Class AA Scholarship
Walker Bennett, Helena

State Championship
Helena Senators 2, Billings Scarlets 1

State Tournament MVP
Aaron Fuzesy, Helena

State Tournament Batting Champion
Hunter Doyle, Blgs Scarlets

Coach of the Year

Jon Burnett, Helena; Adam Hust, Blgs Scarlets

Class AA All-State Team

P-Drew McDowell, Blgs Scarlets; Jaiden Turner, Blgs Royals; Will Lyng, Helena; Scotty Klinker, Great Falls

C-Cole Graham, Helena

1B-Carter Perlinski, Helena; Evan Morrison, Medicine Hat

2B-Sy Waldren, Blgs Royals

3B-Nathan McDonalds, Blgs Scarlets

SS-Bohden Bahnmiller, Helena

OF-Henry Black, Missoula; Hunter Doyle, Blgs Scarlets; Aaron Fuzesy, Helena

Utility-Walker Bennett, Helena

Class AA All-Conference Team

P-Luke Dowdy, Helena; Chris Compton, Missoula; Max Holden, Kalispell

C-Brinkley Evans, Great Falls

2B-Colin Boyce, Missoula

3B-Tycen Mooney, Helena

SS-Bryce Hampton, Bozeman

OF-Manu Melo, Helena; Jeff Bullock, Medicine Hat; Davis Chakos, Blgs Royals

Utility-Lane Seim, Great Falls

What a game! Senators score a run in 5th and 6th innings to rally for 2-1 title game victory over Scarlets

MISSOULA--For the second time in three years, coach Jon Burnett's Helena Senators are state champions.

The Senators rallied for a 2-1 title game victory over the Billings Scarlets on Wednesday afternoon to advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo.

Trailing 1-0 through 4 1/2 innings, the Senators scored a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to help starting pitcher Luke Dowdy earn a compete-game victory on the mound.

Tied 1-1 with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and runners on second and third base after a sacrifice bunt by Helena catcher Cole Graham, center fielder Manu Melo hit an 0-2 pitch into a hard ground ball to a drawn-in infield and the ball was mishandled on the transfer to throw the ball home and pinch runner Colt Tietje slid into home for the game-winning run. Tietje was pinch running for designated hitter Walker Bennett, who singled on a ground ball up the middle to lead off the inning.

Dowdy then capped his complete-game victory by stranding the potential tying run on first base with a ground ball to shortstop Bohden Bahnmiller, who flipped the ball to second baseman Aaron Fuzesy for the force out, to end the game.

Fuzesy was named the tournament MVP after earning the tourney's first-complete game victory on the mound in the second round. In that game, he allowed just two hits while striking out three. On offense, he hit .333 (7-for-21) with two doubles and a team-leading six RBIs. He also scored twice and stole a base.

Dowdy spread four hits and three walks over seven innings of work, while striking out three. 

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Senators tied the game when Tycen Mooney hit a one-out, 1-1 pitch into a line drive into left field for RBI single, plating Melo. Melo led off the inning with single into centefield. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Ark. Melo stole third base before Mooney's big hit.

Mooney, the Senators' leadoff-hitting third baseman, was the only player in the game with more than one hit, as Helena out-hit the Scarlets, 7-4.

The Scarlets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when right fielder Hunter Doyle hit a two-out, 3-2 pitch into left field to score Kade Vatnsdal, who singled into left field to lead off the inning.

Doyle was named the state tournament batting champion, after hitting .500 (7-for-14), with a triple, through five games. He also had four runs scored, four RBIs, four walks, and a stolen base.

Billings starting pitcher Nathan Swandal absorbed the loss on the mound after hurling five innings of seven-hit ball. He allowed a walk while striking out one.

In seven of the last 10 years, Montana has been within one inning of winning the regional tourney, and earning an ALB World Series berth. Montana has not had a team advance to the ALWS since the 1950s.

BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Nolan Berkram         4  0  0  0  Tycen Mooney          3  0  2  1  
Kyler Northrop        3  0  1  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  0  
Nate McDonald         2  0  0  0  Lance Bratlien        2  0  1  0  
Hunter Doyle          3  0  1  1  Carter Perlinski      3  0  0  0  
Rocco Gioiso          3  0  1  0  Walker Bennett        3  0  1  0  
Jaden Sanchez         3  0  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  0  1  0  
Colter Wilson         2  0  0  0  Cole Graham           2  0  0  0  
Zach Stewart          2  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  1  1  0  
Kade Vatnsdal         3  1  1  0  Sam Ark               2  0  0  0  
                                  *Colt Tietje          0  1  0  0  
TOTALS               25  1  4  1  TOTALS               25  2  7  1

BILLINGS SCARLETS             001 000 0 -- 1  
HELENA SENATORS               000 011 x -- 2  

LOB--BILLINGS SCARLETS 5, HELENA SENATORS 9. ERR--Drew
McDowell, Jaden Sanchez , Lance Bratlien, Tycen Mooney.
SACB--Cole Graham, Sam Ark. SB--Manu Melo, Tycen Mooney,
Aaron Fuzesy.

 BILLINGS SCARLETS               IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Nathan Swandal                 5.00    7    2    1    1    1    0
Drew McDowell (L)              1.00    0    0    0    1    2    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Luke Dowdy (W)                 7.00    4    1    1    3    3    0

SO--Zach Stewart, Hunter Doyle, Colter Wilson, Carter
Perlinski, Sam Ark, Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Zach Stewart, Nate
McDonald, Colter Wilson, Lance Bratlien, Tycen Mooney.

It's No. 1 Helena versus No. 2 Billings Scarlets for the state championship

MISSOULA--It'll be No. 1 versus No. 2 for the state title game Wednesday.

No. 1 Helena knocked out No. 3 Great Falls, 6-0, and No. 2 Billings eliminated No. 5 Missoula, 7-0, Tuesday. They will face each other Wednesday at 1 p.m. for all the marbles. Winner advances to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo. The regional champ will advance to the ALB World Series in Shelby, N.C.

No. 1 Helena 6, No. 3 Great Falls 0

Helena pitcher Lance Bratlien struck out six while allowing just two hits in earning a complete-game shutout.

Helena third baseman and leadoff hitter Tycen Mooney and shortstop Bahnmiller each had two hits to help pace the Senators on offense.

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Brinkley Evans        4  0  0  0  Tycen Mooney          4  1  2  1  
Trigg Mapes           1  0  0  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  1  1  1  
Landen Lockwood       3  0  1  0  Walker Bennett        4  0  0  0  
Lane Seim             3  0  1  0  Carter Perlinski      1  1  1  1  
Seamus Sullivan       2  0  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  1  2  0  
Mason Davis           2  0  0  0  Cole Graham           2  0  0  0  
Scotty Klinker        3  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  1  1  1  
Cole Pace             3  0  0  0  Brayden Beatty        2  0  1  1  
Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  Sam Ark               2  1  1  1  
TOTALS               24  0  2  0  TOTALS               25  6  9  6

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          000 000 0 -- 0  
HELENA SENATORS               200 220 x -- 6  

LOB--GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 7, HELENA SENATORS 6. ERR--Bo
Bohnmiller. 2B--Tycen Mooney, Aaron Fuzesy, Bo Bohnmiller.
HBP--Cole Graham. SACF--Carter Perlinski. SACB--Sam Ark.
SB--Seamus Sullivan, Manu Melo (2), Sam Ark.

 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS            IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Liam Sullivan (L)              4.67    9    6    6    2    0    0
Chris Nichols                  1.33    0    0    0    0    0    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Lance Bratlien (W)             7.00    2    0    0    4    6    0

SO--Scotty Klinker, Cole Pace, Seamus Sullivan, Landen
Lockwood, Lane Seim (2). BB--Seamus Sullivan, Mason Davis,
Trigg Mapes (2), Carter Perlinski, Brayden Beatty.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 7, No. 5 Missoula 0

Billings Scarlets pitcher Nolan Berkram struck out seven while allowing five hits and a walk en route to a complete-game shutout.

The Scarlets broke open a 0-0 game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Nate McDonald bases-loaded walk before right fielder Hunter Doyle roped a 2-1 pitch into a three-run triple to the right-center field fence.

It proved all the Scarlets needed as Berkram used 102 pitches to finish it off.

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Chris Compton         3  0  1  0  Nolan Berkram         4  1  1  0  
Carter Taylor         2  0  0  0  Kyler Northrop        0  2  0  0  
Henry Black           3  0  1  0  Nate McDonald         2  2  1  1  
Owen McGuinn          3  0  0  0  Hunter Doyle          2  1  1  3  
Easton Reimers        3  0  2  0  Rocco Gioiso          4  0  1  1  
Colter Nicolarson     3  0  0  0  Jaden Sanchez         4  0  0  0  
Rylan Davis           2  0  0  0  Colter Wilson         2  0  0  0  
 Finn Davis           1  0  0  0  Zach Stewart          3  0  2  0  
Jace Bykari           2  0  0  0  Kade Vatnsdal         3  1  1  0  
 Luke Thorne          1  0  0  0                                    
Colin Boyce           1  0  0  0                                    
 Sam Matosich         2  0  0  0                                    
TOTALS               26  0  4  0  TOTALS               24  7  7  5

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            000 000 0 -- 0  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             000 502 x -- 7  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 6, BILLINGS SCARLETS 8. ERR--Sam
Matosich, Kyler Northrop. 2B--Kade Vatnsdal. 3B--Henry
Black, Hunter Doyle. SB--Carter Taylor.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Sam Matosich                   3.33    4    3    3    6    2    0
Owen McGuinn (L)               2.67    3    4    3    3    1    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Nolan Berkram (W)              7.00    4    0    0    1    7    0

WP--Owen McGuinn (2). SO--Jace Bykari, Colter Nicolarson,
Luke Thorne, Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn (2), Rylan Davis,
Rocco Gioiso (2), Jaden Sanchez. BB--Carter Taylor, Hunter
Doyle (2), Nate McDonald (2), Colter Wilson, Kyler Northrop
(4).

No. 1 Helena beats No. 2 Scarlets in undefeated semifinal; No. 3 Great Falls, No. 5 Missoula win loser-out games

MISSOULA--The Senators finally got the monkey off their back.

No. 1 Helena beat the No. 2 Billings Scarlets, 6-4, on Monday night in the undefeated semifinal to advance to the state title game Wednesday. It was the Senators first undefeated semifinal victory in four straight tries.

No. 1 Helena will play No. 3 Great Falls on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The No. 2 Billings Scarlets will play No. 5 Missoula Tuesday at 4 p.m.

In the day's first loser-out game, Great Falls beat Medicine Hat 11-8. In the second loser-out game, Missoula beat Bozeman, 14-5.

No. 1 Helena 6, No. 2 Billings Scarlets 4

BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Nolan Berkram         4  1  4  1  Tycen Mooney          4  0  2  0  
Kyler Northrop        3  0  0  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  0  
Nate McDonald         4  0  0  0  Lance Bratlien        2  1  0  0  
Hunter Doyle          4  1  2  0  Carter Perlinski      2  1  0  0  
Rocco Gioiso          3  1  1  1  Bo Bohnmiller         3  1  1  0  
Jaden Sanchez         3  0  0  0  Walker Bennett        3  2  2  3  
Colter Wilson         3  1  1  0  Cole Graham           3  1  2  1  
Drew McDowell         3  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  0  2  1  
Kade Vatnsdal         3  0  0  0  Sam Ark               3  0  1  1  
TOTALS               30  4  8  2  TOTALS               27  6 11  6

BILLINGS SCARLETS             120 010 0 -- 4  
HELENA SENATORS               024 000 x -- 6  

LOB--BILLINGS SCARLETS 6, HELENA SENATORS 7. ERR--Carter
Perlinski, Cole Graham, Manu Melo, Aaron Fuzesy. 2B--Nolan
Berkram, Cole Graham, Tycen Mooney, Walker Bennett.
HBP--Carter Perlinski (2), Lance Bratlien. SB--Rocco Gioiso,
Hunter Doyle, Manu Melo.

 BILLINGS SCARLETS               IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Zach Stewart (L)               2.33    7    6    6    1    1    0
Nathan Swandal                 3.67    4    0    0    0    0    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Will Lyng (W)                  6.67    8    4    1    1    5    0
Seth Nielson (S)               0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

SO--Drew McDowell, Nate McDonald (2), Jaden Sanchez, Kade
Vatnsdal, Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Kyler Northrop, Lance Bratlien.

No. 5 Missoula 14, No. 6 Bozeman 5

Trailing 5-2 in the second inning, Missoula gradually clawed its way back back scoring 12 unanswered runs. 

Trailing 5-4 in the fourth inning, the Mavs plated five runs to take command and never looked back.

Missoula pitcher Ethan Reimers earned the tourney's second complete-game victory, striking out five while spreading out seven hits and a walk.

Right fielder Henry Black went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and four RBIs. Left fielder Chris Compton, center fielder Carter Taylor, designated hitter Owen McGuinn, and second baseman Colin Boyce each collected two hits in the win. Compton had a double and three RBIs.

Missoula out-hit Bozeman, 15-7, as the Bucks had to go through five different pitchers.

Bozeman was paced on offense by outfielder Dylon Poulin (3 hits) and Austin Cooper (2 hits and 2 RBIs). The Bucks season ended with a  26-34 overall record.

BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI  MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI
Luke Rizzo            4  0  0  0  Chris Compton         3  2  2  3  
Dylan Poulin          4  2  3  0  Carter Taylor         3  2  2  0  
Bryce Hampton         3  1  1  1  Sam Matosich          3  2  1  1  
Josh Woodberry        4  1  1  1  Henry Black           5  2  3  4  
Quinn Pershing        3  1  0  0  Owen McGuinn          2  1  2  1  
Austin Cooper         2  0  2  2  Finn Davis            3  0  1  1  
Joey Sterner          2  0  0  0  Rylan Davis           3  1  1  0  
Jack Nye              3  0  0  0  Jace Bykari           2  2  1  1  
Easton Martin         3  0  0  0  Colin Boyce           3  2  2  0  
TOTALS               28  5  7  4  TOTALS               27 14 15 11

BOZEMAN BUCKS                 410 000 0 -- 5  
MISSOULA MAVERICKS            211 523 x -- 14 

LOB--BOZEMAN BUCKS 6, MISSOULA MAVERICKS 7. ERR--Luke Rizzo,
Jack Nye, Jace Bykari, Colin Boyce, Rylan Davis. 2B--Henry
Black, Chris Compton. 3B--Owen McGuinn. HR--Henry Black.
HBP--Quinn Pershing, Bryce Hampton, Carter Taylor, Chris
Compton (2). SACF--Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn. SACB--Joey
Sterner, Finn Davis. SB--Austin Cooper.

 BOZEMAN BUCKS                   IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Justin Garcia                  3.00    8    6    5    0    2    0
Quinn Pershing (L)             0.00    2    3    3    2    0    0
Easton Martin                  2.00    2    2    2    3    0    1
Dylan Poulin                   0.00    2    3    3    2    0    0
Joey Sterner                   1.00    1    0    0    0    0    0
 MISSOULA MAVERICKS         
Easton Reimers (W)             7.00    7    5    4    1    5    0

WP--Dylan Poulin, Quinn Pershing. SO--Easton Martin, Luke
Rizzo, Josh Woodberry, Jack Nye (2), Henry Black, Sam
Matosich. BB--Austin Cooper, Jace Bykari (2), Colin Boyce,
Sam Matosich, Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn, Rylan Davis.

No. 3 Great Falls 11, No. 8 Medicine Hat 5 (loser-out game)

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Chargers used a seven-run inning to take control and never looked back.

Right fielder Seamus Sullivan had a three-run, inside-the-park home run, while shortstop Trigg Mapes and first baseman Lane Seim each collected two RBIs, to pace the Chargers on offense. Seim went 3-for-4.

Great Falls starting pitcher Shane Jefferson nearly got a complete-game victory, becoming the third pitcher in the tournament to go 6 2/3 innings before hitting a pitch count. He spread 10 hits and a walk out and almost got away with giving up only two runs before Medicine Hat first baseman Evan Morrison jacked a thee-run home run over the right field fence with two outs in the seventh innings.

Morrison finished the game 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. He hit two home runs in the tournament.

Medicine Hat actually out-hit the Chargers, 11-10, in the loss. The Moose Monarchs finished their season with a 21-24 overall record, but were the No. 2 scoring team during the conference regular season, which rolled over into the tournament and put pressure on all three opponents.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        3  1  1  0  Brinkley Evans        3  2  1  1  
Jeff Bullock          3  0  0  0  Trigg Mapes           2  1  1  2  
 Koby Eskrestrand     1  1  1  0  Landen Lockwood       4  0  1  1  
Evan Morrison         4  2  4  3  Seamus Sullivan       4  1  1  3  
Trevin Ressler        4  1  1  0  Lane Seim             4  1  3  2  
Ryler Staarup         3  0  1  2  Mason Davis           3  1  1  0  
Graceon Little        2  0  0  0  Scotty Klinker        3  1  0  0  
Kayne Olinski         3  0  0  0   Cole Pace            1  0  1  0  
Cade Harrison         3  0  3  0  Noah Bandarauhb       3  1  0  0  
Aiden Eckersall       2  0  0  0  Liam Sullivan         1  3  1  0  
 Brodie Walter        1  0  0  0                                    
TOTALS               29  5 11  5  TOTALS               28 11 10  9

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         200 000 3 -- 5  
GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          001 730 x -- 11 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 5, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 8.
ERR--Ryler Staarup. 2B--Kyle Woolridge, Cole Pace. HR--Evan
Morrison, Seamus Sullivan. HBP--Graceon Little, Brinkley
Evans. SB--Ryler Staarup.

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Ryler Staarup (L)              3.67    8    8    4    3    2    1
Kayne Olinski                  0.33    0    3    3    3    0    0
Kyle Woolridge                 2.00    2    0    0    3    1    0
 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS       
Shane Jefferson (W)            6.67   10    4    4    1    5    0
Dawson Cook                    0.33    1    1    1    0    0    1

WP--Kyle Woolridge, Shane Jefferson. SO--Aiden Eckersall
(2), Ryler Staarup, Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Noah
Bandarauhb (2), Landen Lockwood. BB--Kyle Woolridge, Noah
Bandarauhb, Mason Davis, Brinkley Evans, Liam Sullivan (3),
Trigg Mapes (3).

Helena plates 6 in 6th to break tie; Scarlets romp Great Falls; Bozeman, Med Hat win loser-out games

MISSOULA--The state has been put on notice after the No. 2 Billings Scarlets flexed their muscles on Sunday.

A day after being three-hit, and struggling to escape a 1-0 victory in the first round of the state tournament, the Scarlets walloped Great Falls, 17-3, in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule. With the victory, the Scarlets advanced to Monday's undefeated semifinal to play No. 1 Helena at 7 p.m.

In the other winners' bracket game, No. 1 Helena broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring six runs en route to beating No. 5 Missoula, 8-2. 

With the loss, Great Falls fell to the losers' bracket in a game against Medicine Hat at 1 p.m. Monday. Missoula will play Bozeman at 4 p.m. on Monday.

In loser-out action in Sunday's first two games, No. 6 Bozeman and No. 8 Medicine Hat survived with victories to advance into Monday action. It was the first state tournament victory for Medicine Hat in nine years, in 2014 when it beat Missoula in the first round in Lethbridge.

No. 1 Helena 8, No. 5 Missoula 2
Helena pitcher Aaron Fuzesy spread out three hits, five walks, and four hit batters to earn a complete-game victory. He struck out 4.

Helena out-hit Missoula, 7-3, as the Mavs committed seven errors.

Helena shortstop Bohden Bahnmiller had two hits and scored twice to pace the Senators. Centerfielder Manu Melo and catcher Cole Graham each had two RBIs.

