeouts as a staff (828) for the second consecutive season. Despite throwing in more innings
than any club in the league (831 ‘…” innings) the PaddleHeads would finish 2nd in the league in
walks allowed, runs, and earned runs. Starting pitchers would routinely put Missoula in good
positions as PaddleHeads starters would finish with a 43-18 overall record. The PaddleHead
pen would then be more than up to the task coming down the stretch shutting the door against
the opposition.
Headlined by the work of closer Sam Hellinger, Missoula’s bullpen would provide rock solid
production through the regular season. Hellinger would go on to lead the Pioneer League in
saves (17) while tallying a 2.01 ERA. The Seattle native would also tally more strikeouts (74)
than other reliever in the league. This would only tell part of the story for this position group that
proved to be a collective unit throughout the season.
Cody Thompson would tally a team best 7 wins in his work out of the bullpen while finishing with
a 3.35 ERA. Flame thrower Dan Swain would also be a main contributor finishing with 48
strikeouts in just 32 innings pitched. His strikeouts per 9 inning ratio (13.50) was tied with
Hellinger for the team lead. Rookie right-hander Tyler Elliot also impressed in his first season in
Missoula. The MSU-Billings product tallied the 2nd lowest ERA (3.03) amongst PaddleHeads
relievers while finishing with 30 strikeouts in 29 ‘…” innings pitched.
All of this success at the plate, and on the mound has led the PaddleHeads to this point. Now a
postseason battle awaits. This PaddleHeads team will now look to complete this journey of the
2022 season with its second consecutive championship. Success in many areas led this club to
uncharted territory. No other professional club that has suited up in the Garden City has enjoyed
the amount of success that this club has. The only thing left for this team to do now is to finish
the job.
Catch all the postseason action between the PaddleHeads in Mustangs in game 1 of the
Northern Division Playoffs on Monday night. First pitch from Dehler Park is scheduled for 6:35
p.m. You can also be a part of the playoffs with the PaddleHeads as Missoula will return home
for game 2 of the series at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park on Wednesday September 14.
Tickets for game 2 in Missoula are currently still available online at gopaddleheads.com. First
pitch of game 2 is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. If you can not make it to the park, catch all the
PaddleHeads postseason action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
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