Glacier Range Riders

Glacier Range Riders
Glacier Range Riders
Founded in 2021 ; Kalispell, Montana ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Independent (from 2021)
League	Pioneer League
Team data
Colors	Red, black, olive, sienna, white;
Mascots	Cliff & Huck
Ballpark	Glacier Bank Park
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	Ridge Run Baseball LLC
President	Marty Kelly
General manager	Chris Kelly
Manager	Todd Pratt

The Glacier Range Riders are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, an MLB Partner League, who began play in 2022. They are located in Kalispell, Montana, and play their home games at Glacier Bank Park.

History

With the contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League.^[1]

With the transition, the Pioneer League added the Boise Hawks, a former member of the Northwest League, for the 2021 season.^[2] To keep the league at eight teams, the Northern Colorado Owlz (formerly the Orem Owlz) sat out 2021. With the return of the Owlz for 2022, a tenth team was needed to balance the schedule, and on August 16, 2021, Ridge Run Baseball LLC was awarded an expansion team to begin play in 2022.^[3]

The announcement also revealed that a new ballpark would be constructed alongside U.S. Route 93 north of Kalispell. Glacier Bank Park,^[4] originally known as Flathead Field, seats 2,500 and features artificial turf.

The franchise debuted on May 23, 2022, against the Rocky Mountain Vibes, and they hosted their first home game on June 14 against the Billings Mustangs.^[5]

Roster

Glacier Range Riders roster
v
t
e
Active (25-man) roster				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 13 Noah Barros 1 Jonathan Clark 19 Ryan Cloude 37 Justin Coleman 16 Luke Dawson 5 Ben Ferrer 34 Lyle Hibbitts 35 Connor Housley 27 Joe Kinsky 15 Patrick Miner 28 John Natoli 24 Jonathan Pintaro -- Montana Quigley 17 Roy Robles 39 Nathan Thomas 3 Jack White 29 Michael YaSenka 38 Nick Zegna		Catchers 4 Austin Bates 11 Matt Clayton -- Keenan O'Brien -- Drew Sims Infielders 23 Mason Dinesen 6 Benjamin Fitzgerald 8 Colin Gordon 10 Gabe Howell -- Jake MacKenzie 14 Jackson Raper Outfielders 12 Christian Kirtley 20 Kingston Liniak 7 Nick Lucky 30 Dean Miller 32 Crews Taylor		Manager -- Todd Pratt Coaches -- Glendon Rusch (pitching) Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list updated August 7, 2023 Transactions

References

^ "Pioneer League named MLB Partner League". Baseball America. November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
^ Wustrow, John. "Boise Hawks lose minor league affiliation, join Pioneer League". Idaho Press. Idaho Press. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
^ Drew, Micah (August 16, 2021). "Flathead Valley Gains Minor League Baseball Team". Flathead Beacon. Flathead Beacon.
^ "Ridge Run Baseball and Glacier Bank come to terms on naming rights for ballpark". Glacier Range Riders Official Team Site. Press Release, April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ "Pioneer Baseball League Announces 2022 Schedule". Pioneer Baseball League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 23, 2022.

External links

Official website

[MLBann-1] "Pioneer League named MLB Partner League". Baseball America. November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

[2] Wustrow, John. "Boise Hawks lose minor league affiliation, join Pioneer League". Idaho Press. Idaho Press. Retrieved January 23, 2022.

[3] Drew, Micah (August 16, 2021). "Flathead Valley Gains Minor League Baseball Team". Flathead Beacon. Flathead Beacon.

[4] "Ridge Run Baseball and Glacier Bank come to terms on naming rights for ballpark". Glacier Range Riders Official Team Site. Press Release, April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[5] "Pioneer Baseball League Announces 2022 Schedule". Pioneer Baseball League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 23, 2022.

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