BILLINGS, Mont. — The Billings Mustangs are postseason bound and will host a playoff series at home in September.
Before the postseason arrives, though, two Mustangs standouts made some franchise history of their own during the team’s recent road trip to Great Falls.
Outfielder A.J. Shaver and catcher Charlie Muniz each broke a modern-day single-season franchise record in a span of just three days.
Shaver got things started last Friday when he launched a three-run home run against the Voyagers, giving him the most RBIs in a single season in Mustangs history with 96 and counting.
The home run moved Shaver past Jack O’Dowd, who set the previous record last season. O’Dowd is now in the Colorado Rockies’ farm system.
“Long season, left, I am happy however it turns out,” Shaver said. “It’s cool to be the guy who breaks it first, but it’s all about these next four weeks and getting into the playoffs.”
Shaver has been one of the Mustangs’ top offensive performers all season. Heading into Tuesday night’s game against Glacier, he currently leads the Pioneer League with a .430 batting average
The record is also meaningful for Shaver because of his relationship with O’Dowd. The two became close friends and roommates during the first half of last season.
“We were super tight and were roommates for probably the first half of the year,” Shaver said. “He had an awesome year, so to see that get broken I know he’s probably pumped for us and he’s going and having a killer year right now and we are all striving to be where he’s at.”
Just two days after Shaver broke the RBI record, Muniz followed with some history of his own.
The catcher hit his 23rd home run of the season, breaking the Mustangs’ single-season home run record — another mark previously held by O’Dowd.
“Last year I was here when O’Dowd broke it, so I was thankful to see that moment and be in the clubhouse for that moment,” Muniz said.
The Puerto Rico native has plenty of experience putting the ball over the fence. During his college career at the University of the Cumberland in Kentucky, Muniz set the all-time NAIA career home run record with 115.
Despite his history with the long ball, Muniz said his latest milestone had him thinking more about the people who helped him get there.
“Probably thinking about all of the work I have put in, and my family back home,” Muniz said. “Thinking of them and I am just thankful for the opportunity to be here.”
With roughly a month remaining before the playoffs, the Mustangs will look to Shaver, Muniz and the rest of their roster to carry that momentum into the postseason.
The team will host a semifinals playoff series September 10-12, after clinching a postseason berth in the first half of the season.