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Carter Taylor         2  1  1  0  Tycen Mooney          4  1  1  0  
Sam Matosich          3  0  1  1  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  1  
Henry Black           2  0  0  1  Lance Bratlien        4  0  1  1  
Owen McGuinn          3  0  0  0  Carter Perlinski      3  2  0  0  
Finn Davis            3  0  1  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  2  2  0  
Easton Reimers        3  0  0  0  Cole Graham           3  1  1  2  
Rylan Davis           2  0  0  0  Manu Melo             2  1  1  2  
Colter Nicolarson     2  0  0  0  Brayden Beatty        3  0  0  0  
Colin Boyce           2  1  0  0  Sam Ark               2  1  1  1  
TOTALS               22  2  3  2  TOTALS               28  8  8  7

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            100 010 0 -- 2  
HELENA SENATORS               010 106 x -- 8  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 9, HELENA SENATORS 5. ERR--Colter
Nicolarson, Colin Boyce (3), Chris Compton, Lance Bratlien,
Tycen Mooney, Aaron Fuzesy. 2B--Manu Melo. HBP--Colter
Nicolarson, Finn Davis, Owen McGuinn, Rylan Davis, Sam Ark.
SACF--Henry Black. SACB--Manu Melo. SB--Bo Bohnmiller.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Chris Compton (L)              6.00    8    8    2    1    8    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Aaron Fuzesy (W)               7.00    3    2    2    5    4    0

WP--Chris Compton, Aaron Fuzesy (3). SO--Colter Nicolarson,
Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn (2), Carter Perlinski (2), Lance
Bratlien, Manu Melo, Brayden Beatty, Sam Ark, Tycen Mooney,
Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Henry Black, Colin Boyce, Sam Matosich,
Carter Taylor (2), Carter Perlinski.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 17, No. 3 Great Falls 3 (5 innings)
The Scarlets scored at least two runs in the first four innings before erupting for seven in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

The Scarlets collected 17 hits and three walks without striking out. All but two players had at least two hits. Third baseman Nate McDonald led the way with three hits, including the tournament's second home run. He finished with three RBIs. Second baseman Jaden Sanchez and shortstop Kyler Northrup led the team with four RBIs apiece.

Billings starting pitcher Hunter Doyle picked up the complete-game victory, spreading seven hits and three walks over the five innings. He struck out three.

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  Nolan Berkram         3  3  2  2  
Brinkley Evans        3  0  1  0  Kyler Northrop        4  2  2  4  
Trigg Mapes           3  1  1  0  Nate McDonald         4  3  3  3  
Landen Lockwood       3  0  1  1  Hunter Doyle          2  2  2  0  
Seamus Sullivan       2  1  1  0  Rocco Gioiso          3  2  2  3  
Lane Seim             1  1  1  0  Jaden Sanchez         4  1  2  4  
Mason Davis           3  0  1  1  Colter Wilson         3  2  2  0  
Scotty Klinker        2  0  1  0  Kade Vatnsdal         3  0  0  0  
Noah Bandarauhb       2  0  0  0  Jaxson Brandt         1  0  0  0  
                                   Zach Stewart         2  2  2  1  
TOTALS               22  3  7  2  TOTALS               29 17 17 17

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          010 11 -- 3  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             323 9x -- 17 

LOB--GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 8, BILLINGS SCARLETS 5.
ERR--Landen Lockwood, Liam Sullivan. 2B--Scotty Klinker,
Landen Lockwood, Lane Seim, Rocco Gioiso, Kyler Northrop,
Nolan Berkram. 3B--Seamus Sullivan, Rocco Gioiso. HR--Nate
McDonald. HBP--Lane Seim, Nolan Berkram. SACF--Rocco Gioiso.
SB--Nolan Berkram.

 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS            IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Austin Armstrong (L)           3.00    9    8    6    1    0    1
Walker Parsons                 0.67    6    8    8    2    0    0
Mason Davis                    0.33    2    1    1    0    0    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Hunter Doyle (W)               5.00    7    3    3    3    3    0

PB--Brinkley Evans. WP--Hunter Doyle (3). SO--Noah
Bandarauhb (2), Liam Sullivan. BB--Scotty Klinker, Seamus
Sullivan, Lane Seim, Hunter Doyle (2), Colter Wilson.

No. 8 Medicine Hat 11, No. 4 Billings Royals 10
In a game that featured six ties and three lead changes, Medicine Hat rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh inning when left fielder Jeffrey Bullock hit a two-out, two-run single up the middle.

Then Ryler Straarup came in and closed the game from the mound, stranding the Royals' tying run on second base with a groundout to shortstop to send the defending state champions home, 0-2 after scoring 19 runs in their two games at state.

Bullock finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs. First baseman Evan Morrison added two hits, including the tournament first home run, and two RBIs. Straarup also had two hits. Leadoff hitter Kyle Woolridge collected three RBIs.

Ryan Denowh went 2-for-3 with four RBIs to help pace the Royals. Left fielder/pitcher Nate Kojetin had two hits and two RBIs. Third baseman/pitcher Sy Waldron also had two hits in the loss.

The Royals season ended with a 33-31 overall record.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS ROYALS      AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        4  1  1  3  Davis Chakos          5  1  1  0  
Jeff Bullock          4  1  3  5  Sy Waldron            4  3  2  0  
Evan Morrison         4  2  2  2  Davis Mosier          1  3  0  0  
Trevin Ressler        4  0  0  1  Carson Jenkins        1  2  0  1  
Ryler Staarup         4  1  2  0  Ryan Denowh           3  1  2  4  
Graceon Little        3  1  0  0  Jaiden Turner         3  0  0  1  
Kayne Olinski         4  0  1  0  Ethan Chaney          3  0  0  1  
Cade Harrison         4  2  1  0  Nathan Kojetin        4  0  2  2  
Aiden Eckersall       1  2  0  0  Kayden Keith          4  0  1  0  
*Fischer Haysom       0  1  0  0                                    
TOTALS               32 11 10 11  TOTALS               28 10  8  9

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         200 114 3 -- 11 
BILLINGS ROYALS               300 142 0 -- 10 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 7, BILLINGS ROYALS 7. ERR--Aiden
Eckersall, Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge, Cade Harrison, Sy
Waldron (2), Davis Mosier. 2B--Kyle Woolridge. HR--Evan
Morrison. HBP--Kyle Woolridge, Ryan Denowh, Davis Mosier,
Jaiden Turner, Carson Jenkins. SACF--Jeff Bullock, Ethan
Chaney. SB--Evan Morrison, Aiden Eckersall, Ryler Staarup,
Davis Chakos, Ryan Denowh, Sy Waldron, Davis Mosier.

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Trevin Ressler                 4.00    4    7    5    4    2    0
Cade Harrison                  1.33    2    3    3    1    1    0
Kayne Olinski (W)              0.67    1    0    0    0    0    0
Ryler Staarup (S)              1.00    1    0    0    0    1    0
 BILLINGS ROYALS            
Davis Mosier                   5.00    4    4    3    2    3    1
Sy Waldron                     1.00    3    4    4    2    1    0
Nathan Kojetin (L)             1.00    3    3    3    1    2    0

WP--Trevin Ressler, Davis Mosier. BALK--Cade Harrison.
SO--Aiden Eckersall, Kyle Woolridge (2), Cade Harrison,
Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Davis Chakos, Sy Waldron,
Jaiden Turner, Carson Jenkins. BB--Evan Morrison, Aiden
Eckersall (3), Graceon Little, Sy Waldron, Davis Mosier (2),
Carson Jenkins (2).

No. 6 Bozeman 5, No. 7 Kalispell 2
Bozeman pitcher Bryce Hampton nearly got the complete-game victory, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He spread out three hits, three walks, and five hit batters while striking out just one.

Bozeman broke open a 1-1 tie with a four-run fifth inning. 

Right fielder Joshua Woodberry went 3-for-3, and Hampton added two hits, in the victory.

The Lakers season ended with a 34-22 overall record. 

KALISPELL LAKERS     AB  R  H BI  BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI
Ostyn Brennan         2  1  0  0  Luke Rizzo            4  0  1  1  
Adam Nikunen          4  0  1  1  Cole Smith            4  0  0  0  
Max Holden            3  0  0  0  Bryce Hampton         4  1  2  0  
Oscar Callis          3  0  0  0  Josh Woodberry        3  1  3  0  
Carter Schlegel       2  0  2  0  Quinn Pershing        1  1  0  0  
Kaden Drish           3  0  0  0  Austin Cooper         2  0  0  0  
Joey Thatcher         3  0  0  0  Jadin Frandsen        1  1  0  0  
Nate Skonard          2  1  0  0   Dylan Poulin         2  1  1  2  
Tim Glanville         1  0  1  0  Joey Sterner          3  0  0  0  
                                  Jarrett Herz          2  0  0  0  
TOTALS               23  2  4  1  TOTALS               26  5  7  3

KALISPELL LAKERS              010 000 1 -- 2  
BOZEMAN BUCKS                 010 040 x -- 5  

LOB--KALISPELL LAKERS 8, BOZEMAN BUCKS 7. ERR--Tim
Glanville, Adam Nikunen. 2B--Dylan Poulin. HBP--Carter
Schlegel, Max Holden, Ostyn Brennan (2), Oscar Callis.
SB--Carter Schlegel, Luke Rizzo, Jadin Frandsen.

 KALISPELL LAKERS                IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Ostyn Brennan (L)              4.33    6    4    2    4    4    0
Carter Schlegel                1.67    1    1    0    0    1    0
 BOZEMAN BUCKS              
Bryce Hampton (W)              6.67    4    2    2    3    1    0
Quinn Pershing                 0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

WP--Quinn Pershing. SO--Joey Thatcher, Joey Sterner, Cole
Smith, Austin Cooper, Luke Rizzo, Quinn Pershing. BB--Nate
Skonard, Tim Glanville (2), Jarrett Herz, Austin Cooper,
Quinn Pershing (2).

Scarlets' McDowell pitches no-no in 1-0 game 2 win; Great Falls beats Bozeman in game 1; Helena, Missoula win

MISSOULA--Day 1 of the 2023 Class AA MAALB State Tournament saw a no-hitter get pitched.

Billings Scarlets returning All-State pitcher Drew McDowell no hit the Kalispell Lakers in a 1-0 victory in game 2 of the day. The Great Falls Chargers beat Bozeman, 6-2, in game 1. The Scarlets and Chargers will face off Sunday at 4 p.m.

In game 3, No. 1 Helena outlasted No. 8 Medicine, 14-10. In the nightcap, host No. 5 Missoula beat the No. 4 Billings Royals, 12-9. Helena faces Missoula Sunday at 7 p.m.

In loser-out action, Kalispell will face Bozeman at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Medicine Hat will see the Billings Royals at 1 p.m.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 1,  No. 7 Kalispell 0
Billings pitcher Drew McDowell used an 82 mph fastball mixed with a slider and a changeup to no hit Kalispell in a 1-0 victory in game 2.

McDowell struck out six, walked one and hit one batter. He was pulled at 80 pitches with a 1-2 count on Kalispell's last batter, so he could return after four days rest and pitch in the championship, if possible. Kolten Wynia relieved him and used two pitches to get the save.

The Scarlets scored their only run in the third inning when Nathan McDonald hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Scarlets had just three hits as Kalispell pitcher Max Holden struck out five and walked none. The only run he allowed was unearned after the Lakers committed an error on defense.

KALISPELL LAKERS     AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Ostyn Brennan         2  0  0  0  Nolan Berkram         3  0  1  0  
Adam Nikunen          3  0  0  0  Zach Stewart          3  0  0  0  
Max Holden            3  0  0  0  Nate McDonald         2  0  0  1  
Oscar Callis          2  0  0  0  Hunter Doyle          3  0  1  0  
Carter Schlegel       1  0  0  0  Kyler Northrop        1  0  0  0  
Kaden Drish           2  0  0  0  Rocco Gioiso          2  0  0  0  
Kane Morisaki         2  0  0  0  Jaden Sanchez         2  0  0  0  
Nate Skonard          2  0  0  0  Colter Wilson         2  1  1  0  
Tim Glanville         1  0  0  0  Kade Vatnsdal         2  0  0  0  
TOTALS               18  0  0  0  TOTALS               20  1  3  1

KALISPELL LAKERS              000 000 0 -- 0  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             001 000 x -- 1  

LOB--KALISPELL LAKERS 1, BILLINGS SCARLETS 3. ERR--Kane
Morisaki. HBP--Oscar Callis, Tim Glanville, Kyler Northrop.
SACF--Nate McDonald. SACB--Carter Schlegel.

 KALISPELL LAKERS                IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Max Holden (L)                 6.00    3    1    0    0    5    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Drew McDowell (W)              6.67    0    0    0    1    6    0
Kolten Wynia (S)               0.33    0    0    0    0    1    0

SO--Carter Schlegel, Max Holden (2), Oscar Callis (2), Nate
Skonard, Tim Glanville, Rocco Gioiso, Colter Wilson, Kyler
Northrop, Kade Vatnsdal, Nolan Berkram. BB--Ostyn Brennan.

No. 1 Helena 14,  No. 8 Medicine Hat 10
A game after fans witnessed one run and three hits in an hour and 20-minute game, Helena and Med Hat combined for 24 runs, 19 hits, and six errors. seven pitchers, and 16 walks in a 2 1/2-hour game.

In the end, Helena's offense did enough to outlast Med Hat with five runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings that proved to be the difference.

Helena second baseman Aaron Fuzesy went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs to lead the way in the win.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        3  2  1  1  Tycen Mooney          1  3  0  1  
Jeff Bullock          3  1  2  3  Aaron Fuzesy          5  1  3  4  
Evan Morrison         4  0  2  2  Lance Bratlien        4  3  2  2  
Trevin Ressler        4  0  0  1  Carter Perlinski      4  2  3  1  
Ryler Staarup         3  1  0  1  Walker Bennett        2  1  0  0  
Graceon Little        3  1  1  0   Seth Nielson         1  0  0  0  
Kayne Olinski         3  1  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         4  2  1  2  
 Koby Eskrestrand     0  1  0  0  Cole Graham           4  0  1  1  
Cade Harrison         2  2  0  0  Manu Melo             3  0  0  0  
Aiden Eckersall       2  1  1  1  Sam Ark               3  2  2  0  
TOTALS               27 10  7  9  TOTALS               31 14 12 11

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         140 040 1 -- 10 
HELENA SENATORS               810 230 x -- 14 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 8, HELENA SENATORS 6. ERR--Evan
Morrison, Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge, Graceon Little,
Cole Graham, Aaron Fuzesy (3). 2B--Lance Bratlien, Aaron
Fuzesy. HBP--Jeff Bullock, Graceon Little, Manu Melo, Tycen
Mooney (2), Walker Bennett. SACF--Jeff Bullock. SB--Cole
Graham (2).

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Evan Morrison (L)              4.00    9   13   10    1    3    0
Koby Eskrestrand               2.00    3    1    1    1    3    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Luke Dowdy (W)                 1.33    4    5    4    3    1    0
Will Lyng                      3.00    1    3    2    1    2    0
Walker Bennett                 0.00    0    1    1    3    0    0
Seth Nielson                   2.33    2    1    1    3    2    0
Lance Bratlien                 0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

PB--Graceon Little. WP--Evan Morrison (3), Luke Dowdy.
BALK--Evan Morrison. SO--Evan Morrison, Jeff Bullock, Cade
Harrison, Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Cole Graham, Manu
Melo, Seth Nielson, Sam Ark, Walker Bennett, Aaron Fuzesy.
BB--Evan Morrison, Koby Eskrestrand, Trevin Ressler, Aiden
Eckersall (2), Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge (2), Cade
Harrison (2), Tycen Mooney (2).

No. 3 Great Falls 6, No. 6 Bozeman 2
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Brinkley Evans hit a game-tying line drive single into center field, then Seamus Sullivan hit came through with a two-out, go-ahead single into left field.  But it was a two-out, bases-loaded, dropped pop fly that proved the ultimate difference in the game that was closer than the final score indicated.

Bozeman out-hit the Chargers, 5-3, in the loss. Leadoff hitter Luke Rizzo led the Bucks on offense with a double, single, walk, and two RBIs.

Great Falls starting pitcher Scotty Klinker, a returning All-State selection, went five innings, spreading out five hits and two walks, while striking out six to earn the victory.

BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI  GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI
Luke Rizzo            3  0  2  2  Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  
Cole Smith            3  0  0  0  Brinkley Evans        4  1  1  1  
Bryce Hampton         2  0  0  0  Trigg Mapes           4  0  0  0  
Josh Woodberry        3  0  0  0  Landen Lockwood       1  2  1  0  
Quinn Pershing        2  0  0  0  Seamus Sullivan       3  1  1  1  
Austin Cooper         3  0  0  0  Lane Seim             1  1  0  1  
Dylan Poulin          3  0  1  0  Mason Davis           1  0  0  0  
Jadin Frandsen        3  1  1  0  Cole Pace             2  0  0  0  
Jarrett Herz          2  1  1  0  Noah Bandarauhb       2  1  0  0  
TOTALS               24  2  5  2  TOTALS               21  6  3  3

BOZEMAN BUCKS                 001 010 0 -- 2  
GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          010 050 x -- 6  

LOB--BOZEMAN BUCKS 7, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 6. ERR--Jadin
Frandsen, Cash Jones, Bryce Hampton, Noah Bandarauhb.
2B--Luke Rizzo. HBP--Cole Pace, Mason Davis. SACF--Lane
Seim. SACB--Jarrett Herz. SB--Jarrett Herz.

 BOZEMAN BUCKS                   IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Cash Jones (L)                 4.67    3    5    3    5    7    0
Justin Garcia                  1.33    0    1    0    1    0    0
 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS       
Scotty Klinker                 5.00    5    2    2    2    6    0
Shane Jefferson (W)            1.33    0    0    0    3    3    0
Noah Bandarauhb                0.67    0    0    0    0    0    0

BALK--Cash Jones (2). SO--Cole Smith, Jarrett Herz, Austin
Cooper (2), Josh Woodberry, Dylan Poulin (2), Quinn
Pershing, Bryce Hampton, Cole Pace (2), Seamus Sullivan,
Brinkley Evans, Liam Sullivan (2), Trigg Mapes. BB--Cole
Smith, Luke Rizzo, Quinn Pershing, Bryce Hampton (2), Noah
Bandarauhb, Landen Lockwood (2), Mason Davis, Lane Seim,
Liam Sullivan.

No. 5 Missoula 12,  No. 4 Billings Royals 9

Missoula used a seven-run fourth inning, with five of those runs coming with two outs, to break a 4-4 tie and eventually outlast the Royals in the first-round nightcap.

The defending state champion Royals had more hits in the loss, 11-9, but committed six errors on defense.

Finn Davis and Henry Black each had two hits in the victory. Davis and Owen McGuinn each had two RBIs and a stolen base.

Billings third baseman Ethan Chaney went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Second baseman Sy Waldren and shortstop Kayden Keith each had two hits and an RBI in the loss.

Missoula pitcher Schuler Fairchild relieved starter Easton Reimers in the third inning and pitched 4 1/3 innings, spreading out six hits, four walks and three earned runs (6 total), to earn the victory on the mound. He struck out four.

Billings starting pitcher Jaiden Turner, a returning All-State selection, absorbed the loss, using 79 pitches to go 3 1/3 innings, striking out four with five walks and five hits, giving up four earned runs (7 total).

