Wednesday’s Regional Briefs: UM’s Kidder to wear ‘37’

UM’s Kidder chosen to wear ‘37’ jersey

MISSOULA – When NFL-bound former Grizzly defensive end Zack Wagenmann texted current Griz Caleb Kidder and asked him to join the recent grad for a workout on Sunday, Kidder wasn’t surprised.

It was what happened next that stunned him.

“I met him on the field, and we were warming up, and he just started talking to me about how things are, and asked me if I would wear it for him. I was like, ‘yeah’,” said Kidder.

“It” is Montana’s famed No. 37 legacy jersey.

“I was shocked. I was pretty surprised. I didn’t see it coming because we hang out on a regular basis since he’s been back. It’s pretty awesome.”

Kidder, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive tackle from Helena, has been chosen as the next player to wear jersey No. 37, a number passed down from Montana-born player to Montana-born player whom the previous holder feels will best represent the tradition and honor of the team.

“The 37 jersey represents a lot of things to us Montana kids. It represents certain qualities that we like to think is in all of us Montana players and all the people of Montana,” said Wagenmann from Phoenix, where he is slated to open camp with the Arizona Cardinals this week.

Kidder will return to the Grizzly defensive front after sitting out most of 2014 with a wrist injury requiring multiple surgeries to attend to. On the mend and coming off a solid spring outing for the Griz, Kidder will be one of defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak’s go-to horses, charged with maintaining Montana’s league-low points allowed in 2014.

Players report for Grizzly fall camp on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Mustangs hold late lead over Voyagers

BILLINGS – The entire Pioneer League Northern Division may easily be tied for first after the second day of the second half.

The Billings Mustangs were leading the Great Falls Voyagers 6-1 after seven complete innings Wednesday night at Dehler Park, one night after the Voyagers blanked Billings 3-0 as Brandon Magallones, Alex Katz and Danny Dopico combined on a three-hitter and Zach Fish ripped his ninth home run of the season.

Blake Trahan and Tyler Stephenson each has delivered three hits for the Cincinnati Reds’ farm club. The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the first, then the Voyagers tied the game in the top of the fourth as Zach Fish, who led off the inning with his tenth two-bagger of the season, scored when Johan Cruz grounded into a double play.

The Mustangs responded with two more in the bottom of the fourth, and have led ever since.

Meanwhile, the Missoula Osprey held a 9-4 lead over the Helena Brewers in the middle of the seventh inning at Allegiance Field in the Garden City.

The Voyagers return to Centene Stadium Thursday night to begin a four-game set against Helena prior to the Pioneer-Northwest League All-Star break. First pitch is at 7 p.m.