Voyagers Drop Final Game In Series With Paddleheads

(Great Falls, MT) - Great Falls Voyagers (2-7/21-36) having dropped two seesaw games versus the Missoula Paddleheads (6-3/41-16) coming into tonights action. Needing a win to keep pace in the second half of the season the Voyagers were unable to capitolize on some opportunities and lost the game 12-8.

The game started off very well for the Voyagers and starting pitcher, Grey Lyttle, as he faced the minimum in the first two innings. Striking out 2 of the 6 batters faced. The offense for the Voyagers meanwhile appeared early, as they scored two runs in the 2nd inning. Chris Caffrey started the 2nd off with a single to the right side of the diamond. He was followed with singles from Michael Deeb and Patrick Sheehan. With the bases loaded, Jackson Raper hit a deep fly ball to center scoring Caffrey and moving Deeb to 3rd base. Deeb then scored on a ground ball by Zane Zurbrugg in which the Paddleheads attempted to get a double play but could only get the force out at second.

The 3rd inning saw the Voyagers plate two more runs as Quintin Alexander started the inning off with a single up the middle. Ben Norman then came through with a double to left moving Alexander to 3rd base. Caffrey then cleared the bases with a double to left center giving the Voyagers a 4-0 lead after 3 innings.

The Paddleheads were able to score 3 themselves in the 4th inning off a solo homerun by Zach Almond and a couple of doubles. Starting pitcher Lyttle was lifted midway through the top of the 4th and CJ Grant-Debose came in to finish off the 4th inning. The Paddleheads added to their score total by pushing across three more runs in the top of the 6th inning to take a 6-4 lead in the middle of the 6th.

Voyagers batters were able to push across one run in the 6th as Zurbrugg got on with a fielders choice, then eventually came around on a wild pitch to score making it 6-5 after 6 innings.

Unfortunately for the Voyagers things unraveled defensively in the 7th inning as an error on what appeared to be an inning ending double play ball happened. The Paddleheads were then able to score 6 runs in the inning with two out, taking a 12-5 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.

The Voyagers didn't give up though as the 7th inning started with Caffrey being hit by a pitch, and Deeb hitting a double that disappeared in the ivy in center field. This kept Caffrey at 3rd and Deeb at 2nd base. Sheehan hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield advancing Caffrey and scoring Deeb. With one out now, Jackson Raper hit a single to left field. Which was followed by a single by Zurbrugg scoring Caffrey, a strikeout by Jake Malec and walk by Alexander. Troy Dixon hit a single pushing Raper. With the bases loaded and two out the Voyagers were unable to score more as the inning ended on a fly ball out.

Trailing 12-8 going into the 8th inning, Grant Larson came in for the Voyagers to pitch and struck out 3 of the 6 batters he faced and didn't allow a score. The Voyager bats were also unable to get going again and the Voyagers ended up falling 12-8.

The Voyagers lost 5 of the 6 games in the series and look to get on track as they travel to Ogden for a 6 game series. The Raptors, who won the first half of the Southern Division are currently 3-6 in the second half of the season. The Voyagers will be home again on August 4th to start a 6 game series against the Rocky Mountain Vibe. First game of the series will start at 7 with gates opening at 6. See ya there!!

Written by Ross Drishinski