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS ROYALS      AB  R  H BI
Chris Compton         5  2  1  1  Davis Chakos          5  3  2  1  
Carter Taylor         4  2  2  1  Sy Waldron            4  1  2  1  
Sam Matosich          3  1  0  0  Davis Mosier          4  1  1  3  
Henry Black           3  3  2  0  Carson Jenkins        4  1  1  0  
Owen McGuinn          2  1  1  2  Ryan Denowh           4  1  1  1  
Finn Davis            4  1  2  2  Kayden Keith          4  1  2  0  
Jace Bykari           4  1  1  1  Ethan Chaney          4  1  3  1  
Colin Boyce           4  0  0  0  Nathan Kojetin        4  0  0  0  
Colter Nicolarson     4  1  1  0  Alex Brown            3  0  1  0  
TOTALS               33 12 10  7  TOTALS               36  9 13  7

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            301 710 0 -- 12 
BILLINGS ROYALS               004 040 1 -- 9  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 6, BILLINGS ROYALS 10. ERR--Jace
Bykari, Colter Nicolarson, Davis Chakos, Kayden Keith (2).
2B--Henry Black, Carter Taylor, Ryan Denowh, Sy Waldron.
3B--Colter Nicolarson, Carter Taylor. SB--Henry Black, Sam
Matosich, Finn Davis, Davis Chakos.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Schuyler Fairchild (W)         4.33    7    6    5    4    4    0
Easton Reimers                 2.33    6    3    3    0    3    0
Colin Boyce (S)                0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0
 BILLINGS ROYALS            
Jaiden Turner                  3.33    6    7    7    4    5    0
Ethan Moore (L)                0.67    4    5    2    2    1    0
Payton Waskow                  3.00    0    0    0    0    5    0

WP--Easton Reimers, Schuyler Fairchild. SO--Jace Bykari (2),
Colter Nicolarson, Henry Black, Colin Boyce, Sam Matosich
(3), Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn, Chris Compton, Davis
Chakos, Nathan Kojetin (2), Alex Brown, Sy Waldron, Davis
Mosier, Carson Jenkins. BB--Henry Black, Sam Matosich (2),
Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn (2), Alex Brown, Sy Waldron,
Davis Mosier, Carson Jenkins.

BOZEMAN--In the final game of the MAALB Class AA conference season, Bozeman scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday to beat Medicine Hat, 15-14, and vault into the No. 6 seed for the state tournament, also Great Falls completed a three-game sweep over Kalispell, 11-8, to claim the No. 3 seed outright, into the state tournament.

The state tournament starts Saturday in Missoula.

No. 1 Helena will play No. 8 Medicine Hat. The No. 2 Billings Scarlets will play No. 7 Kalispell. No. 3 Great Falls plays No. 6 Bozeman. And the No. 4 Billings Royals will play tourney-host No. 5 Missoula in the opening day nightcap.

Bozeman third baseman and leadoff hitter L Rizzo went 3-for-4 Tuesday with a triple, double and six RBIs to help lead Bozeman. He also had the game-winning two-run double in the sixth inning.

Standings updated as of July 18th games. REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS COMPLETE.
*Class AA teams will play a 24-game conference schedule; 3 games against each team. FInal games of conference regular season scheduled for July 18.
**Top 8 teams from the regular season will advance to the Class AA State Tournament in Missoula from Saturday, July 22- Wednesday, July 26.
***State champion will advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo., from Aug. 2-6.

If two or more teams end the regular season with identical win/loss records for conference games, the team's eligibility for post season play shall be decided as follows:

A) The team winning the most of the conference games will advance.

B) If teams split the conference games, the total runs scored in all conference games by the teams shall decide the winner.

C) If both teams conference wins and total runs scored are identical. A flip of a coin will decide the eligibility of the two teams by the Chairman.

D) If three or more teams are tied, the best winning percentage against teams ending the season (tied or not) in positions 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 in the final conference standings will determine the highest seed with the other teams following in order based on highest to lowest winning percentage.

GREAT FALLS--The Great Falls Chargers swept a doubleheader from the Kalispell Lakers on Monday, and the Billings Scarlets beat the Royals with a walkoff in the 9th.

Those outcomes, along with Missoula conference season ending at 12-12, look as if a three-way tie could come into play for the Nos. 3, 4, and 5 seeds. Tuesday's single games between Great Falls and Kalispell, as well as Bozeman versus Medicine Hat, will effect the final regular season standings for seeds into the state tournament.

Tuesday is the final day of Class AA play. The state tournament starts on Saturday in Missoula. Helena has the No. 1 seed locked up. The Billings Scarlets have the No. 2 seed locked up.

If Great Falls beats Kalispell Tuesday, the Chargers will be the No. 3 seed.

The Billings Royals hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Missoula, winning two of three games this year against them. So if Great Falls wins, the Royals would be the No. 4 seed and Missoula would be the No. 5 seed. They would face each other in the nightcap of the opening round of the state tournament.

If Great Falls loses, and creates a three-way tie for the No. 3 seed, the Billings Royals would win the tiebreaker because they beat No. 1 Helena twice (Great Falls beat them once and Missoula didn't beat them at all). Great Falls would then claim the No. 4 seed, Missoula would be the No. 5 seed. They would face each other in the nightcap of the opening round of state.

If Kalispell beats Great Falls, it would earn the No. 6 seed and play the No. 3 Billings Royals in the first round at state.

However, if Kalispell loses and Bozeman beats Medicine Hat, the Lakers would drop to the No. 7 seed because of a head-to-head tiebreaker with Bozeman, which swept the Lakers in a three-game series. So, then, No. 6 Bozeman would play the No. 3 Royals. The No. 7 Lakers would play the No. 2 Scarlets in the opening round.

If both Kalispell and Medicine Hat Tuesday, the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Med Hat, having won two of three games against Med Hat.

The loser of the Bozeman-Med Hat game will take the No. 8 seed.

HELENA--The Helena Senators swept a doubleheader from the Great Falls Changers on Saturday, 4-3 and 13-3, to clinch the No. 1 seed at the Class AA State Tournament.

The state tourney starts Saturday in Missoula.

The Senators capped their Class AA conference schedule with an 18-6 record. They are 47-14 overall on the season with a couple of non-conference games left in the regular season. They will play the No. 8 seed, which is yet to be determined.

Elsewhere in Class AA play on Saturday, the Billings Scarlets beat the Kalispell Lakers to take two of three from them. The victory clinched the No. 2 seed for the Scarlets.

Also on Saturday, Missoula and Lethbridge split a doubleheader. Missoula's seed is yet to be determined. While Lethbridge is on the verge of being eliminated from the post season.

GREAT FALLS--The Great Falls Chargers and Helena Senators swept doubleheaders from Medicine Hat and Missoula, respectively, on Wednesday to solidify holds in the Class AA MAALB standings.

Also on Wednesday, the Kalispell Lakers completed a three-game series sweep of the Billings Royals, to drop the Royals into a third-place tie with Great Falls.

Helena and the Billing Scarlets, who beat last-place Lethbridge on Wednesday, remain atop the standings in first and second place, respectively.

KALISPELL--Kalispell Lakers pitchers Max Holden and Andre Cephers hurled their team to complete-game victories Tuesday night to get themselves within one game of .500 ball.

Kalispell second baseman Carter Schlegel hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to help the Lakers improve to 32-16 overall on the season. 

The victories improved the Lakers to 8-9 in the Class AA standings and leapfrogged Medicine Hat for the No. 5 seed in the standings. The Royals (31-23 overall) dropped to  11-8 in Class AA play, and still maintain a solid hold on third place over Missoula and Great Falls.

Elsewhere in Class AA play, the Billings Scarlets beat Lethbridge, 6-1, to improve to 12-5 and maintain their hold on second place in the standings, behind Helena. Lethbridge fell to 5-14, further into last place with only five games left in the regular season.

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta--With the final berth into the Class AA State Tournament on the line, the No. 8 Bozeman Bucks won two of three games against the No. 9 Lethbridge Elks.

Bozeman improved to 7-12 in the Class AA conference season. Lethbridge fell to 5-13. There are 24 games in the Class AA conference schedule.

The Class AA State Tournament is in Missoula in a couple of weeks.

The Helena Senators and two Billings teams, the Royals and Scarlets, seem on their way to locking up the top 3 seeds into the state tourney.

KALISPELL--The Lakers won their season series against Lethbridge with a 10-4 victory on Thursday. The victory plants the Lakers into 6th place, while Lethbridge stays in last.

If the regular season ended today, Great Falls would play Missoula in the Nos. 4-5 game. The No. 3 Royals would play No. 6 Kalispell. The No. 2 Scarlets would play No. 7 Medicine Hat. No. 1 Helena would have No. 8 Bozeman.

BOZEMAN-- The Billings Scarlets swept a doubleheader from Bozeman on Wednesday, 5-3 and 8-1.  The victories lifted the Scarlets into second place in the standings at 11-5. Bozeman dropped to 5-11, into 8th place in the standings.

Elswhere in Class AA play, Lethbridge bit Kalispell, 1-0, before the Lakers split the doubleheader, 10-4. Kalispell improved to 5-9 in the standings, good for 6th place. Lethbridge dropped to  4-10, and is in last place.

Helena completed its 3-game conference sweep over Med Hat with a 10-0 win. With the win, the Senators have a 1-game lead in the standings in first place over the Scarlets. 

HELENA--The fireworks were on display on Tuesday as the Senators swept a doubleheader from Medicine Hat, 9-8 and 8-0.

Shortstop Trystan Mooney hit a no-out, two-run single up the middle to help lead the Senators in rallying from a 8-7 deficit in their final at bats to secure the second-game victory.

In the first game, Helena pitcher W Lyng didn't walk any while spreading out seven hits in an 8-0 complete-game shutout. First baseman C Perlinski had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Senators on offense.

The victories improved first-placed Helena to 13-6 in conference play 39-12 overall on the season. Medicine Hat dropped to 7-10 in Class AA play and 15-16 overall on the season.

Elsewhere in Class AA play on the holiday, Great Falls pitcher L Sullivan hurled a complete game while catcher B Evans and first baseman L Seim collected multiple RBIs in a 13-3 victory over Lethbridge.

Great Falls improved to 7-6 in Class AA play and 24-21 on the season.  The Chargers are sitting in fourth place. Lethbridge dropped to 4-10 in Class AA play and are in last place.

BILLINGS--Scarlets' pitcher N Swandal spread out four hits and three walks over six innings of work while K Northrup, H Doyle, R Gioioso, and N McDonald each put together a quality at bat to score runs to help Billings in beating Great Falls, 4-1, to complete a Class AA doubleheader sweep on Monday, July 3.

The Scarlets won the first game, 13-0, behind catcher Gioioso's four RBIs and improved to 9-5 in the conference and 31-11 overall on the season.

BILLINGS--The Billings Royals' Sy Waldron hit a bottom-of-the-seventh, two-out, line-drive single into left field to score Jaiden Turner and help lead the Royals in beating Missoula, 5-4, on Wednesday, June 28, to help improve the Royals to 11-6 in the MAALB Class AA standings.

At the end of June, with the state tournament starting in three weeks in Missoula, the Jon Burnett-led Helena Senators and David Swecker-led Billings Royals are atop the standings at 11-6.  The Senators are 33-11 on the entire season; while the Royals are 23-18. 

The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, after Missoula took a 4-3 lead with the three-run top of the sixth. The Royals broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth with two runs.

Elsewhere on Wednesday to cap Class AA's June's games, the Great Falls Chargers beat Bozeman, 6-3, to improve to 6-4 on the MAALB Class AA season. The Tony Forster-led Chargers are tied for third place, a game and a half behind the two front runners, in the standings with the Billings Scarlets (7-5). All told in the overall seasons, the Adam Hust-led Scarlets are 25-10 while the Chargers are 23-19.

In last year's state championship game, and undefeated semifinal game, the Royals beat the Senators, 4-3. Swecker and Burnett shared Class AA's Coach of the Year Award with Forster. Hust has won the COY a few times.

Elsewhere in the Class AA standings, in which only the top eight advance to the state tournament in Missoula, starting July 21, Missoula (8-8, 27-27), Medicine Hat (7-8, 13-11), Kalispell (4-8, 26-11), and Bozeman (5-9, 18-24) round out the mid-season field with Lethbridge on the outside, looking in, a game behind in the standings.

Class AA teams will play a three-game, regular-season conference schedule to make a 24-game season to determine the state tournament's top eight teams.

KALISPELL--Ugh... After a lot of technical difficulties with SportsEngine to start this season, the scores and standings for Class AA's 2023 season should be updated.

However, the accuracy needs to be verified.

Stayed tuned.

Montana adopts high school baseball

In January, 2022, the Montana High School Association adopted baseball as a sanctioned sport.

Oh, no! What could that mean for Montana's American Legion Baseball?

Prior to 2023, one of a Montana's high school students' only options to play baseball was through American Legion Baseball, which has existed throughout the country since 1926. ALB has hosted a World Series since then, longer than both the College Baseball WS and the Little League World Series.

Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball has experienced a long and prosperous program. Some even argued that at the highest level, it has perhaps put a better product on the field than Montana's Minor League Pioneer League.  

Now with high school baseball a thing, many people have wondered what's next for Montana's American Legion Baseball?

Some of the first thoughts were that some boys would get their baseball "fix" through the short high school season, and then not want to commit to summer ball. The Class AA MAALB season typically lasts about 60 games from April through July; while the high school season will be lucky to get 18 games in during April in May.  But perhaps a kid could get enough taste of baseball through high school ball to not continue on, perhaps getting a job, or spending more time in Montana's great outdoors (camping, hiking, fishing, dirt biking, etc.); but, more than likely, eating up more time on their smart phones.

I think that MAALB enrollment numbers will drop. My trump argument is that MAALB baseball programs have recently significantly increased their enrollment numbers through their Class B teams about 10 years ago; and now over the last two years through their Class C teams.  So there's really nowhere to go, except down.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Local programs and volunteers--the true grassroots community organization of Americanism that the American Legion looks to promote and serve--have been stretched thin.  Both manpower--like having a program president, secretary, tournament director, concessions folks, coaching staff, etc.-- and resources--like buses, bats, money, field time, as well as field wear and tear, uniforms, equipment, etc.--are extremely hard aspects to not get burnt out on for programs. The entirety of the ALB organization is built around volunteerism and community-business, and family/neighbor-based sponsorships. While, as local governmental agencies, high schools have paid activities directors, administrators, and state organizers. 

Another argument to be made against a decrease in enrollment numbers is that the quality of play could improve, with the boys staying to play baseball through the summer because they truly want that all-star, travelling-team experience, they might work hard to achieve it--instead of a kid that was "forced" into the long 60-game season because that was his only choice. Essentially, high school ball could weed out the non-hackers, or kids that don't want to work hard, or have the sense of commitment, or internal drive and stamina to achieve the greatness a 60-game season provides.

Class AA coaches definitely did not want high school baseball to come into fruition. Across the American Northwest, Montana ALB had a wonderful reputation for stellar play, fields, and ball parks. Coaches from other states continually complimented the programs and wishful sentiments that their state didn't have high school baseball, like ours.

... more to come...

GREAT FALLS--

GREAT FALLS--

GREAT FALLS--The win streak is over.

The Kalispell Lakers beat the Billings Royals, 8-5, on Saturday night at Centene Stadium to snap the Royals' 22-game winning streak at the Class AA State Tournament to advance to play the Helena Senators on Sunday morning for a berth into the championship game and regional tournament.

The No. 3 Helena Senators beat No. 5 Billings Scarlets, 5-4, Saturday evening at Centene Stadium to advance to the last day of the Class AA State Tournament.

KALISPELL LAKERS 8, BILLINGS ROYALS 5

HELENA SENATORS 5, BILLINGS SCARLETS 4

Cy Miller struck out five and earned a complete-game victory on the mound, and Forrest Suero broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning with an RBI single.

Trailing 4-1, the Scarlets scored a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to tie the game before Suero hit the eventual game-winning RBI.

Third baseman Mike Hurlbert had two hits and second baseman Gavin Thennis had two RBIs to help lead the Senators on offense.

The Scarlets ended up out-hitting Helena, 9-8.  Leadoff hitter Nate McDonald went 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Mike Feralio and No. 9-hitting catcher Keaton Mickelson each had two hits.

GREAT FALLS--In an amazing game, the Billings Royals beat the Helena Senators, 5-4 in 9 innings, Friday night in the undefeated semifinal at Centene Stadium.

The victory lifted the No. 1 Royals into the state championship game. And, since Montana is sending two teams to the regional tournament, the Royals punched their berth into it by securing at least a state runner-up finish.

In loser-out action, the No. 5 Kalispell Lakers eliminated No. 2 Missoula, 4-1, and the No. 5 Scarlets eliminated No. 7 Great Falls, 5-1.

Saturday's two games feature the Scarlets and Senators in loser-out action beginning at 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., the Royals will have the chance to eliminate the Lakers.

BILLINGS ROYALS 5, HELENA SENATORS 4 (9 innings)

Billings's Kruz Slevira hit a first pitch, two-out fly ball into shallow right field that Helena's right fielder and shortstop both dove for but missed, and Davis Mosier, who walked with two outs, scored from second base for the walk-off victory in extra innings.

 In the top of the ninth inning, Billings center fielder Lance Schaaf fielded a single by Tyler Tenney and fired it to catcher Michael Ohlin, who tagged Quin Belcher, who was trying to score, on a bang-bang play to end to top half of the inning.

Trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning, Belcher scored the game-tying run on Ethan Kientz's one-out ground ball single into left field.

Tied 3-3 in the fourth inning, the Royals scored an unearned run on a two-out error to take a 4-3 lead.

Trailing 3-1 in the third inning, the Royals scored twice to tie it on Ohlin's two-out line drive two-run single to left field.

The Senators took a 3-1 lead in the second inning. Matt Burton highlighted the inning with an RBI single. Belcher broke a 1-1 tie with a sacrifice bunt.

The Royals out-hit the Senators 10-7. Slevira went 3-for-4 while Owen Doucette, Gunner Thompson, and Jaden Jordahl each had two hits.

Ethan Keintz and Tyler Tenney each went 2-for-5 to help pace the Senators.

Keintz started on the mound and pitched six innings. He allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Only two of the four runs he allowed were earned as the Senators committed three errors.

Reagan Walker pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out six to earn the victory on the mound. He spread six hits and no walks, and allowed only one earned run as the Royals committed four errors.

KALISPELL LAKERS 4, MISSOULA MAVS 1

Kalispell pitcher Kostya Hoffman allowed five hits and two walks, while striking out one, to earn the complete-game victory, and the Lakers scored three runs in the fourth inning to eliminate the Mavs.

Center fielder Carver Van Aken had two RBIs, while right fielder Elijah Owens and catcher Grady Drish each had one to help pace the Lakers, who played ton of small ball on offense en route to out-hitting Missoula, 6-5.

Third baseman Ethan Diede and left fielder Kael Willis each had two hits in the win. Kalispell's Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 hitters each scored a run, while the Nos. 6, 8, 9 hitters drove in runs.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Kalispell plated three runs using a lot of bunts and then added another run in the fifth inning as Hoffman and the defense held their own.

BILLINGS SCARLETS 5, BOZEMAN BUCKS 1

Billings pitcher Spencer Berger hurled a one-hitter and the Scarlets broke open a 2-1 game in the sixth inning with 3 runs to eliminate the two-time defending state champion Bucks.

Mike Feralio and Logan Nyberg each went 2-for-3 and combined for three RBIs to help lead the Scarlets. Nyberg got the scoring going in the sixth with a single to left field to plate Jaden Sanchez, who doubled to start the inning.

GREAT FALLS--It's No. 3 Helena versus No. 1 Billings Royals in the undefeated semifinal Friday night. And there's a berth to the regional tournament on the line.

The No. 1 Billings Royals beat the No. 5 Billings Scarlets, 2-0, and No. 3 Helena beat No. 2 Missoula, 11-5, Thursday to advance to the undefeated semifinal.

The No. 6 Bozeman Bucks defeated No. 7 Great Falls, 6-4, on Thursday afternoon to survive loser-out play.

On Friday, Bozeman will play the Scarlets at 1 p.m. Kalispell will play Missoula at 4 p.m.

