Ogden Raptors prep for 2nd half; Missoula, Glacier take PBL playoff spots

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner
Ogden Raptors mascot Oggie fist bumps a child on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.The Pioneer Baseball League completed the first half of the 2024 season Sunday and the Ogden Raptors prepare for a playoff push Monday when the team opens the second half of the season at Lindquist Field.
Ogden begins the half with a split series against the Rocky Mountain Vibes, playing three games Monday through Wednesday in Ogden, and three Friday through Sunday in Colorado Springs.
Monday is Just Serve night; the Raptors are advertising a promotion where fans can get one free ticket for every six cans of donated food. Additionally, the team is screening the moving “Ghostbusters” on the scoreboard after the game.
In the league’s new, no-divisions format, Missoula (37-11) again outclassed the league in the regular season, winning the first-half championship by eight games.
Glacier (29-19) edged a tight group for second place and the half’s other playoff berth. The top two teams in the second half earn the other two playoff spots, sending 4 of 12 teams to the postseason.
Ogden proved it can be competitive but a 2-11 start doomed the Raptors from contending for a first-half playoff bid. The Raptors finished 20-15 from there.
Outfielders lead the way for Ogden at the plate through one half. Jack Cone (.427) and Pearce Howard (.394) played all 48 games in the first half, while Nick Ultsch (.388) played 47. Cone leads the team with 64 runs scored from the leadoff spot while Ultsch has 61 RBIs, good for third in the league.
Missoula’s Adam Fogel cushioned his PBL lead for home runs and RBIs Sunday, homering three times and driving in five against Ogden in the first-half finale. Fogel has 23 home runs and 75 RBIs; the Pioneer League’s long-season home run record (when the league became independent and started playing 96 games) is 32.
MISSOULA 10, OGDEN 5
Ogden duplicated its Friday effort again Saturday, leading from the top of the first before surrendering the lead in the eighth, but didn’t have an answer at the plate Saturday night in a loss.
Nick Ultsch hit a three-run homer for the Raptors in the top of the first and Cole Jordan hit a two-run dinger in the third to put Ogden ahead 5-1.
Chris Macca had a 5-2 lead after six, then gave up a walk and a triple in the seventh. Shane Gustafson got out of the inning with a lead but gave up two Macca runs to make it 5-4.
Gustafson opened the eighth by inducing a Missoula flyout, then gave the ball to Quinn Waterhouse. The lefty closer issued a walk, surrendered three straight singles, then gave up consecutive home runs before recording an out in the eighth, and Missoula had its 10-5 advantage.
MISSOULA 12, OGDEN 5
The Paddleheads jumped on Ogden starter Adrian Santa Cruz for five runs in the first two innings and held Ogden down Sunday to end the first half.
Adam Fogel hit a two-run homer in the first, a two-run home run in the second and a solo shot in the seventh.
Ogden trailed 12-2 before the ninth when Cole Jordan hit for power again, hitting a three-run homer. He batted 3 for 4 with four RBIs.