With the Pioneer League postseason just a week away now, the Billings Mustangs have inserted themselves into the playoff picture.
Billings (43-47) is coming off of a three game sweep at home over the Grand Junction Jackalopes, giving them six straight wins and a 24-18 record in the second half standings.
The Mustangs’ hot streak has now put them in position to reach the playoffs, as they have a 1.5 game lead over the Rocky Mountain Vibes for the fourth and final postseason seat with six games remaining in the regular season.
The top two teams in the league continue to be the Oakland Ballers (69-21) and the Missoula PaddleHeads (61-29) who have already clinched the first half playoff berths but also continue to be the top two teams in the second half standings.
Missoula is coming off one of their worst weeks of the season, dropping two of three games against both Boise and Grand Junction. It marks the first time this season that the PaddleHeads have won two or less games in a calendar week.
Elsewhere in the Treasure State, the Glacier Range Riders (37-54) and Great Falls Voyagers (32-58) are coming off of a six game split against each other in which each side won two of three games in their home ballpark.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER HEADLINES
PaddleHeads first baseman Roberto Pena already made history earlier in August by setting a new Pioneer League home run record but he seems determined to set a mark that will stand for some time. Pena is now up to a league-leading 46 homers through 89 games played, giving him a wide margin over the next best power threat of 35 homers from Christopher Sargent Jr. (Ogden). Pena also also ranks second in the league for RBIs (126) and fourth in stolen bases (34).
Pena’s teammate Adam Fogel, who held the previous PBL record of 35 homers set last summer, has also been putting up tremendous numbers this year as the defending Pioneer League MVP ranks third in the league for homers (33), third in batting average (.403) and fifth in RBIs (104).
NEXT UP
The PaddleHeads will finish their regular season on the road with six games against the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers.
The Mustangs will be home for a six game series against last-place Colorado Springs, giving Billings a good chance at earning their way into the postseason.
Great Falls wraps up their year at first-place Oakland and Glacier ends things with a six game series in Idaho Falls.