The undefeated semifinal game, pitting the Royals and Senators, begins at 7 p.m. with a berth to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo., on the line. 

The national American Legion Baseball program awarded Montana two berths into the regional tournament because of the strength of the program and success completing a regular season and state tournament last summer during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The Montana state champion is slated to play the second game of the regional tournament on Wednesday, Aug. 4, against the Idaho state champions. The Montana runner up will play the Washington state champ in the first game of the regional Wednesday morning. The winner of the regional advances to the World Series. Montana has not sent a team to the World Series since 1958. However, Bozeman, Missoula, and the Billings Scarlets were each one out away from a World Series berth in the past five years.

HELENA SENATORS 11, MISSOULA MAVS 5

Helena pitcher Tyler Tenney walked none in a complete-game victory, while striking out four, and the Senators exploded with six runs in the top of the first inning to take control.

Helena's No.-2 hitting centerfielder Ethan Keintz, No. 5-hitting shortstop Mike Hulbert, and No.-7 hitting third baseman Forrest Suero each had three, multiple RBIs, and scored runs to help lead the Senators on offense.

Keintz had a double and three RBIs.

Helena catcher Trysten Mooney got the scoring going with a no-out, bases-loaded squeeze bunt. Then Hulbert, Forrest Suero, Quinn Belcher followed with RBI singles. Belcher's and Suero's single into right field scored two.

The Senators plated another run in the second, and two more in the third to take a 9-0 lead before the Mavs scored four times off a plethora of fielding and throwing errors in the third inning.

Helena out-hit the Mavs, 13-7, but committed five errors as Tenney notched 109 pitches with no walks and a hit batter.

Missoula center fielder Adam Jones had two hits, including a double, and third baseman Charlie Kirgan pulled a home run over the left field wall to pace the Mavs on offense.

BILLINGS ROYALS 2, BILLINGS SCARLETS 0

Royals pitcher Lance Schaaf pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout and the Royals scored a run apiece in the fourth and sixth innings to send the Scarlets to the losers' bracket and advance to the undefeated semifinal game.

Schaaf, a 145-pound lefty, struck out seven and walked one.

No. 4-hitting designated hitter Owen Doucette hit an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Each team had just two hits in a game that lasted less than an hour and a half. 

Scarlets starting pitcher Jaiden Turner allowed one hit and two walks, while striking out three, in 4 2/3 innings of work. Drew McDowell relieved him and struck out three  while walking two in just 1 1/3 inning of work. The run charged to him was unearned after a two-out error in the outfield plated the Royals' insurance run.

BOZEMAN BUCKS 6, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 4

Trailing 4-3 in the fourth inning, Bozeman's Jake Vigen hit a two-out, two-run double to right field to score Jackson Burke and Max Matteucci and give the Bucks a 5-4 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

 There were two ties, and two lead changes in the first four innings.

The Bucks added an insurance run in fifth inning off a Dillon Coleman RBI single.

The Bucks scored twice the first inning before the Chargers scored a run apiece in the second and third innings to tie the game. Then the Chargers plated two in the top half of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead that Vigen, and Matteucci with an RBI ground ball single up the middle, erased.

The teams tied each other with six hits apiece.

Great Falls shortstop and leadoff hitter Nate Fowler had two hits, including a two-out RBI triple to center fielder that scored Josh Banderob, to lead the Chargers. Pitcher Hunter Houck struck out seven in six innings while allowing six hits and two walks, but absorbed the loss on the mound while allowing just one earned run.

Bozeman pitcher Jackson Burke held the Chargers scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings to earn the win.  Coleman and Preston Fliehman each had two hits in the victory. 

GREAT FALLS--The Missoula Mavs, Helena Senators, and Billings Scarlets started off the Class AA state tournament with victories on Wednesday at Centene Stadium.

Thursday's winner bracket games pit the No. 1 Billings Royals against the No. 5 Billings Scarlets at 4 p.m. Then No. 2 Missoula will battle No. 3 Helena at 7 p.m.

No. 7 Great Falls and No. 6 Bozeman start Thursday's action at 1 p.m. The No. 4 Kalispell Lakers have a day 2 bye, and are back in action Friday.

MISSOULA MAVS 7, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 3

Missoula pitcher Zach Hangas spread eight hits and one walk over 6 1/3 innings, and catcher Andrew Claussen went 3-for-3 with a run scored and RBI to help lead the Mavs.

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, the Mavs erupted for five runs and never looked back while out-hitting the Chargers, 10-8.

Hangas struck out only one, and gave up just two earned runs.

Missoula's Nos. 2 and 3 hitters, right fielder Henry Black and second baseman Skye Palmer, each had two hits. Black also had two RBIs, while Palmer scored twice.

HELENA SENATORS 10, BOZEMAN BUCKS 0 (5 innings)

Helena pitcher Cy Miller pitched a one-hit, complete-game shutout and five Senator batters had multiple hits in a 10-0 game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

Miller struck out seven and walked one.

Left fielder Matt Burton had three hits while center fielder Ethan Keintz, shortstop Tyler Tenney, catcher Trysten Mooney, and second baseman Gavin Thennis each had two hits in the victory. First baseman Forrest Suero and designated hitter Victor Scott each had two RBIs.

BILLINGS SCARLETS 3, KALISPELL LAKERS 1

The Billings Scarlets' first two hitters of the game scored and pitchers Bradley Wagner and Jackson Schaubel combined to spread out seven hits to help lead No. 5 Billings over the No. 4 Kalispell Lakers.

The Lakers stranded the bases loaded three times and left 13 runners on base total, compared to the Scarlets' 4. The Scarlets out-hit the Lakers, 9-7.

Scarlets third baseman Nathan McDonald and first baseman Michael Feralio each had two hits in the win. Feralio hit a no-out, two-run double to the wall in left-center field to highlight the first inning.

CLICK ON ISCORE LOGO FOR ALTERNATE LIVE SCORING OF THE STATE AA TOURNAMENT

Regular season complete.

BILLINGS--The Scarlets swept Great Falls, 15-5 and 8-1, to end the regular season of Class AA Montana American Legion Baseball.

The Class AA State Tournament begins Wednesday, July 28, in Great Falls.

The Billings Royals secured the No. 1 seed and first-round bye with an amazing 23-1 regular season record. They await the winner of the Kalispell Lakers versus Billings Scarlets opening-round game.

The Missoula Mavs edged out the Helena Senators for the No. 2 seed with a 16-8 conference record. The Mavs will play No. 7-host Great Falls at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

No. 3 Helena will face No. 6 and two-time defending state champion Bozeman Bucks Wednesday at 4 p.m. 

The Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, Kalispell Lakers and Billings Scarlets, play at 1 p.m.

KALISPELL--The Helena Senators and Kalispell Lakers Class AA American Legion Baseball team exchanged wins in a doubleheader, 6-3 in favor of Helena, and then 2-1 for Kalispell.

Helena remained tied for second place in the standings with Missoula, both 5 1/2 games behind the front-running Billings Royals. Kalispell dropped to fourth, 71/2 games back.

KALISPELL--The Missoula Mavs and Helena Senators completed doubleheader sweeps over the Billings Scarlets and Kalispell Lakers, respectively, to stay tied for second place in the Class AA standings.

Missoula beat the Scarlets, 11-10 with a come-from-behind, walk-off victory and 10-1. Helena beat the Lakers 6-4 and then came from behind in their last at bats to win the second game, 6-5.

Both teams improved to 13-7 in conference play. Helena is back in action today in Kalispell for two. Kalispell fell into fourth place in the standings.

MISSOULA--The Missoula Mavs and Billings Scarlets Class AA Montana American Legion Baseball teams split a doubleheader. Missoula won, 5-2. Then Billings won, 11-5.

All three teams vying for the No. 2 seed at the state tournament in Great Falls, starting July 28, are in action today, July 18.  These same two will play another doubleheader Sunday, while Helena is in Kalispell for four over the next two days.

BILLINGS--The Billings Royals Class AA American Legion Baseball team moved to within one victory of clinching the No. 1 at the state tournament in two weeks by beating their cross-town rival Scarlets, 16-6, on Thursday.

The Royals are now 18-1 in Class AA conference games. They are 6 1/2 games ahead of Missoula, Kalispell, and Helena in the standings.

GREAT FALLS--The Kalispell Lakers Class AA American Legion Baseball team swept a doubleheader from the Great Falls Chargers on Wednesday, 7-5 and 20-9, to improve to 10-6 in conference and into a three-way tie for the No. 2 seed at the state tournament.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning of the first game, the Lakers erupted for five runs to take a commanding lead and never looked back. Then, in the second game, Kalispell held a 20-3 lead into the bottom of the final inning.

Kalispell pitcher Kiostya Hoffman spread eight hits and two walks over seven inning to earn the complete-game victory in the first game. G Drish and K Willis each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to help pace the offense.

In the second game, first baseman/pitcher Danny Kernan went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and four runs scored to help lead the Lakers. Gaige Brink and Willis each collected three hits, as well. Joe Schlegel allowed three runs over five innings to pick up the victory on the mound.

The sweep lifted the Lakers into a second-place tie, six games behind the No. 1 Billings Royals with both Missoula and Helena.

BILLINGS--The Billings Royals Class AA American Legion Baseball team won its 13th straight game, and 15th of last 16 games, by sweeping four conference games from the Missoula Mavs on Tuesday.

The victory improved the Royals to 17-1 in Class AA Montana ALB conference games. Two conference losses by Helena and Missoula would secure the No. 1 seed, and probable first-round bye at the Class AA MALB State Tournament in Great Falls, starting July 28.

The Billings Royals beat Missoula, 3-2 and 8-1. Their next game is a big one against the cross-town rival Scarlets Thursday, July 15.

Missoula fell to 10-6 in conference play, in a second-placed tie with Helena, six games behind the front-running Royals.

BILLINGS--Royals pitcher Reagan Walker hurled a complete-game shutout on Monday to help lead the No. 1 Billings Royals to a 1-0 American Legion Baseball Class AA victory over No. 2 Missoula, then the Royals finished the doubleheader sweep with a 15-5 win to improve to 15-1 on the conference season and drop Missoula to 10-4.

The teams will finish their 4-game stand against each other today in Billings.

Walker spread five hits and four walks over seven innings, while striking out four. Right fielder Kruz Slevira went 2-for-3 with the big RBI in the fourth inning.

Missoula actually out-hit the Royals, 5-3, but committed three errors to the Royals's one.

Missoula pitcher Alex Certel pitched a gem of his own, allowing three hits and four walks over six innings while striking out two.

In the second game, Billings's Nos. 1-2 hitting middle infielders Jaeden Jordahl and Jessen West each went 3-for-3. Jordahl scored four runs and West, along with No. 3 hitting pitcher/first baseman Davis Mosier, had three RBIs. 

GREAT FALLS--Kalispell pitcher Max Holden hurled a complete-game shutout to help lead the Lakers to a 1-0 Class AA American Legion Baseball victory over Great Falls on Sunday, then the Chargers avenged the loss, 16-6, to forge the doubleheader split.

Kalispell improved to 8-6 (31-11 overall) in conference play and is in fourth place in the standings. Great Falls improved to 2-12 in conference play (22-29 overall).

With a potential first-round bye at the State AA Tournament in Great Falls, starting Wednesday, July 28, on the line, the No. 1 Billings Royals will face the Missoula Mavs in a four-game tilt in Billings with a doubleheader today and tomorrow. 

BILLINGS--The top-ranked Billings Royals Class AA American Legion Baseball team thumped Helena in two games on Wednesday, July 7, to complete a four-game sweep over previously No. 2 Helena.

In Great Falls, the Missoula Mavs swept a doubleheader from the Chargers to help solidify the current No. 2 seed.

BILLINGS--The No. 1 Billings Royals swept the No. 2 Helena Senators, 13-3 and 1-0 in nine innings, on Tuesday, July 6, to improve to 11-1 in Class AA play and dropped Helena to 11-5 in conference play.

Billings's Jessen West walked and then stole second before Owen Doucette hit a one-out, walk-off, line-drive single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 2. In a pitchers' duel between Helena's Ethan Keintz and Billings's Lance Schaaf, Keintz pitched eight innings of shutout ball, spreading out four hits and two walks while striking out three. Schaaf pitched one-hit ball over 6 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking five.

In Kalispell, the Lakers completed a four-game sweep over Bozeman by rallying from a 6-0 deficit and improved to 7-5 in Class AA play, good for fourth place. Bozeman fell to 4-16 and last place in the standings.

BOZEMAN--The two-time defending Class AA state champions Bozeman Bucks walloped the Helena Senators, 11-1, in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday, June 2, then Helena scratched out a 4-2 victory in the second game to forge the split.

In game 1, Bozeman pitcher Brady Higgs spread four hits and three walks over five innings of the mercy-rule shortened game, while striking out three. Leadoff hitter Logan Pailthorpe went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and home run and three runs scored. No. 3 hitter Preston Fliehman also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. No. 4 hitter Corbin Holzer had two hits and three RBIs. No. 6 hitter Jake Vigen also had three RBIs.

In game 2, Helena trailed 2-1 until scoring three runs in the sixth inning.  G Thennis had an RBI double to tie the game. Then M Hurlbert hit a two-out RBI triple to give the Senators a 3-2 lead.  And T Mooney hit a two-out RBI single to add an insurance run in that decisive sixth.

Helena pitcher Cy Miller struck out 10 in six innings of work, while allowing two hits and four walks to earn the victory. Relief pitcher Victor Scott closed the seventh inning with three strikeouts.  Bozeman starting pitcher Jackson Burke held the Senators to just one run over five innings, spreading out four hits and two walks.

Helena improved to 18-7 overall on the season while Bozeman improved to 13-10 overall.

While Montana seemed to handle COVID-19 okay, the international border between Canada and the United States is to remained closed for at least a couple of more months, meaning the Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball Class AA conference schedules need to be shuffled.

What was supposed to see a three-game schedule played against each of the nine Class AA teams (including Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, Alberta) has to be reorganized so that each of the seven Class AA Montana teams would play each other four times to comprise conference schedule. So, each team will play a 24-game Class AA schedule to determine seeding into the state tournament in Great Falls, starting July 28. As of now, a rematch of the state championship game between Helena and Bozeman is slated to begin conference play on Wednesday, June 2.

Hope remains that MAALB could field an eight-team Class AA state tournament if the border opens before July 28. In that event, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat would square off against each other for the No. 8 seed. The loser of that matchup would be eliminated from postseason play.

COVID-19 couldn't keep Montana American Legion Baseball down.

After a successful summer of 2020, where Montana's ALB teams completed a regular season and state tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic, and No. 1 Bozeman beat No. 2 Helena for the state championship, the organization is back and ready for the 2021 season.

While non-conference games will start in April, the Class AA conference season should officially get underway on Saturday, May 29, when the two Canadian teams from Alberta face off against each other in a doubleheader after not being able to play at all last year. Then, on Wednesday, June 2, Helena travels to Bozeman in a rematch of the last season's state championship game.

Class AA coaches met online in January and decided on a 3-game regular-season conference schedule with each team to determine the top 8 seeds into the Class AA state tournament. The travel rotations will remain on track from seasons past.

The Class AA state tournament is in Great Falls from Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, Aug. 1.  The state champion will advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyoming, from Wednesday, Aug. 4, to Sunday, Aug. 8. The regional champ will advance to the American Legion Baseball World Series in Shelby, North Carolina, from Thursday, Aug. 12, to Tuesday, Aug. 17. 

The entire state's Class AA conference schedule can be found by clicking on the game schedule link above. The schedule, scores, and standings will be updated daily in June and July. Unfortunately, the teams and players stats pages will probably not be updated, unless individual teams synch their scoring software with this website (which, for some reason, I can't figure it out--yes, I contacted our host).

CLICK ON GAME FOR LIVE SCORING SCREEN

2020 STATE AA TOURNAMENT

Billings, Montana - dehler park

AUGUST 5-9, 2020

$1,000 Scholarship
Ethan Keintz, Hel.

Coach of the Year
Jon Burnett, Hel.

All-State Team
C-Alton Gyselman, Boz.
1B-Sage McMinn, Boz.
2B-Ben Hubley, Boz; Nate Dewar, Blgs. Scarlets
3B-Dane Fraser, Msla.
SS-Jaeden Jordahl, Blgs. Royals
Utility Infield-Kael Richards, GF
OF-Ethan Keintz, Hel.; Kelher Murfitt, Boz.; Logan Meyer, Blgs Scarlets
P-Hunter Williams, Boz.; Sage McMinn, Boz.; Ethan Keintz, Hel.; Jack Corriveau, Kal; Chase Hinkley, Blgs. Royals

All-Conference Team
C-Jarron Wilcox, Blgs. Scarlets
1B-Chase Nielsen, Hel.
2B-Matt Krieger, Hel.
3B-Jack Corriveau, Kal; Derrick Spring, GF
SS-Tyler Tenney, Hel.
Utility Infield-Brenden Concepcion, Blgs. Royals
OF-Nick Eliason, Blgs. Royals; Matt Burton, Hel.; Logan Pailthorpe, Boz.
P-Jackson Schaubel, Blgs. Scarlets; Cy Miller, Hel.; Hunter Lindgren, Hel.

BILLINGS, Mont.-- Montana American Legion Baseball All-State pitcher Hunter Williams struck out eight in a two-hit, complete-game shutout, and right fielder Logan Pailthorpe followed shortstop Preston Fliehman’s RBI single with a two-run single as the Bozeman Bucks scored five runs in the first inning on Sunday, Aug. 9, in the Class AA State Championship game and made them stand up in a 5-0 victory over the Helena Senators at Dehler Park.

After that five-run outburst in the first, Williams and Helena All-Conference pitcher Cy Miller locked horns in a pitchers’ duel. They combined to allow only four more hits and five walks the rest of the way.

The end of the COVID-19 season is upon MALB fans because the national organization cancelled the regional tournaments and World Series. So, the state champion will not be advancing into national play.

The Bucks avenged last year's Northwest Regional Tournament championship game extra-inning loss to the eventual World Series champions from Idaho Falls by dominating the MALB Class AA conference season with a 21-3 record and then winning their third state title in 13 years.

Thank you Missoula Prep Sports Network's Chris Stratton for live streaming every single game of the Class AA Montana American Legion Class AA State Tournament!

*The 2020 Class AA conference schedule comprised four games with each Class AA opponent in Montana, for a total of 24 games to determine seeds at state tourney; also, home/visitor in all rounds. *Due to COVID-19 restrictions regarding international travel between Canada and the U.S., both Lethbridge and Medicine Hat did not compete in the season. 

The No. 1 Bozeman Bucks and No. 2 Helena Senators split a doubleheader on Friday, July 31, in Helena to end the Class AA Montana American Legion Baseball conference season.

While the regular season is over, plans for the state tournament have been put into flux with the local Helena health department waiting until 4:50 p.m. on Friday to inform the Helena Senators that their application to host the state tournament was denied. Officials are working to revise a plan in order to keep Helena as the host; otherwise, the tournament may be moved to Billings. Another option is for higher seeds to host individual games.

Bozeman finished the regular season with a 21-3 record. Helena finished 15-9. Kalispell finished third at 14-10.

Bozeman earned a first-round bye in the state tournament. Helena will play No. 7 Great Falls. Kalispell will play No. 6 Missoula. And the two Billings teams will face off in the No. 4-5 game. Location and game times are still to be determined, pending health restrictions.

BOZEMAN--The Bozeman Bucks swept a four-game series from the Kalispell Lakers to climb to 19-1 on the season and take a firm hold on the No. 1 seed.

Kalispell dropped to 12-10 and third place with two more conference games, both against No. 7 Great Falls, left in the regular season.

The Helena Senators swept Great Falls in a doubleheader to improve to 14-8 and grab on to second place with a week left in the regular season.

