The Ogden Raptors began the second half with a road game at the Missoula Paddleheads, the opener in a six-game series between the two first-half division champions of the Pioneer Baseball League.

The well-contested game fit that matchup but, for Round 1, the team with the league’s best record triumphed.

The Paddleheads socked three home runs on the way to an 8-5 win over the Raptors at Allegiance Field in Missoula.

Riley Ottesen threw well for five innings and entered the sixth with a 2-1 lead, but Missoula (36-12, 1-0) got a two-run homer from Jayson Newman and a solo shot from Nick Gatewood to take the lead for good at 4-2.

A Dakota Conners sacrifice fly scored Jesus Valdez in the second to tie the game 1-1, and Ogden (29-20, 0-1) had taken the lead 2-1 in the fifth when Reese Alexiades chopped an infield single to score Brandon Bohning, who led off the inning with a double off the left-field wall.

The Raptors tried to answer in the seventh and scored one, but couldn’t string together a rally after catcher Sonny Ulliana began the frame with a double. He advanced twice on sacrifice flies, the latter from Pat Adams, to score and make it 4-3.

Missoula beat up reliever Jack Cunningham in the seventh for four runs, only one of which was earned after an error, to go up 8-3.

Ulliana hit a two-out double to score Raptors teammates Freddy Achecar and Brian Dansereau in the eighth for the final score.

The two teams play again at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

VALDEZ PLAYER OF WEEK

Raptors shortstop Jesus Valdez was named the Pioneer League South Division’s position player of the week for his series against the Rocky Mountain Vibes to end the first half. He hit 12 for 26 (.462) with one home run, five doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs in the six-game series.

TUESDAY SCORES

Missoula 8, Ogden 5

Grand Junction 6, Boise 5

Northern Colorado 12, Rocky Mountain 2

Billings 5, Great Falls 1

Idaho Falls 17, Glacier 8

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half

NORTH DIVISION

*Missoula 1-0 (36-12 overall)

Billings 1-0 (26-21)

Idaho Falls 1-0 (28-21)

Great Falls 0-1 (27-21)

Glacier 0-1 (17-31)

SOUTH DIVISION

Grand Junction 1-0 (27-22)

Northern Colorado 1-0 (18-28)

Boise 0-1 (17-32)

*Ogden 0-1 (29-20)

Rocky Mountain 0-1 (15-32)

*– denotes first-half champion

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