Bill Speltz
MISSOULA -- Gabe Howell's two-run home run and strong pitching sparked the Glacier Range Riders to a 2-0 home win over the Yolo High Wheelers in the first game of the best-of-5 Pioneer League championship series Tuesday.
The Flathead Valley-based Range Riders improved to 51-48 and can move within one win of a PBL title with a victory Wednesday night in Kalispell. The series will finish up in Davis, California, with Game 3 slated for Friday night.
Locked in a scoreless tie with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, leadoff hitter Ryan McCarthy provided a spark for Glacier when he singled through the right side of the infield. Howell followed with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left center field.
Five Range Riders hurlers combined for the shutout. Starter Kaleb Sophy lasted four innings, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
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Justin Coleman (3-2) earned the win after pitching a scoreless fifth. Aiden McEvoy and Nick Zegna also tossed a scoreless inning before Noah Owen came on and earned the save with three strikeouts in two scoreless frames.
Cameron Repetti took the loss. He allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Yolo fell to 55-43.
Glacier benefited from strong defense. Kirkland Banks of Yolo singled to left in the second frame and Braedon Blackford tried to score from second but left fielder Chad Castillo made a clutch throw home to nail Blackford just in time.
In the following inning, the High Wheelers' Brayland Skinner attempted to advance from first to third on a hit that forced Christian Kirtley to stray from third base. Shortstop Andy Atwood moved over to cover third and Ben Fitzgerald gunned down the runner.
Glacier finished with six hits to five for Yolo. McCarthy had two singles and teammates Kingston Liniak, Ty Penner and Fitzgerald each had one.
Billy Horton, who managed the Billings Mustangs last year, is skipper for the High Wheelers. This year marks the second in a row he has led a team to the PBL championship series and he's in pursuit of his first league title at the helm.
The High Wheelers are in their inaugural season. The Range Riders have been in the PBL since 2022 but this year is the first they have competed in postseason play.
Bill Speltz is Missoulian sports editor. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @billspeltz
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