The Glacier Range Riders are heading into their home opener with the kind of momentum the franchise has rarely seen in its five-year span. 

After opening the season with a 5-1 road trip through Great Falls and Billings, the Range Riders return to Glacier Bank Park tied for the best six-game start in franchise history and looking like a team built to handle the heat this summer. 

Glacier’s offense has exploded out of the gate. Through six games, the Range Riders have scored 64 runs while hitting .313 as a team with a .458 on-base percentage, a .517 slugging percentage and 10 home runs. 

But inside the organization, the biggest difference has not simply been about power. 

“I think, for me, the biggest difference from last year, and even some priors, is the approach at the plate,” voice of the Range Riders Scot Gladstone said. “I think we have a really patient squad, a squad that’s really good at fouling off two-strike pitches.” 

That patience has quickly become part of Glacier’s identity. 

The Range Riders opened the season by setting franchise records for walks in consecutive games, consistently extending at-bats and forcing opposing pitchers into long innings. 

“A lot of really well-earned walks from eight-pitch at-bats, nine-pitch at-bats,” Gladstone said. “Just being able to work yourself aboard.” 

Assistant GM of baseball Kyle Spencer said improving the offense became a major focus during the offseason after the club struggled for consistency in 2025. Spencer said the organization specifically targeted hitters with proven offensive approaches in leagues like the MLB Draft League before bringing them to Glacier. 

“The offense just looks a lot different than it did last season to start the year,” Spencer said. 

The production has come from throughout the lineup. 

Jacob Steele leads the club with 13 RBIs while hitting .370 with two home runs and a .667 slugging percentage. Donovan Ratfield is batting .500 with eight RBIs, while Logan Beard and Joe McLauglin lead the team in hits with 11 each. 

Gladstone said Beard’s approach has helped set the tone offensively. 

“His approach is really solid. His baseball IQ is top notch,” Gladstone said. 

Glacier has also received key contributions from Tommy Rover, Jake Millan and Carson Garner during the opening week. 

Garner’s early success has been especially encouraging after a difficult 2025 season. Spencer said Garner arrived exhausted last year after helping Murray State make a run to the Men’s College World Series before continuing into summer league play. 

This offseason, Spencer said Garner committed himself to improving physically while continuing to develop offensively. 

“He’s going to be the person that we’re looking for to be able to carry this team,” Spencer said. 

The offense has grabbed much of the attention, but Glacier’s pitching staff has quietly helped stabilize the strong start. 

Jonah Giblin has opened the season 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts, while Jake Covey struck out seven over six innings in his professional debut against Great Falls. Relievers Jacob Hasty and Jack Maruskin have also provided stability late in games. 

The biggest test of the opening road trip may have come Saturday night. 

After opening the season with four straight wins, Glacier lost 22-7 by Billings in a game that unraveled late. Instead of allowing the loss to linger, the Range Riders responded Sunday with a composed 5-2 win to close the series. 

Spencer said the team’s mentality never changed after the loss. 

“Every loss counts, no matter how many runs you score or how many runs they score. The run differential doesn’t matter. It counts as one loss.” 

Gladstone believed the response may have revealed more about the team than the undefeated start itself. 

“The most important part about Saturday’s game was Sunday’s game.” 

A strong opening week has also come during a changing season across the Pioneer League. Even with three new league teams, the focus inside Glacier’s clubhouse has remained simple: Win games and develop players. 

Spencer said players now regularly point toward an alumni wall inside the clubhouse honoring former Range Riders who earned affiliated contracts or set franchise records. The organization has already seen multiple former players reach Major League Baseball, including former Range Rider Jonathan Pintaro making his debut with the New York Mets last season. 

“There’s a very clear path for all of them,” Gladstone said. “They can literally point at a TV broadcast and say, ‘That guy was here.’” 

Now the Range Riders return home hoping to carry that momentum into another summer at Glacier Bank Park, where the organization believes the connection between the players and the community continues to grow each season. 

“There’s something special in the air in year five,” Gladstone said. 

The Range Riders open a six-game homestand Tuesday night against the Great Falls Voyagers at Glacier Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.