After a busy few days to open the week after 4th of July weekend, the Bozeman Bucks remained undefeated in Class AA play, the Kalispell Lakers took 3-of-4 from the Billings Scarlets to take sole possession of second place.

Now, teams are staggered in games behind Bozeman, instead of logjammed. Kalispell remains 1.5 games behind with the Billings Royals (2.5), Helena (3), Missoula (3.5), and the Scarlets (4.5).

The Bozeman Bucks and Kalispell Lakers won both games of doubleheaders against the Billings Scarlets and Great Falls Chargers, respectively, to put themselves atop the tight Class AA standings.

Bozeman improved to 4-0 in Class AA games while Kalispell improved to 6-5 to forge a three-way second-place tie with Missoula and the Billings Royals, just a game and a half out of first place. Helena (5-5) is a half a game away in fifth place while the Billings Scarlets (4-5) are just a game behind that second-place log jam.

The Class AA ranks are showing a lot of parity.

After the busiest two-day stretch of the early season, which saw eight games played, six Class AA teams are within one game of each other in the standings.

The Billings Royals and Helena Senators won three of four games over the Missoula Mavs and Kalispell Lakers, respectively, over the last two days.

Now, with between seven and 10 conference games played (with the exception of Bozeman with two), five teams have either four or five wins and are within a game of .500.

There could be some parity in MALB's Class AA ranks this year.

About one-third of the way through the season, Missoula has climbed out to five wins in the 24-game conference schedule to float atop the standings. Bozeman, with only two games in the books, ranks above four teams with either three or four wins in 6-8 games played.

After submitting plans of operations to each of their local health departments in early May, Montana American Legion Baseball teams began practicing with the opening of Phase 1 in Montana in early May in response to COVID-19, and with most of American still restricted due to the pandemic, MALB teams opened competitive play in Helena. 

2019 STATE AA TOURNAMENT

Billings, Montana - dehler park

LEWISTON, Idaho--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA Montana American Legion Baseball champions lost to Idaho Falls, Idaho, in extra innings in the championship game of the Northwest Regional Tournament.

Idaho Falls, which had to win a loser-out semifinal earlier in the day, eventually won the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

LEWISTON, Idaho--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball program beat Medford, Ore., in the undefeated semifinal of the 2019 ALB Northwest Regional Tournament to advance to the championship game.

The winner of the chipper advances to the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

However, Idaho Falls, Idaho, beat Bozeman in potential loser-out action, then beat Medford, Ore., in the loser-out semifinal game, and then, eventually beat Bozeman in the championship to advance to the World Series.

IDAHO FALLS ENDED UP REPRESENTING THE NORTHWEST REGION WELL BY WINNING THE WORLD SERIES!

BILLINGS--The Bozeman Bucks beat the host Billings Royals to win their second state title since 2007, and the postseason awards were announced.

2019 Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball

Postseason Awards

Coach of the Year--Brent Hathaway, Missoula

Class AA All-State

Catcher--Ty Wevers, Lethbridge, and Alton Gyselman, Bozeman

1B--Andy Larson, Blgs Scarlets

2B--Ben Hubley, Bozeman

3B--Randy Stultz, Kalispell

SS--Michael Freund, Bozeman; Cal Cromwell, Great Falls

Utility IF--Tradd Richardson, Missoula

OF--Dane Fraser, Missoula; Kelher Murfitt, Bozeman; Andrew Paradise, Great Falls

P--Dann Blanchard, Blgs Royals; Hunter Williams, Bozeman; Thomas Little, Lethbridge; Dylan Chalmers, Missoula

Class AA All-Conference

C--Brenden Concepcion, Blgs Royals

1B--Brendan Schulz, Lethbridge

2B--Matt Krieger, Helena; Kalem Haney, Lethbridge

3B--Dann Blanchard, Blgs Royals

SS--Connor Drish, Kalispell

Utility IF--Connor Hunter, Blgs Royals; Hunter Kirkpatrick, Helena

OF--Ty McGurran, Helena; Brendon Hill, Missoula; Finn Snyder, Bozeman; Ryan Symmes, Kalispell

P--Levi Abbott, Lethbridge; Dane Fraser, Missoula; Cy Miller, Helena; Hunter Kirkpatrick, Helena; Ethan Keintz, Helena; Sage McMinn, Bozeman; Logan Siblerud, Kalispell; Wesley Palmer, Kalispell

BILLINGS, Mont.--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball team beat defending state champion Billings Royals, 6-1, on Wednesday, July 31, at Dehler Stadium to win the Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Tournament.

Bozeman will represent MAALB at the Northwest Regional Tournament at Lewis-Clark College in Lewiston, Idaho, starting Friday, Aug. 7. A tournament championship there brings an ALB World Series berth in Shelby, N.C.

BILLINGS, Mont.--The Bozeman Bucks eliminated the Missoula Mavs, 13-5, on Tuesday in Dehler Park and the tourney host and defending state champion Billings Royals survived loser-out action by eliminating No. 4 Lethbridge, 4-3, to both advance into the 2019 Class AA Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Championship game.

First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. Bozeman has not lost in the tournament, so the Royals will have to beat them twice to win the state title. If needed, the second game of the doubleheader would start about 45 minutes after the first game. 

BILLINGS--The No. 2 Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball team beat the defending state champion Billings Royals on Monday, July 29, to advance to the state championship game Wednesday night.

No. 1 Missoula and No. 4 Lethbridge survived loser-out games on Monday.

Bozeman will get the chance to eliminate Missoula on Tuesday, while Lethbridge and Billings face off in loser-out action.

The winners Tuesday advance to championship Wednesday. If Missoula tags a loss on Bozeman Tuesday, the true championship game will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday between Bozeman and the winner of the early game. If Bozeman beats and eliminates Missoula, the winner between Lethbridge-Billings would have to beat Bozeman twice to win the chipper. 

The state champion advances to the Northwest Regional in Lewiston, Idaho. The winner of the regional advances to the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

BILLINGS--The defending state champion Royals knocked off top-seeded Missoula, and No. 2 Bozeman beat Helena, on Sunday, July 28, in Dehler Stadium to advance to the undefeated semifinal of the Class AA MAALB State Tournament.

The No. 5 Royals beat Missoula, 3-1. Bozeman beat Helena, 8-2. They will play Monday at 7 p.m. with a berth into the state championship game on the line.

The Billings Scarlets and Lethbridge survived loser-out games to advance to Monday's action. No. 4 Lethbridge will play No. 6 Helena. The No. 6 Scarlets will play No. 1 Missoula.

Tuesday's pairings and game times can not be announced until after the undefeated semifinal game. With the top four teams left, previous opponents should not be matched up. If that can't be avoided, the most-recent matchup should be avoided. The winner of the undefeated semifinal gets the 7 p.m. game.

BILLINGS--The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, Missoula and Bozeman, won their opening round games at the 2019 Class AA Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Tournament on Saturday, July 27, at Dehler Stadium.

No. 6 Helena and the No. 5 Billings Royals also won their opening games.

The Billings Royals swept Great Falls in a doubleheader to move up to No. 5, the Bozeman Bucks beat the Billings Scarlets to forge a tie for No. 1, No. 4 Lethbridge beat No. 1 Missoula, and all of the pairings for day 1 of MAALB's Class AA State Tournament were set on Monday, July 22.

With Missoula and Bozeman finished in a first-place tie with 17-7 records, the tiebreaker was won by Missoula, which beat Bozeman, 2-1, during the conference regular season to claim the No. 1 seed. No. 1 Missoula will play No. 8 Great Falls on day 1. No. 2 Bozeman will play the No. 7 Billings Scarlets.

Kalispell and Lethbridge tied for the No. 3 seed with 14-10 records, but Kalispell swept the regular-season conference games to win the higher seed. No. 3 Kalispell will play No. 6 Helena. 

No. 4 Lethbridge will play the standings-jumping and state tournament host No. 5 Billings Royals. The defending state champs host the 7 p.m. game on Saturday, July 27.

*The Missoula Mavs beat the Bozeman Bucks, 2-1, in conference games to win the No. 1 seed; Bozeman is No. 2. 

*The Kalispell Lakers swept conference games against the Lethbridge Elks to win the No. 3 seed at the state tournament; Lethbridge is No. 4.

Standings updated with all games, as of July 22, 2019. Regular season comprised of 24 conference games. Top eight teams advance to state tournament in Billings, July 27-30. 

2018 STATE AA TOURNAMENT

Kalispell, Montana

Bryan Benjamin, Blgs Royals

C Ben Tallman, Blgs Scarlets

1B Ty Penner, Lethbridge

2B Jayden Kay, Blgs Royals

3B Colin Sassano, Helena

SS Randy Stultz, Kalispell; Michael Freund, Bozeman

Utility IF Dylan Johnson, Blgs Royals

OF Wyatt Tomalty, Lethbridge; Matt Houlihan, Great Falls; Brooks Zimmer, Blgs Royals

P Adam Hubley, Bozeman; Matt Houlihan, Great Falls; Drew Scherrer, Kalispell; Sam Elliott, Kalispell; Brooks Zimmer, Blgs Royals; Tyler Frieders, Blgs Royals

C Jarrett Leinwand, Blgs Royals; Ryan Moodry, Butte

1B Dawson Smith, Blgs Royals

2B Raleigh Ferby, Lethbridge

3B Torrin Vaselenak, Lethbridge

Utility IF Zander Petrich, Bozeman

OF Taylor Morton, Kalispell; Christian Michaelson, Blgs Scarlets; Jack Suhai, Medicine Hat; Payton Price, Bozeman

P Levi Abbot, Lethbridge; Cade Torgerson, Blgs Royals

KALISPELL--It took 15 games, and it came down to a two-out, walk-off single for the Billings Royals to claim the 2018 Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball Class AA state championship on Tuesday evening, Aug. 1 at Griffin Field. 

The Royals beat the Lethbridge Elks, 6-5, to claim Post 4's 29th state title in 90 years of MAALB.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Billings right fielder Jarrett Leinwand hit a single up the middle to plate the winning run.

The Royals' All-State Center fielder/pitcher Brooks Zimmer batted .529; and in two pitching appearances, had a 2.65 ERA over eight innings and earned two victories on the mound to claim the Tournament MVP award. The Royals' All-State second baseman Jayden Kay hit over .471 with two doubles, two triples, and a home run with eight RBIs to earn the Tournament Batting Champ award.

Records current through all games of July 22. Regular Season complete. 

** Kalispell earned the No. 2-seed tiebreaker over the Billings Royals, after identical 3-2 victories over each other, with 133 runs scored in the conference season over the Royals' 129.

**Missoula earned the No. 5 seed over Lethbridge with its final-day-of-the-season sweep, winning their regular season matchups, 2-1.

** Class AA teams play a 22-game conference schedule. Top 8 teams advance to the state tournament in Kalispell, starting Saturday, July 28.

MISSOULA--The defending state champion Missoula Mavericks swept Lethbridge on the final day of the Class AA regular season, and Great Falls won 2 of 3 games down the stretch to improve their seeds into the 2018 state tournament.

The state tournament starts Saturday, July 28, in Kalispell. No. 1 Bozeman plays No. 8 Great Falls at 10 a.m. No. 2 Kalispell plays Helena at 7 p.m. following the opening ceremonies. The No. 3 Billings Royals will play No. 6 Lethbridge at 4 p.m. The Nos. 4-5 game will be at 1 p.m. with Missoula and the Billings Scarlets.

Bozeman (16-6) locked in the No. 1 seed last week.

Kalispell and the Billings Royals (15-7) tied, and exchanged identical 3-2 victories over each other in their two-game regular season series. So the tiebreaker went down to runs scored in all games. Kalispell won that 133-129 for the No. 2 seed.

The Billings Scarlets were the only other team to finish above .500 with a 14-8 conference record to earn the No. 4 seed.

Missoula and Lethbridge each finished the conference season at .500 with 11-11 records.  The Mavs won their season series, 2-1, with a final-day-doubleheader sweep  over the Elks to earn the No. 4 seed.  

KALISPELL--One thing's for sure in Class AA MAALB this year: There's a lot of parity... especially if everybody's ace is pitching (like in the opening round of the state tourney).

With that being said, here are the MAALB tiebreaking rules. Quoted from the rule book:

"If two or more teams end the regular season with identical win/loss records for conference games, the team's eligibility for post season play shall be decided as follows:
a). The team winning the most of the conference games will advance.
b). If teams split the conference games, the total runs scored in all games by the teams shall decide the winner.
c). If both teams conference wins and total runs scored are identical. A flip of a coin will decide the eligibility of the two teams by the Chairman.
d). If three or more teams are tied, the best winning percentage against teams ending the season (tied or not) in positions 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 in the final conference standings will determine the highest seed with the other teams following in order based on highest to lowest winning percentage.

Heading into the final weekend of conference play, there are two teams with 13 wins (Nos. 2-3 Royals and Lakers), two with 10 wins (Nos. 4-5 Scarlets and Elks), and two with nine wins (Nos. 5-7 Mavs and Senators). Medicine Hat and Great Falls are each 8 games behind first place, fighting for the coveted No. 8 seed.

BILLINGS--After having no games since July 3, Tuesday saw a lot of Class AA action and a shake up of the standings.

The Billings Royals swept Medicine Hat to improve to 12-5 on the season and take a half-game lead over Bozeman (11-5) for first place. Bozeman plays third-place Lethbridge (9-5) in a doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Kalispell Lakers swept the Billings Scarlets to improve to 8-6, good for fourth in the standings. The Scarlets dropped into a tie for fifth place with Missoula at 7-6. Missoula split a doubleheader with Butte (2-11). And Lethbridge split a doubleheader with Helena (7-9).

With less than two weeks left in the regular season, there is looking to be a fight for the No. 8-seed berth into the state tournament with three teams within 1 1/2 games of each other.

BUTTE--The Billings Scarlets completed a 3-game sweep over the Butte Miners and the Great Falls Chargers swept a pair from the Helena Senators on Tuesday, July 3.

The victories improved the Scarlets to fourth place in the Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball standings. The Chargers improved to 4-9, and are one game behind the Medicine Hat Moose for a berth into the Class AA State Tournament in Kalispell, starting July 28.

BILLINGS--The Billings Scarlets corner infielder A Seward hit a two-run single in the second inning, and pitchers A Larson and D Johnson each helped their causes on the mound with two hits and an RBI apiece, Saturday, June 3, to help lift the underdog Scarlets over their crosstown rival Royals, 4-2.

The victory was the third straight for the Scarlets, who swept Missoula on June 27, to vault up to .500 on the season--and the fifth spot in the standings.

Bozeman (11-5) is in first place, a half game ahead of both the Lethbridge Elks (7-2), who swept Kalispell on June 24, and the Billings Royals (9-4). Missoula (6-5) is a game above .500 in fourth place.

Monday, June 18, proved to be an off day for Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball. It was the only one in a string of 16 straight days.

In the span of four days, Bozeman won six conference games and tied the Billings Royals at 9-2 atop the standings, about halfway through their conference seasons. Kalispell is three games above .500 in third. Lethbridge is two games above .500 in fourth. Missoula is a game above .500 in fifth. They are all about one-third of the way through their conference seasons.

Rainouts across Montana have caused rescheduling. The Billings Royals, Billings Scarlets, Butte and Helena have all had to reschedule games. Check the schedule and results below on this page, or the game schedules tab (work in progress) above.

BOZEMAN--The Bozeman Bucks swept previously-unbeaten Kalispell Thursday, and Medicine Hat got its first win of the conference season over previously-unbeaten Lethbridge on Wednesday, to mix up the top of Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball standings.

Bozeman (6-1) vaulted into No. 1 in the standings about one-third of the way through their conference schedule. The Billings Royals (9-2) sit No. 2 about halfway through their conference season. Lethbridge (4-1) and Kalispell (5-2) are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, about a quarter of the way through their conference seasons. Missoula (4-3) is a game above .500 in fifth.

BOZEMAN--Bozeman second baseman Michael Freund went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a stolen base, and pitcher Adam Hubley spread three hits and a walk over five innings while walking one, to help lead the Bucks to an 11-1 victory over the Billings Royals on Saturday, June 9.

Two days before on Thursday, Missoula pitcher Dylan Chalmers allowed just six hits and a walk over seven innings, and a Billings fielding error led to a decisive two-run sacrifice bunt play in the third inning, as Missoula beat the Royals, 4-2.

The losses were the Billings Royals' first two losses of the Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball season. They did rebound by taking the second game of a doubleheader against Bozeman on Saturday to improve their conference record to 8-2.

The Kalispell Lakers have started the conference season with doubleheader sweeps over Missoula and Medicine Hat at home and are 4-0. Lethbridge is also unbeaten at 2-0. Bozeman is the only other team above .500 in the standings at 2-1.

MISSOULA -- Billings catcher J Leinwand went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs to help lead the Royals to a 14-3 victory over Missoula on Wednesday, June 6, to help improve the Royals to 7-0 in Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball play.

While the Royals are one-third of the way through their confernce season, no other team has more than three conference games played so far (except Great Falls with five). Lethbridge swept Great Falls and Kalispell swept Missoula in doubleheaders this week to open their conference seasons at 2-0.

Leinwand is hitting .433 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 26 RBIs. The Royals are 20-1 overall on the season. Three of their starting pitchers are 5-0 with 32 innings pitched apiece. Zimmer has 47 strikeouts, Torgerson has 43 Ks, and Frieders has 34.

Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball teams will play a 22-game conference regular schedule. The top eight teams after the regular season will advance to the state tournament in Kalispell. Day 1 of the state tournament is Saturday, July 28.

MAALB teams will play their old Eastern AA/Western AA rivals three times while playing the other opponents just twice. The old alignment was Western AA: Missoula, Kalispell, Great Falls, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat; Eastern AA: Billings Royals, Billings Scarlets, Bozeman, Butte, and Helena.

New this year, all games at the national-qualifying (state) tournament will be seven-inning games.  Also new this year, the maximum pitch count per day is 105.

The MAALB state champion will qualify for the Northwest Regional Tournament in Missoula. If Missoula wins state, the state runner-up will qualify for the regional as well. The regional tournament champion will advance to the ALB World Series in Shelby, N.C.

2017 CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT

JULY 26-30, 2017 @ BOZEMAN MONTANA

Day 5: Championship Sunday

Game 15 (Championship)

No. 3 Missoula 4, No. 1 Bozeman 3

Game story will be updated at a later date

Game 15 box score

Game 14 (Loser-out Semifinal)

No. 1 Bozeman 10, No. 2 Billings Royals 8

Game story will be updated at a later date

Game 14 box score

Day 4: Royals, Bucks to square off for right to face Mavs in title tilt

 Click here for Pitch Smart Initiative: Tournament Pitch Count Data after day 4

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Game 13

No. 2 Billings Royals 12, No. 3 Missoula 3

Billings pitcher Cameron Maciel struck out 10 in eight innings, designated hitter Sam Evenson went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, and catcher Jarrett Leinwand went 3-for-4 and scored four runs to help lead the Royals in handing Missoula its first loss of the tourney.

The Royals (31-12) advance to play Bozeman (50-24) Sunday at 11 a.m. The winner of that game will face Missoula (51-25) about 45 minutes later for the state championship.

Missoula jumped out on top with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Royals responded with three runs in the second and never looked back.

Missoula jumped out on top with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Royals responded with three runs in the second and never looked back. They added another two in the third and four in the fifth and the game was nearly shortened by the mercy rule before Missoula scored one in the bottom of the eighth.

First baseman Dawson Smith and right fielder Brooks Zimmer each had two hits and two RBIs in the victory. Tyler Frieders went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Third baseman Pearce Kurth went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

The Royals out-hit Missoula by just two, 15-13.

The Mavs’ leadoff hitter James Martin went 4-for-5 and No. 3 hitter Dane Fraser went 3-for-4. Missoula stranded 11 base runners; and the Royals stranded seven.

Game 13 box score

Game 12 (loser-out)

No. 1 Bozeman 15, No. 4 Helena 5 (7 innings)

Third baseman Ryan Evenson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, catcher Jake Murfitt went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and second baseman Jake Buck went 3-for-4 and scored three runs to help lead Bozeman in eliminating Helena in a game shortened by the 10-run mercy rule.

The victory advanced the Bucks (50-14) to the final day of the tourney, where they awaited the outcome of Saturday night’s game between Missoula and the Billings Royals to find out Sunday’s opponent, game time, and whether or not they clinched a berth into the Northwestern Regional Tournament in Missoula next week. If Missoula eliminates the Royals, the Bucks are advancing to regionals no matter what—because Missoula earns an automatic berth for hosting.

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning, the Bucks scored four runs to take a 6-3 lead and never looked back. Center fielder Bailey Paddock highlighted the inning with a one-out, two-run single to break a 3-3 tie.Tyler Dobie hit an RBI single to tie the game before that. Murfitt added a two-out RBI single to put the game at 6-3.

The Bucks added two in the fifth to go up 8-3 before putting up seven in the seventh. They out-hit the Senators, 15-5. No Senator had more than one hit.

Andrew Purpura started on the mound for the Bucks and allowed five hits and three walks while striking out four. None of the five runs he allowed were earned.

Helena’s season ended with a 32-25 record.

Game 12 box score

Day 3: Missoula beats Helena in dramatic fashion, earns berth in title game

Click here for Pitch Smart Initiative: Tournament Pitch Count Data after day 3

Friday, July 28, 2017

Game 11 (undefeated semifinal)

No. 3 Missoula 6, No. 4 Helena 4

Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Missoula No. 8 hitter Brendan Buchanan launched a full-count pitch into an RBI triple, then Clayton Franke executed a suicide squeeze for an insurance run, to help lift the Mavs into the State AA Championship Game on Sunday.

The Mavs will try to eliminate the Billings Royals Saturday at 7 p.m. If successful, they will face the winner of the Saturday loser-out game between No. 1 Bozeman and No. 4 Helena, Sunday at 11 a.m. in the chipper. If the Royals survive Saturday against the Mavs, Missoula will play for the title Sunday after the 11 a.m. game between Saturday’s winners.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Helena tied the game when shortstop Kienan Stief hit an RBI single to score second baseman Colin Sassano, who hit a one-out double.

Missoula took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning when second baseman James Martin hit a shallow sacrifice fly ball to center field that scored Buchanan, who doubled. On a close play at the plate, the Helena catcher dropped the throw that allowed the run.

The Senators tied the game, 3-3, in the fifth inning when right fielder Ryan Arntson hit a two-out RBI single that plated Payton Pappas, who singled.

Missoula broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning when center fielder Nick Yovetich beat out a double play, which scored Buchanan.

The game saw three ties and a lead change in the first five innings, and in the sixth inning the teams were knotted up in runs-hits-errors on the scoreboard 3-7-2.

Buchanan went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple and two RBIs and three runs scored to help lead the Mavs on offense. Ryan McHugh started on the mound and spread nine hits and four walks over seven innings. He allowed only two earned runs and had four strikeouts. Ricky Stevens relieved him in the eighth and allowed three hits, a walk and a run, but ended up getting the victory.

Helena actually ended up out-hitting Missoula, 12-10. Sassano, Stief, and Jackson Maynard each had two hits in the loss. Arnston had two RBIs and a stolen base.

Game 11 box score

Game 10 (loser-out)

No. 2 Billings Royals 11, No. 8 Billings Scarlets 4

Nos. 3, 4, and 5 hitters Jake Orvis, Jarrett Leinwand, and Pearce Kurth combined for nine hits and seven RBIs to help lead the Royals in ending their cross-town rival’s season.

The Royals scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. They expanded a 4-2 lead with a run in the sixth and four more in the seventh to take command. They will face No. 3 Helena on Saturday at a time to be determined by the outcome of Friday night’s Game 11 undefeated semifinal.

Royals starting pitcher Cade Torgerson spread 11 hits and four hits over 6 2/3 innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five to earn the victory on the mound.

Leinwand went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Kurth went 2-for-4 with a double (his fourth of the tourney to get with a homer) and three RBIs. Orvis went 4-for-5 with an RBI and stolen base. No. 6 hitter Sam Evenson had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs. No. 7 hitter Cameron Maciel also added two hits. Each of the Royals’ first five hitters scored twice as the Royals out-hit the Scarlets, 16-13.

For the Scarlets, Ben Tallman and Clay Cebull each went 3-for-5. Brayden Huppert and Dylan Johnson each had two hits, including a double in the loss.

Game 10 box score

Game 9 (loser-out)

No. 1 Bozeman 7, No. 7 Lethbridge 4

Bozeman pitcher Morgan Hostetler pulled 3-1 fastball over the right field wall for a grand slam in the first inning and struck out five in seven innings to help lead the Bucks in eliminating Lethbridge.

The victory assured Bozeman of a top four finish at the tournament. Their opponent and game time on Saturday will be determined based on the outcome of the other two games on Friday.

Lethbridge took an early lead before the grand slam, and got to within 5-3 after three innings and 6-4 in the eighth.

Hostetler allowed nine hits and four walks. Michael Freund relieved him in a jam and pitched to the minimum six batters to earn the save in front of his brother Pat, who had just arrived to the ball park after being deployed in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. He also added a home run in the eighth innings as well in front of his brother.

Bozeman leadoff-hitting left fielder Tyler Dobie and No. 3-hitting second baseman Andrew Purpura were the only Bucks with two hits as they out-hit Lethbridge only 11-9. Dobie had a triple and Purpura also had a stolen base.

Liam Leech and Lukas Ankermann each had two hits in the loss.

Game 9 box score

Day 2: Helena and Missoula advance to undefeated semifinal

Click here for Pitch Smart Initiative: Tournament Pitch Count Data after day 2

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Game 8

No. 4 Helena 7, No. 8 Scarlets 4

With the score knotted up at 3 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Helena’s No. 2-hitting shortstop Kienan Stief hit a 3-2 pitch into left field for a two-run single and the Senators advanced to the undefeated semifinal.

Helena actually broke the tie a pitch before Stief’s hit on a bases-loaded balk, but the shortstop made it a legitimate victory with his fourth hit of the game.

The Senators will play Missoula Friday at 7 p.m. for a berth into the state championship game.

Billings’s Clay Cebull and Helena’s Tanner McMahon were locked in a pitchers’ duel after relieving their teams’ starters in the third inning. McMahon picked up the victory on the mound, by spreading four hits and two walks over the final 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three. Starter Taylor Carlson was knock out of the game when a line drive ricocheted off his pitching wrist in the third.

No. 3 hitter Ray Moore was the only other Senator with more than one hit as Helena out-hit the Scarlets, 11-9. Leadoff hitter Colin Sassano had two RBIs and Moore had one in the victory.

Dylan Johnson and Payton Stovall each had two hits in the loss. Stovall and Cebull each had a double. Ceball, Johnson, Cole Kramer and Ben Tallman each had an RBI.

Game 8 box score

Game 7

No. 3 Missoula 16, No. 7 Lethbridge 1 (8 innings)

Missoula pitcher Dylan Chalmers allowed just six hits and a walk, while striking out five, in earning the complete-game victory, which was shortened to eight innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The Mavs scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held just a 4-1 until the seventh inning. Then they plated six runs apiece in the seventh and eighth innings.

The victory advances Missoula (50-24) to the undefeated semifinal Friday at 7 pm. against the winner of Game 8. Lethbridge (20-21) falls to loser-out action against Bozeman Friday at noon.

Missoula catcher Spencer Schock went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Center fielder Nick Yovetich went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a double and three-run opposite-field homer in the eighth as well. Shortstop Brenden Buchanan had three hits, including a double. Dane Fraser and Drew Leonard added two hits apiece as Missoula out-hit Lethbridge 16-6. One of Leonard’s hits was a triple to the right field wall.

Lethbridge’s Nos. 2 and 3 hitters Wyatt Tomalty and Raleigh Ferby had two hits apiece in the loss. Tomalty had a triple and stolen base.

Game 6 box score

Game 5 (loser-out)

No. 3 Billings Royals 4, No. 6 Great Falls 1

Billings Royals No. 5-hitting third baseman Pearce Kurth hit the first home run of the tournament to lead off the sixth inning and break a 1-1 tie, and it proved to be the game winner as pitchers Brooks Zimmer and Cameron Maciel combined to pitch a four-hitter.

Kurth, who hit three doubles in the opening round but never scored, took matters into his own hands by launching a 1-1 pitch down the left field line and over the wall. Maciel hit a double off the wall near the same spot two batters later, and Atticus Bryan knocked him in with an RBI single into right field. The Royals also added a run on an error in the inning to plate three runs and put the score at its final margin.

Zimmer started on the mound and spread three hits and five walks over six innings while striking out five. He allowed just one run in the second inning, after Great Falls center fielder Bryce Krattiger led off with a triple, with the run was unearned as he got an infield ground ball then struck out the next two. Maciel relieved Zimmer to start the seventh and allowed just one hit the rest of the way while striking out two to earn the save.

Bryan went 3-for-4 and Maciel added two hits as the Royals knocked out nine hits total.

The Royals (29-23) advance to play the loser of Game 8 between the Billings Scarlets and Helena, Friday at 3 p.m.

Great Falls No. 2-hitting first baseman Daniel Bonilla had two of the Chargers’ four hits. Derick Spring started on the mound, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings of work. Only two of the four runs he allowed were recorded as earned.

Game 5 box score

Game 6 (loser-out)

No. 1 Bozeman 14, No. 5 Kalispell 4 (8 innings)

Pitcher Adam Hubley allowed six hits and two walks while striking out eight, and batted in two runs, to earn the complete-game victory, which was shortened by the mercy rule.

Trailing 3-0 after Kalispell scored three runs in the first inning, Bozeman plated nine runs in the third to take command and never looked back.

Bozeman (48-14) advances to play the loser of Game 7 between Missoula and Lethbridge, Friday at noon.

The Bucks out-hit the Lakers, 15-6, and had six stolen bases; and the Lakers committed six errors.

Bozeman center fielder Bailey Paddock and catcher Jake Murfitt each went 3-for-5 and scored three runs in the victory. Paddock also had two stolen bases. Murfitt also had two RBIs, as did Andrew Purpura. Tyler Dobie, Ryan Evenson, and Purpura each had two hits.

Murfitt highlighted the nine-run third inning with a two-run single that broke a 3-3 tie. The Bucks sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and collected seven hits.

Kalispell’s Nos. 3 and 4 hitters Patrick O’Connell and Hayden Schlepp each went 2-for-4 in the loss. Schlepp and Dawson Smith each had an RBI.

Game 6 box score

Day 1: Nos. 7 and 8 seeds pull opening-round upsets

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Game 1

No. 3 Missoula 6, No. 6 Great Falls 2

Missoula catcher Spencer Schock and right fielder Drew Leonard each went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI and pitcher Dyan Barkley struck out 10 batters over eight innings to help lead the Mavs to the opening-round victory.

Leonard drove in the first run of the game in the second inning with an infield ground ball, and Clayton Franke followed with the same thing to put the Mavs up 2-0 and they never looked back. Schock added an RBI double in the third inning to put the score at 3-0. Dane Fraser and Ryan McHugh highlighted a two-run fifth inning with an RBI single and suicide bunt, respectively, to put the Mavs up 5-0. James Martin capped the Mavs scoring with an RBI triple in the sixth.

Barkley spread seven hits and a walk over eight innings, allowing two earned runs, to earn the victory on the mound.

Missoula (49-24) advances to play the winner of Game 3, Thursday at 4 p.m.

Great Falls leadoff hitter Wyatt Bleskin and No. 9 hitter Derick Spring each had two hits to pace the Chargers. No. 2 hitter Keelan Hayworth hit a two-run double in the sixth inning.

Great Falls pitcher Tyler Strickland allowed 10 hits with no walks. Only three of the runs Missoula scored were earned as the Chargers defense committed two costly errors early.

Great Falls swept the regular-season meetings, 7-6 and 3-1 in 11 innings, on July 20-21. The Chargers drop to the loser’s bracket to play the loser of Game 3, Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Game 1 box score

Game 2

No. 4 Helena 7, No. 5 Kalispell 3

Helena pitcher Keaton Ralston spread five hits and three walks over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, while designated hitter Andrew Rosston and center fielder Eamon Byrne each drove in two runs, to help lead the Senators to an opening-round victory.

Ahead 3-0 in the sixth inning, Helena scored three runs to take command of the game. They were ahead 7-0 heading into the ninth inning.

Ralston struck out eight en route to the victory on the mound.

Rosston, Helena’s No. 6 hitter, opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a two-out, two-run single into left field. Byrne highlighted the three-run sixth with another two-out, two-run single.

Helena second baseman and No. 2 hitter Colin Sassano and No. 7 hitting catcher Carter Pappas each had three hits and an RBI. Keinan Stief and Payton Pappas each had two hits in the victory.

Helena (31-23) advances to play the winner of Game 4, Thursday at 7 p.m. Kalispell (30-17) falls into the loser’s bracket to play the loser of Game 4, Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The teams split their regular-season meetings with Helena winning, 4-3, and Kalispell winning, 9-3, on June 27.

Kalispell’s Nos. 1, 2, and 3 hitters—Jonas Nyman, Eric Seaman, and Patrick O’Connell—each had two hits in the loss. Nyman batted in the Lakers’ first two runs in the bottom on the ninth.

Kalispell’s starting pitcher Sam Elliott allowed just two earned runs as the Lakers committed costly errors on defense. He allowed nine hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings.

Game 2 box score

Game 3

No. 7 Lethbridge 10, No. 3 Billings Royals 9

Tied 9-9 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lethbridge No. 7 hitter Zach Goruk hit a 2-2 pitch into left field for the game-winning RBI single, and relief pitcher Torrin Vaselenak stranded runners in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, to help lift the Elks to the first-round upset.

Fans witnessed four ties, four lead changes, 31 total hits, and 22 runners left on base.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the bottom of the fifth inning, Lethbridge plated seven runs to take a 9-4 lead. But the Royals answered right back with a five-run sixth to tie the game, which set up Goruk’s eventual game-winner in the seventh.

­Lethbridge leadoff hitter Liam Leech went 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, while cleanup hitter Vaselenak and Goruk each went 3-for-5, in the victory. Goruk also had two doubles; Vaselenak also had two stolen bases. Raleigh Ferby, Ty Penner, and Lukas Ankerman each had two RBIs.

Vaselenak picked up the victory on the mound in relief of starter Kale Penner. Vaselenak pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out three.

Lethbridge (20-20) advances to play Missoula Thursday at 4 p.m.

The Royals out-hit the Elks, 16-15, in the loss. No. 3 hitter Jake Orvis and No. 7 hitter Pearce Kurth each went 3-for-5 in the loss. Orvis also had three stolen bases. Kurth had three doubles, but never scored. Cleanup hitter Jarret Leinwand had two hits and two RBIs.

The Royals (28-23) will play Great Falls Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in loser-out action.

Game 3 box score

Game 4

No. 8 Billings Scarlets 11, No. 1 Bozeman 5

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning, the bottom-seeded Scarlets scored six runs to take a commanding lead and held on for the upset to the disappointment of a huge hometown Bozeman crowd.

With one out and the bases loaded, Payton Stovall, Ben Tallman, and Christian Michaelson hit three straight RBI singles into left field, then Dylan Johnson followed them up by hammering an 0-2 pitch into left field for a three-run double and an 8-3 lead.

Bozeman got to within 8-4 with a run in the seventh, but the Scarlets plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to put the game out of reach.

Johnson and Cole Kramer each went 3-for-4. All three of Johnson’s hits were doubles; Kramer had two doubles. Taylor Musgrave also added three RBIs in the victory as Billings out-hit Bozeman, 16-11.

The Scarlets advance to play Helena Thursday at 7 p.m. Bozeman will play Kalispell in loser-out action Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Tyler Dobie, Adam Hubley, Jake Buck, and Michael Freund each had two hits in the loss to pace Bozeman.

Game 4 box score

CLICK ON ISCORE LOGO FOR LIVE SCORING OF THE SOUTH A TOURNAMENT

LEWISTON, Idaho--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA Montana American Legion Baseball champions lost to Idaho Falls, Idaho, in extra innings in the championship game of the Northwest Regional Tournament.

Idaho Falls, which had to win a loser-out semifinal earlier in the day, eventually won the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

LEWISTON, Idaho--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball program beat Medford, Ore., in the undefeated semifinal of the 2019 ALB Northwest Regional Tournament to advance to the championship game.

The winner of the chipper advances to the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

However, Idaho Falls, Idaho, beat Bozeman in potential loser-out action, then beat Medford, Ore., in the loser-out semifinal game, and then, eventually beat Bozeman in the championship to advance to the World Series.

IDAHO FALLS ENDED UP REPRESENTING THE NORTHWEST REGION WELL BY WINNING THE WORLD SERIES!

BILLINGS--The Bozeman Bucks beat the host Billings Royals to win their second state title since 2007, and the postseason awards were announced.

2019 Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball

Postseason Awards

Coach of the Year--Brent Hathaway, Missoula

Class AA All-State

Catcher--Ty Wevers, Lethbridge, and Alton Gyselman, Bozeman

1B--Andy Larson, Blgs Scarlets

2B--Ben Hubley, Bozeman

3B--Randy Stultz, Kalispell

SS--Michael Freund, Bozeman; Cal Cromwell, Great Falls

Utility IF--Tradd Richardson, Missoula

OF--Dane Fraser, Missoula; Kelher Murfitt, Bozeman; Andrew Paradise, Great Falls

P--Dann Blanchard, Blgs Royals; Hunter Williams, Bozeman; Thomas Little, Lethbridge; Dylan Chalmers, Missoula

Class AA All-Conference

C--Brenden Concepcion, Blgs Royals

1B--Brendan Schulz, Lethbridge

2B--Matt Krieger, Helena; Kalem Haney, Lethbridge

3B--Dann Blanchard, Blgs Royals

SS--Connor Drish, Kalispell

Utility IF--Connor Hunter, Blgs Royals; Hunter Kirkpatrick, Helena

OF--Ty McGurran, Helena; Brendon Hill, Missoula; Finn Snyder, Bozeman; Ryan Symmes, Kalispell

P--Levi Abbott, Lethbridge; Dane Fraser, Missoula; Cy Miller, Helena; Hunter Kirkpatrick, Helena; Ethan Keintz, Helena; Sage McMinn, Bozeman; Logan Siblerud, Kalispell; Wesley Palmer, Kalispell

BILLINGS, Mont.--The Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball team beat defending state champion Billings Royals, 6-1, on Wednesday, July 31, at Dehler Stadium to win the Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Tournament.

Bozeman will represent MAALB at the Northwest Regional Tournament at Lewis-Clark College in Lewiston, Idaho, starting Friday, Aug. 7. A tournament championship there brings an ALB World Series berth in Shelby, N.C.

BILLINGS, Mont.--The Bozeman Bucks eliminated the Missoula Mavs, 13-5, on Tuesday in Dehler Park and the tourney host and defending state champion Billings Royals survived loser-out action by eliminating No. 4 Lethbridge, 4-3, to both advance into the 2019 Class AA Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Championship game.

First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. Bozeman has not lost in the tournament, so the Royals will have to beat them twice to win the state title. If needed, the second game of the doubleheader would start about 45 minutes after the first game. 

BILLINGS--The No. 2 Bozeman Bucks Class AA American Legion Baseball team beat the defending state champion Billings Royals on Monday, July 29, to advance to the state championship game Wednesday night.

No. 1 Missoula and No. 4 Lethbridge survived loser-out games on Monday.

Bozeman will get the chance to eliminate Missoula on Tuesday, while Lethbridge and Billings face off in loser-out action.

The winners Tuesday advance to championship Wednesday. If Missoula tags a loss on Bozeman Tuesday, the true championship game will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday between Bozeman and the winner of the early game. If Bozeman beats and eliminates Missoula, the winner between Lethbridge-Billings would have to beat Bozeman twice to win the chipper. 

The state champion advances to the Northwest Regional in Lewiston, Idaho. The winner of the regional advances to the World Series in Shelby, N.C.

BILLINGS--The defending state champion Royals knocked off top-seeded Missoula, and No. 2 Bozeman beat Helena, on Sunday, July 28, in Dehler Stadium to advance to the undefeated semifinal of the Class AA MAALB State Tournament.

The No. 5 Royals beat Missoula, 3-1. Bozeman beat Helena, 8-2. They will play Monday at 7 p.m. with a berth into the state championship game on the line.

The Billings Scarlets and Lethbridge survived loser-out games to advance to Monday's action. No. 4 Lethbridge will play No. 6 Helena. The No. 6 Scarlets will play No. 1 Missoula.

Tuesday's pairings and game times can not be announced until after the undefeated semifinal game. With the top four teams left, previous opponents should not be matched up. If that can't be avoided, the most-recent matchup should be avoided. The winner of the undefeated semifinal gets the 7 p.m. game.

BILLINGS--The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, Missoula and Bozeman, won their opening round games at the 2019 Class AA Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball State Tournament on Saturday, July 27, at Dehler Stadium.

No. 6 Helena and the No. 5 Billings Royals also won their opening games.

The Billings Royals swept Great Falls in a doubleheader to move up to No. 5, the Bozeman Bucks beat the Billings Scarlets to forge a tie for No. 1, No. 4 Lethbridge beat No. 1 Missoula, and all of the pairings for day 1 of MAALB's Class AA State Tournament were set on Monday, July 22.

With Missoula and Bozeman finished in a first-place tie with 17-7 records, the tiebreaker was won by Missoula, which beat Bozeman, 2-1, during the conference regular season to claim the No. 1 seed. No. 1 Missoula will play No. 8 Great Falls on day 1. No. 2 Bozeman will play the No. 7 Billings Scarlets.

Kalispell and Lethbridge tied for the No. 3 seed with 14-10 records, but Kalispell swept the regular-season conference games to win the higher seed. No. 3 Kalispell will play No. 6 Helena. 

No. 4 Lethbridge will play the standings-jumping and state tournament host No. 5 Billings Royals. The defending state champs host the 7 p.m. game on Saturday, July 27.

*The Missoula Mavs beat the Bozeman Bucks, 2-1, in conference games to win the No. 1 seed; Bozeman is No. 2. 

*The Kalispell Lakers swept conference games against the Lethbridge Elks to win the No. 3 seed at the state tournament; Lethbridge is No. 4.

Standings updated with all games, as of July 22, 2019. Regular season comprised of 24 conference games. Top eight teams advance to state tournament in Billings, July 27-30. 

Class AA Scholarship
Walker Bennett, Helena

State Championship
Helena Senators 2, Billings Scarlets 1

State Tournament MVP
Aaron Fuzesy, Helena

State Tournament Batting Champion
Hunter Doyle, Blgs Scarlets

Coach of the Year

Jon Burnett, Helena; Adam Hust, Blgs Scarlets

Class AA All-State Team

P-Drew McDowell, Blgs Scarlets; Jaiden Turner, Blgs Royals; Will Lyng, Helena; Scotty Klinker, Great Falls

C-Cole Graham, Helena

1B-Carter Perlinski, Helena; Evan Morrison, Medicine Hat

2B-Sy Waldren, Blgs Royals

3B-Nathan McDonalds, Blgs Scarlets

SS-Bohden Bahnmiller, Helena

OF-Henry Black, Missoula; Hunter Doyle, Blgs Scarlets; Aaron Fuzesy, Helena

Utility-Walker Bennett, Helena

Class AA All-Conference Team

P-Luke Dowdy, Helena; Chris Compton, Missoula; Max Holden, Kalispell

C-Brinkley Evans, Great Falls

2B-Colin Boyce, Missoula

3B-Tycen Mooney, Helena

SS-Bryce Hampton, Bozeman

OF-Manu Melo, Helena; Jeff Bullock, Medicine Hat; Davis Chakos, Blgs Royals

Utility-Lane Seim, Great Falls

What a game! Senators score a run in 5th and 6th innings to rally for 2-1 title game victory over Scarlets

MISSOULA--For the second time in three years, coach Jon Burnett's Helena Senators are state champions.

The Senators rallied for a 2-1 title game victory over the Billings Scarlets on Wednesday afternoon to advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo.

Trailing 1-0 through 4 1/2 innings, the Senators scored a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to help starting pitcher Luke Dowdy earn a compete-game victory on the mound.

Tied 1-1 with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and runners on second and third base after a sacrifice bunt by Helena catcher Cole Graham, center fielder Manu Melo hit an 0-2 pitch into a hard ground ball to a drawn-in infield and the ball was mishandled on the transfer to throw the ball home and pinch runner Colt Tietje slid into home for the game-winning run. Tietje was pinch running for designated hitter Walker Bennett, who singled on a ground ball up the middle to lead off the inning.

Dowdy then capped his complete-game victory by stranding the potential tying run on first base with a ground ball to shortstop Bohden Bahnmiller, who flipped the ball to second baseman Aaron Fuzesy for the force out, to end the game.

Fuzesy was named the tournament MVP after earning the tourney's first-complete game victory on the mound in the second round. In that game, he allowed just two hits while striking out three. On offense, he hit .333 (7-for-21) with two doubles and a team-leading six RBIs. He also scored twice and stole a base.

Dowdy spread four hits and three walks over seven innings of work, while striking out three. 

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Senators tied the game when Tycen Mooney hit a one-out, 1-1 pitch into a line drive into left field for RBI single, plating Melo. Melo led off the inning with single into centefield. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Ark. Melo stole third base before Mooney's big hit.

Mooney, the Senators' leadoff-hitting third baseman, was the only player in the game with more than one hit, as Helena out-hit the Scarlets, 7-4.

The Scarlets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when right fielder Hunter Doyle hit a two-out, 3-2 pitch into left field to score Kade Vatnsdal, who singled into left field to lead off the inning.

Doyle was named the state tournament batting champion, after hitting .500 (7-for-14), with a triple, through five games. He also had four runs scored, four RBIs, four walks, and a stolen base.

Billings starting pitcher Nathan Swandal absorbed the loss on the mound after hurling five innings of seven-hit ball. He allowed a walk while striking out one.

In seven of the last 10 years, Montana has been within one inning of winning the regional tourney, and earning an ALB World Series berth. Montana has not had a team advance to the ALWS since the 1950s.

BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Nolan Berkram         4  0  0  0  Tycen Mooney          3  0  2  1  
Kyler Northrop        3  0  1  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  0  
Nate McDonald         2  0  0  0  Lance Bratlien        2  0  1  0  
Hunter Doyle          3  0  1  1  Carter Perlinski      3  0  0  0  
Rocco Gioiso          3  0  1  0  Walker Bennett        3  0  1  0  
Jaden Sanchez         3  0  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  0  1  0  
Colter Wilson         2  0  0  0  Cole Graham           2  0  0  0  
Zach Stewart          2  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  1  1  0  
Kade Vatnsdal         3  1  1  0  Sam Ark               2  0  0  0  
                                  *Colt Tietje          0  1  0  0  
TOTALS               25  1  4  1  TOTALS               25  2  7  1

BILLINGS SCARLETS             001 000 0 -- 1  
HELENA SENATORS               000 011 x -- 2  

LOB--BILLINGS SCARLETS 5, HELENA SENATORS 9. ERR--Drew
McDowell, Jaden Sanchez , Lance Bratlien, Tycen Mooney.
SACB--Cole Graham, Sam Ark. SB--Manu Melo, Tycen Mooney,
Aaron Fuzesy.

 BILLINGS SCARLETS               IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Nathan Swandal                 5.00    7    2    1    1    1    0
Drew McDowell (L)              1.00    0    0    0    1    2    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Luke Dowdy (W)                 7.00    4    1    1    3    3    0

SO--Zach Stewart, Hunter Doyle, Colter Wilson, Carter
Perlinski, Sam Ark, Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Zach Stewart, Nate
McDonald, Colter Wilson, Lance Bratlien, Tycen Mooney.

It's No. 1 Helena versus No. 2 Billings Scarlets for the state championship

MISSOULA--It'll be No. 1 versus No. 2 for the state title game Wednesday.

No. 1 Helena knocked out No. 3 Great Falls, 6-0, and No. 2 Billings eliminated No. 5 Missoula, 7-0, Tuesday. They will face each other Wednesday at 1 p.m. for all the marbles. Winner advances to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo. The regional champ will advance to the ALB World Series in Shelby, N.C.

No. 1 Helena 6, No. 3 Great Falls 0

Helena pitcher Lance Bratlien struck out six while allowing just two hits in earning a complete-game shutout.

Helena third baseman and leadoff hitter Tycen Mooney and shortstop Bahnmiller each had two hits to help pace the Senators on offense.

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Brinkley Evans        4  0  0  0  Tycen Mooney          4  1  2  1  
Trigg Mapes           1  0  0  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  1  1  1  
Landen Lockwood       3  0  1  0  Walker Bennett        4  0  0  0  
Lane Seim             3  0  1  0  Carter Perlinski      1  1  1  1  
Seamus Sullivan       2  0  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  1  2  0  
Mason Davis           2  0  0  0  Cole Graham           2  0  0  0  
Scotty Klinker        3  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  1  1  1  
Cole Pace             3  0  0  0  Brayden Beatty        2  0  1  1  
Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  Sam Ark               2  1  1  1  
TOTALS               24  0  2  0  TOTALS               25  6  9  6

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          000 000 0 -- 0  
HELENA SENATORS               200 220 x -- 6  

LOB--GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 7, HELENA SENATORS 6. ERR--Bo
Bohnmiller. 2B--Tycen Mooney, Aaron Fuzesy, Bo Bohnmiller.
HBP--Cole Graham. SACF--Carter Perlinski. SACB--Sam Ark.
SB--Seamus Sullivan, Manu Melo (2), Sam Ark.

 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS            IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Liam Sullivan (L)              4.67    9    6    6    2    0    0
Chris Nichols                  1.33    0    0    0    0    0    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Lance Bratlien (W)             7.00    2    0    0    4    6    0

SO--Scotty Klinker, Cole Pace, Seamus Sullivan, Landen
Lockwood, Lane Seim (2). BB--Seamus Sullivan, Mason Davis,
Trigg Mapes (2), Carter Perlinski, Brayden Beatty.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 7, No. 5 Missoula 0

Billings Scarlets pitcher Nolan Berkram struck out seven while allowing five hits and a walk en route to a complete-game shutout.

The Scarlets broke open a 0-0 game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Nate McDonald bases-loaded walk before right fielder Hunter Doyle roped a 2-1 pitch into a three-run triple to the right-center field fence.

It proved all the Scarlets needed as Berkram used 102 pitches to finish it off.

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Chris Compton         3  0  1  0  Nolan Berkram         4  1  1  0  
Carter Taylor         2  0  0  0  Kyler Northrop        0  2  0  0  
Henry Black           3  0  1  0  Nate McDonald         2  2  1  1  
Owen McGuinn          3  0  0  0  Hunter Doyle          2  1  1  3  
Easton Reimers        3  0  2  0  Rocco Gioiso          4  0  1  1  
Colter Nicolarson     3  0  0  0  Jaden Sanchez         4  0  0  0  
Rylan Davis           2  0  0  0  Colter Wilson         2  0  0  0  
 Finn Davis           1  0  0  0  Zach Stewart          3  0  2  0  
Jace Bykari           2  0  0  0  Kade Vatnsdal         3  1  1  0  
 Luke Thorne          1  0  0  0                                    
Colin Boyce           1  0  0  0                                    
 Sam Matosich         2  0  0  0                                    
TOTALS               26  0  4  0  TOTALS               24  7  7  5

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            000 000 0 -- 0  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             000 502 x -- 7  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 6, BILLINGS SCARLETS 8. ERR--Sam
Matosich, Kyler Northrop. 2B--Kade Vatnsdal. 3B--Henry
Black, Hunter Doyle. SB--Carter Taylor.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Sam Matosich                   3.33    4    3    3    6    2    0
Owen McGuinn (L)               2.67    3    4    3    3    1    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Nolan Berkram (W)              7.00    4    0    0    1    7    0

WP--Owen McGuinn (2). SO--Jace Bykari, Colter Nicolarson,
Luke Thorne, Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn (2), Rylan Davis,
Rocco Gioiso (2), Jaden Sanchez. BB--Carter Taylor, Hunter
Doyle (2), Nate McDonald (2), Colter Wilson, Kyler Northrop
(4).

No. 1 Helena beats No. 2 Scarlets in undefeated semifinal; No. 3 Great Falls, No. 5 Missoula win loser-out games

MISSOULA--The Senators finally got the monkey off their back.

No. 1 Helena beat the No. 2 Billings Scarlets, 6-4, on Monday night in the undefeated semifinal to advance to the state title game Wednesday. It was the Senators first undefeated semifinal victory in four straight tries.

No. 1 Helena will play No. 3 Great Falls on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The No. 2 Billings Scarlets will play No. 5 Missoula Tuesday at 4 p.m.

In the day's first loser-out game, Great Falls beat Medicine Hat 11-8. In the second loser-out game, Missoula beat Bozeman, 14-5.

No. 1 Helena 6, No. 2 Billings Scarlets 4

BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Nolan Berkram         4  1  4  1  Tycen Mooney          4  0  2  0  
Kyler Northrop        3  0  0  0  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  0  
Nate McDonald         4  0  0  0  Lance Bratlien        2  1  0  0  
Hunter Doyle          4  1  2  0  Carter Perlinski      2  1  0  0  
Rocco Gioiso          3  1  1  1  Bo Bohnmiller         3  1  1  0  
Jaden Sanchez         3  0  0  0  Walker Bennett        3  2  2  3  
Colter Wilson         3  1  1  0  Cole Graham           3  1  2  1  
Drew McDowell         3  0  0  0  Manu Melo             3  0  2  1  
Kade Vatnsdal         3  0  0  0  Sam Ark               3  0  1  1  
TOTALS               30  4  8  2  TOTALS               27  6 11  6

BILLINGS SCARLETS             120 010 0 -- 4  
HELENA SENATORS               024 000 x -- 6  

LOB--BILLINGS SCARLETS 6, HELENA SENATORS 7. ERR--Carter
Perlinski, Cole Graham, Manu Melo, Aaron Fuzesy. 2B--Nolan
Berkram, Cole Graham, Tycen Mooney, Walker Bennett.
HBP--Carter Perlinski (2), Lance Bratlien. SB--Rocco Gioiso,
Hunter Doyle, Manu Melo.

 BILLINGS SCARLETS               IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Zach Stewart (L)               2.33    7    6    6    1    1    0
Nathan Swandal                 3.67    4    0    0    0    0    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Will Lyng (W)                  6.67    8    4    1    1    5    0
Seth Nielson (S)               0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

SO--Drew McDowell, Nate McDonald (2), Jaden Sanchez, Kade
Vatnsdal, Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Kyler Northrop, Lance Bratlien.

No. 5 Missoula 14, No. 6 Bozeman 5

Trailing 5-2 in the second inning, Missoula gradually clawed its way back back scoring 12 unanswered runs. 

Trailing 5-4 in the fourth inning, the Mavs plated five runs to take command and never looked back.

Missoula pitcher Ethan Reimers earned the tourney's second complete-game victory, striking out five while spreading out seven hits and a walk.

Right fielder Henry Black went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and four RBIs. Left fielder Chris Compton, center fielder Carter Taylor, designated hitter Owen McGuinn, and second baseman Colin Boyce each collected two hits in the win. Compton had a double and three RBIs.

Missoula out-hit Bozeman, 15-7, as the Bucks had to go through five different pitchers.

Bozeman was paced on offense by outfielder Dylon Poulin (3 hits) and Austin Cooper (2 hits and 2 RBIs). The Bucks season ended with a  26-34 overall record.

BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI  MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI
Luke Rizzo            4  0  0  0  Chris Compton         3  2  2  3  
Dylan Poulin          4  2  3  0  Carter Taylor         3  2  2  0  
Bryce Hampton         3  1  1  1  Sam Matosich          3  2  1  1  
Josh Woodberry        4  1  1  1  Henry Black           5  2  3  4  
Quinn Pershing        3  1  0  0  Owen McGuinn          2  1  2  1  
Austin Cooper         2  0  2  2  Finn Davis            3  0  1  1  
Joey Sterner          2  0  0  0  Rylan Davis           3  1  1  0  
Jack Nye              3  0  0  0  Jace Bykari           2  2  1  1  
Easton Martin         3  0  0  0  Colin Boyce           3  2  2  0  
TOTALS               28  5  7  4  TOTALS               27 14 15 11

BOZEMAN BUCKS                 410 000 0 -- 5  
MISSOULA MAVERICKS            211 523 x -- 14 

LOB--BOZEMAN BUCKS 6, MISSOULA MAVERICKS 7. ERR--Luke Rizzo,
Jack Nye, Jace Bykari, Colin Boyce, Rylan Davis. 2B--Henry
Black, Chris Compton. 3B--Owen McGuinn. HR--Henry Black.
HBP--Quinn Pershing, Bryce Hampton, Carter Taylor, Chris
Compton (2). SACF--Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn. SACB--Joey
Sterner, Finn Davis. SB--Austin Cooper.

 BOZEMAN BUCKS                   IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Justin Garcia                  3.00    8    6    5    0    2    0
Quinn Pershing (L)             0.00    2    3    3    2    0    0
Easton Martin                  2.00    2    2    2    3    0    1
Dylan Poulin                   0.00    2    3    3    2    0    0
Joey Sterner                   1.00    1    0    0    0    0    0
 MISSOULA MAVERICKS         
Easton Reimers (W)             7.00    7    5    4    1    5    0

WP--Dylan Poulin, Quinn Pershing. SO--Easton Martin, Luke
Rizzo, Josh Woodberry, Jack Nye (2), Henry Black, Sam
Matosich. BB--Austin Cooper, Jace Bykari (2), Colin Boyce,
Sam Matosich, Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn, Rylan Davis.

No. 3 Great Falls 11, No. 8 Medicine Hat 5 (loser-out game)

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Chargers used a seven-run inning to take control and never looked back.

Right fielder Seamus Sullivan had a three-run, inside-the-park home run, while shortstop Trigg Mapes and first baseman Lane Seim each collected two RBIs, to pace the Chargers on offense. Seim went 3-for-4.

Great Falls starting pitcher Shane Jefferson nearly got a complete-game victory, becoming the third pitcher in the tournament to go 6 2/3 innings before hitting a pitch count. He spread 10 hits and a walk out and almost got away with giving up only two runs before Medicine Hat first baseman Evan Morrison jacked a thee-run home run over the right field fence with two outs in the seventh innings.

Morrison finished the game 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. He hit two home runs in the tournament.

Medicine Hat actually out-hit the Chargers, 11-10, in the loss. The Moose Monarchs finished their season with a 21-24 overall record, but were the No. 2 scoring team during the conference regular season, which rolled over into the tournament and put pressure on all three opponents.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        3  1  1  0  Brinkley Evans        3  2  1  1  
Jeff Bullock          3  0  0  0  Trigg Mapes           2  1  1  2  
 Koby Eskrestrand     1  1  1  0  Landen Lockwood       4  0  1  1  
Evan Morrison         4  2  4  3  Seamus Sullivan       4  1  1  3  
Trevin Ressler        4  1  1  0  Lane Seim             4  1  3  2  
Ryler Staarup         3  0  1  2  Mason Davis           3  1  1  0  
Graceon Little        2  0  0  0  Scotty Klinker        3  1  0  0  
Kayne Olinski         3  0  0  0   Cole Pace            1  0  1  0  
Cade Harrison         3  0  3  0  Noah Bandarauhb       3  1  0  0  
Aiden Eckersall       2  0  0  0  Liam Sullivan         1  3  1  0  
 Brodie Walter        1  0  0  0                                    
TOTALS               29  5 11  5  TOTALS               28 11 10  9

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         200 000 3 -- 5  
GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          001 730 x -- 11 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 5, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 8.
ERR--Ryler Staarup. 2B--Kyle Woolridge, Cole Pace. HR--Evan
Morrison, Seamus Sullivan. HBP--Graceon Little, Brinkley
Evans. SB--Ryler Staarup.

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Ryler Staarup (L)              3.67    8    8    4    3    2    1
Kayne Olinski                  0.33    0    3    3    3    0    0
Kyle Woolridge                 2.00    2    0    0    3    1    0
 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS       
Shane Jefferson (W)            6.67   10    4    4    1    5    0
Dawson Cook                    0.33    1    1    1    0    0    1

WP--Kyle Woolridge, Shane Jefferson. SO--Aiden Eckersall
(2), Ryler Staarup, Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Noah
Bandarauhb (2), Landen Lockwood. BB--Kyle Woolridge, Noah
Bandarauhb, Mason Davis, Brinkley Evans, Liam Sullivan (3),
Trigg Mapes (3).

Helena plates 6 in 6th to break tie; Scarlets romp Great Falls; Bozeman, Med Hat win loser-out games

MISSOULA--The state has been put on notice after the No. 2 Billings Scarlets flexed their muscles on Sunday.

A day after being three-hit, and struggling to escape a 1-0 victory in the first round of the state tournament, the Scarlets walloped Great Falls, 17-3, in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule. With the victory, the Scarlets advanced to Monday's undefeated semifinal to play No. 1 Helena at 7 p.m.

In the other winners' bracket game, No. 1 Helena broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring six runs en route to beating No. 5 Missoula, 8-2. 

With the loss, Great Falls fell to the losers' bracket in a game against Medicine Hat at 1 p.m. Monday. Missoula will play Bozeman at 4 p.m. on Monday.

In loser-out action in Sunday's first two games, No. 6 Bozeman and No. 8 Medicine Hat survived with victories to advance into Monday action. It was the first state tournament victory for Medicine Hat in nine years, in 2014 when it beat Missoula in the first round in Lethbridge.

No. 1 Helena 8, No. 5 Missoula 2
Helena pitcher Aaron Fuzesy spread out three hits, five walks, and four hit batters to earn a complete-game victory. He struck out 4.

Helena out-hit Missoula, 7-3, as the Mavs committed seven errors.

Helena shortstop Bohden Bahnmiller had two hits and scored twice to pace the Senators. Centerfielder Manu Melo and catcher Cole Graham each had two RBIs.

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Carter Taylor         2  1  1  0  Tycen Mooney          4  1  1  0  
Sam Matosich          3  0  1  1  Aaron Fuzesy          4  0  1  1  
Henry Black           2  0  0  1  Lance Bratlien        4  0  1  1  
Owen McGuinn          3  0  0  0  Carter Perlinski      3  2  0  0  
Finn Davis            3  0  1  0  Bo Bohnmiller         3  2  2  0  
Easton Reimers        3  0  0  0  Cole Graham           3  1  1  2  
Rylan Davis           2  0  0  0  Manu Melo             2  1  1  2  
Colter Nicolarson     2  0  0  0  Brayden Beatty        3  0  0  0  
Colin Boyce           2  1  0  0  Sam Ark               2  1  1  1  
TOTALS               22  2  3  2  TOTALS               28  8  8  7

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            100 010 0 -- 2  
HELENA SENATORS               010 106 x -- 8  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 9, HELENA SENATORS 5. ERR--Colter
Nicolarson, Colin Boyce (3), Chris Compton, Lance Bratlien,
Tycen Mooney, Aaron Fuzesy. 2B--Manu Melo. HBP--Colter
Nicolarson, Finn Davis, Owen McGuinn, Rylan Davis, Sam Ark.
SACF--Henry Black. SACB--Manu Melo. SB--Bo Bohnmiller.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Chris Compton (L)              6.00    8    8    2    1    8    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Aaron Fuzesy (W)               7.00    3    2    2    5    4    0

WP--Chris Compton, Aaron Fuzesy (3). SO--Colter Nicolarson,
Sam Matosich, Owen McGuinn (2), Carter Perlinski (2), Lance
Bratlien, Manu Melo, Brayden Beatty, Sam Ark, Tycen Mooney,
Aaron Fuzesy. BB--Henry Black, Colin Boyce, Sam Matosich,
Carter Taylor (2), Carter Perlinski.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 17, No. 3 Great Falls 3 (5 innings)
The Scarlets scored at least two runs in the first four innings before erupting for seven in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

The Scarlets collected 17 hits and three walks without striking out. All but two players had at least two hits. Third baseman Nate McDonald led the way with three hits, including the tournament's second home run. He finished with three RBIs. Second baseman Jaden Sanchez and shortstop Kyler Northrup led the team with four RBIs apiece.

Billings starting pitcher Hunter Doyle picked up the complete-game victory, spreading seven hits and three walks over the five innings. He struck out three.

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  Nolan Berkram         3  3  2  2  
Brinkley Evans        3  0  1  0  Kyler Northrop        4  2  2  4  
Trigg Mapes           3  1  1  0  Nate McDonald         4  3  3  3  
Landen Lockwood       3  0  1  1  Hunter Doyle          2  2  2  0  
Seamus Sullivan       2  1  1  0  Rocco Gioiso          3  2  2  3  
Lane Seim             1  1  1  0  Jaden Sanchez         4  1  2  4  
Mason Davis           3  0  1  1  Colter Wilson         3  2  2  0  
Scotty Klinker        2  0  1  0  Kade Vatnsdal         3  0  0  0  
Noah Bandarauhb       2  0  0  0  Jaxson Brandt         1  0  0  0  
                                   Zach Stewart         2  2  2  1  
TOTALS               22  3  7  2  TOTALS               29 17 17 17

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          010 11 -- 3  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             323 9x -- 17 

LOB--GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 8, BILLINGS SCARLETS 5.
ERR--Landen Lockwood, Liam Sullivan. 2B--Scotty Klinker,
Landen Lockwood, Lane Seim, Rocco Gioiso, Kyler Northrop,
Nolan Berkram. 3B--Seamus Sullivan, Rocco Gioiso. HR--Nate
McDonald. HBP--Lane Seim, Nolan Berkram. SACF--Rocco Gioiso.
SB--Nolan Berkram.

 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS            IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Austin Armstrong (L)           3.00    9    8    6    1    0    1
Walker Parsons                 0.67    6    8    8    2    0    0
Mason Davis                    0.33    2    1    1    0    0    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Hunter Doyle (W)               5.00    7    3    3    3    3    0

PB--Brinkley Evans. WP--Hunter Doyle (3). SO--Noah
Bandarauhb (2), Liam Sullivan. BB--Scotty Klinker, Seamus
Sullivan, Lane Seim, Hunter Doyle (2), Colter Wilson.

No. 8 Medicine Hat 11, No. 4 Billings Royals 10
In a game that featured six ties and three lead changes, Medicine Hat rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh inning when left fielder Jeffrey Bullock hit a two-out, two-run single up the middle.

Then Ryler Straarup came in and closed the game from the mound, stranding the Royals' tying run on second base with a groundout to shortstop to send the defending state champions home, 0-2 after scoring 19 runs in their two games at state.

Bullock finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs. First baseman Evan Morrison added two hits, including the tournament first home run, and two RBIs. Straarup also had two hits. Leadoff hitter Kyle Woolridge collected three RBIs.

Ryan Denowh went 2-for-3 with four RBIs to help pace the Royals. Left fielder/pitcher Nate Kojetin had two hits and two RBIs. Third baseman/pitcher Sy Waldron also had two hits in the loss.

The Royals season ended with a 33-31 overall record.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS ROYALS      AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        4  1  1  3  Davis Chakos          5  1  1  0  
Jeff Bullock          4  1  3  5  Sy Waldron            4  3  2  0  
Evan Morrison         4  2  2  2  Davis Mosier          1  3  0  0  
Trevin Ressler        4  0  0  1  Carson Jenkins        1  2  0  1  
Ryler Staarup         4  1  2  0  Ryan Denowh           3  1  2  4  
Graceon Little        3  1  0  0  Jaiden Turner         3  0  0  1  
Kayne Olinski         4  0  1  0  Ethan Chaney          3  0  0  1  
Cade Harrison         4  2  1  0  Nathan Kojetin        4  0  2  2  
Aiden Eckersall       1  2  0  0  Kayden Keith          4  0  1  0  
*Fischer Haysom       0  1  0  0                                    
TOTALS               32 11 10 11  TOTALS               28 10  8  9

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         200 114 3 -- 11 
BILLINGS ROYALS               300 142 0 -- 10 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 7, BILLINGS ROYALS 7. ERR--Aiden
Eckersall, Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge, Cade Harrison, Sy
Waldron (2), Davis Mosier. 2B--Kyle Woolridge. HR--Evan
Morrison. HBP--Kyle Woolridge, Ryan Denowh, Davis Mosier,
Jaiden Turner, Carson Jenkins. SACF--Jeff Bullock, Ethan
Chaney. SB--Evan Morrison, Aiden Eckersall, Ryler Staarup,
Davis Chakos, Ryan Denowh, Sy Waldron, Davis Mosier.

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Trevin Ressler                 4.00    4    7    5    4    2    0
Cade Harrison                  1.33    2    3    3    1    1    0
Kayne Olinski (W)              0.67    1    0    0    0    0    0
Ryler Staarup (S)              1.00    1    0    0    0    1    0
 BILLINGS ROYALS            
Davis Mosier                   5.00    4    4    3    2    3    1
Sy Waldron                     1.00    3    4    4    2    1    0
Nathan Kojetin (L)             1.00    3    3    3    1    2    0

WP--Trevin Ressler, Davis Mosier. BALK--Cade Harrison.
SO--Aiden Eckersall, Kyle Woolridge (2), Cade Harrison,
Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Davis Chakos, Sy Waldron,
Jaiden Turner, Carson Jenkins. BB--Evan Morrison, Aiden
Eckersall (3), Graceon Little, Sy Waldron, Davis Mosier (2),
Carson Jenkins (2).

No. 6 Bozeman 5, No. 7 Kalispell 2
Bozeman pitcher Bryce Hampton nearly got the complete-game victory, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He spread out three hits, three walks, and five hit batters while striking out just one.

Bozeman broke open a 1-1 tie with a four-run fifth inning. 

Right fielder Joshua Woodberry went 3-for-3, and Hampton added two hits, in the victory.

The Lakers season ended with a 34-22 overall record. 

KALISPELL LAKERS     AB  R  H BI  BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI
Ostyn Brennan         2  1  0  0  Luke Rizzo            4  0  1  1  
Adam Nikunen          4  0  1  1  Cole Smith            4  0  0  0  
Max Holden            3  0  0  0  Bryce Hampton         4  1  2  0  
Oscar Callis          3  0  0  0  Josh Woodberry        3  1  3  0  
Carter Schlegel       2  0  2  0  Quinn Pershing        1  1  0  0  
Kaden Drish           3  0  0  0  Austin Cooper         2  0  0  0  
Joey Thatcher         3  0  0  0  Jadin Frandsen        1  1  0  0  
Nate Skonard          2  1  0  0   Dylan Poulin         2  1  1  2  
Tim Glanville         1  0  1  0  Joey Sterner          3  0  0  0  
                                  Jarrett Herz          2  0  0  0  
TOTALS               23  2  4  1  TOTALS               26  5  7  3

KALISPELL LAKERS              010 000 1 -- 2  
BOZEMAN BUCKS                 010 040 x -- 5  

LOB--KALISPELL LAKERS 8, BOZEMAN BUCKS 7. ERR--Tim
Glanville, Adam Nikunen. 2B--Dylan Poulin. HBP--Carter
Schlegel, Max Holden, Ostyn Brennan (2), Oscar Callis.
SB--Carter Schlegel, Luke Rizzo, Jadin Frandsen.

 KALISPELL LAKERS                IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Ostyn Brennan (L)              4.33    6    4    2    4    4    0
Carter Schlegel                1.67    1    1    0    0    1    0
 BOZEMAN BUCKS              
Bryce Hampton (W)              6.67    4    2    2    3    1    0
Quinn Pershing                 0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

WP--Quinn Pershing. SO--Joey Thatcher, Joey Sterner, Cole
Smith, Austin Cooper, Luke Rizzo, Quinn Pershing. BB--Nate
Skonard, Tim Glanville (2), Jarrett Herz, Austin Cooper,
Quinn Pershing (2).

Scarlets' McDowell pitches no-no in 1-0 game 2 win; Great Falls beats Bozeman in game 1; Helena, Missoula win

MISSOULA--Day 1 of the 2023 Class AA MAALB State Tournament saw a no-hitter get pitched.

Billings Scarlets returning All-State pitcher Drew McDowell no hit the Kalispell Lakers in a 1-0 victory in game 2 of the day. The Great Falls Chargers beat Bozeman, 6-2, in game 1. The Scarlets and Chargers will face off Sunday at 4 p.m.

In game 3, No. 1 Helena outlasted No. 8 Medicine, 14-10. In the nightcap, host No. 5 Missoula beat the No. 4 Billings Royals, 12-9. Helena faces Missoula Sunday at 7 p.m.

In loser-out action, Kalispell will face Bozeman at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Medicine Hat will see the Billings Royals at 1 p.m.

No. 2 Billings Scarlets 1,  No. 7 Kalispell 0
Billings pitcher Drew McDowell used an 82 mph fastball mixed with a slider and a changeup to no hit Kalispell in a 1-0 victory in game 2.

McDowell struck out six, walked one and hit one batter. He was pulled at 80 pitches with a 1-2 count on Kalispell's last batter, so he could return after four days rest and pitch in the championship, if possible. Kolten Wynia relieved him and used two pitches to get the save.

The Scarlets scored their only run in the third inning when Nathan McDonald hit an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Scarlets had just three hits as Kalispell pitcher Max Holden struck out five and walked none. The only run he allowed was unearned after the Lakers committed an error on defense.

KALISPELL LAKERS     AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS SCARLETS    AB  R  H BI
Ostyn Brennan         2  0  0  0  Nolan Berkram         3  0  1  0  
Adam Nikunen          3  0  0  0  Zach Stewart          3  0  0  0  
Max Holden            3  0  0  0  Nate McDonald         2  0  0  1  
Oscar Callis          2  0  0  0  Hunter Doyle          3  0  1  0  
Carter Schlegel       1  0  0  0  Kyler Northrop        1  0  0  0  
Kaden Drish           2  0  0  0  Rocco Gioiso          2  0  0  0  
Kane Morisaki         2  0  0  0  Jaden Sanchez         2  0  0  0  
Nate Skonard          2  0  0  0  Colter Wilson         2  1  1  0  
Tim Glanville         1  0  0  0  Kade Vatnsdal         2  0  0  0  
TOTALS               18  0  0  0  TOTALS               20  1  3  1

KALISPELL LAKERS              000 000 0 -- 0  
BILLINGS SCARLETS             001 000 x -- 1  

LOB--KALISPELL LAKERS 1, BILLINGS SCARLETS 3. ERR--Kane
Morisaki. HBP--Oscar Callis, Tim Glanville, Kyler Northrop.
SACF--Nate McDonald. SACB--Carter Schlegel.

 KALISPELL LAKERS                IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Max Holden (L)                 6.00    3    1    0    0    5    0
 BILLINGS SCARLETS          
Drew McDowell (W)              6.67    0    0    0    1    6    0
Kolten Wynia (S)               0.33    0    0    0    0    1    0

SO--Carter Schlegel, Max Holden (2), Oscar Callis (2), Nate
Skonard, Tim Glanville, Rocco Gioiso, Colter Wilson, Kyler
Northrop, Kade Vatnsdal, Nolan Berkram. BB--Ostyn Brennan.

No. 1 Helena 14,  No. 8 Medicine Hat 10
A game after fans witnessed one run and three hits in an hour and 20-minute game, Helena and Med Hat combined for 24 runs, 19 hits, and six errors. seven pitchers, and 16 walks in a 2 1/2-hour game.

In the end, Helena's offense did enough to outlast Med Hat with five runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings that proved to be the difference.

Helena second baseman Aaron Fuzesy went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBIs to lead the way in the win.

MEDICINE HAT MONARCH AB  R  H BI  HELENA SENATORS      AB  R  H BI
Kyle Woolridge        3  2  1  1  Tycen Mooney          1  3  0  1  
Jeff Bullock          3  1  2  3  Aaron Fuzesy          5  1  3  4  
Evan Morrison         4  0  2  2  Lance Bratlien        4  3  2  2  
Trevin Ressler        4  0  0  1  Carter Perlinski      4  2  3  1  
Ryler Staarup         3  1  0  1  Walker Bennett        2  1  0  0  
Graceon Little        3  1  1  0   Seth Nielson         1  0  0  0  
Kayne Olinski         3  1  0  0  Bo Bohnmiller         4  2  1  2  
 Koby Eskrestrand     0  1  0  0  Cole Graham           4  0  1  1  
Cade Harrison         2  2  0  0  Manu Melo             3  0  0  0  
Aiden Eckersall       2  1  1  1  Sam Ark               3  2  2  0  
TOTALS               27 10  7  9  TOTALS               31 14 12 11

MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS         140 040 1 -- 10 
HELENA SENATORS               810 230 x -- 14 

LOB--MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS 8, HELENA SENATORS 6. ERR--Evan
Morrison, Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge, Graceon Little,
Cole Graham, Aaron Fuzesy (3). 2B--Lance Bratlien, Aaron
Fuzesy. HBP--Jeff Bullock, Graceon Little, Manu Melo, Tycen
Mooney (2), Walker Bennett. SACF--Jeff Bullock. SB--Cole
Graham (2).

 MEDICINE HAT MONARCHS           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Evan Morrison (L)              4.00    9   13   10    1    3    0
Koby Eskrestrand               2.00    3    1    1    1    3    0
 HELENA SENATORS            
Luke Dowdy (W)                 1.33    4    5    4    3    1    0
Will Lyng                      3.00    1    3    2    1    2    0
Walker Bennett                 0.00    0    1    1    3    0    0
Seth Nielson                   2.33    2    1    1    3    2    0
Lance Bratlien                 0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0

PB--Graceon Little. WP--Evan Morrison (3), Luke Dowdy.
BALK--Evan Morrison. SO--Evan Morrison, Jeff Bullock, Cade
Harrison, Graceon Little, Kayne Olinski, Cole Graham, Manu
Melo, Seth Nielson, Sam Ark, Walker Bennett, Aaron Fuzesy.
BB--Evan Morrison, Koby Eskrestrand, Trevin Ressler, Aiden
Eckersall (2), Ryler Staarup, Kyle Woolridge (2), Cade
Harrison (2), Tycen Mooney (2).

No. 3 Great Falls 6, No. 6 Bozeman 2
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Brinkley Evans hit a game-tying line drive single into center field, then Seamus Sullivan hit came through with a two-out, go-ahead single into left field.  But it was a two-out, bases-loaded, dropped pop fly that proved the ultimate difference in the game that was closer than the final score indicated.

Bozeman out-hit the Chargers, 5-3, in the loss. Leadoff hitter Luke Rizzo led the Bucks on offense with a double, single, walk, and two RBIs.

Great Falls starting pitcher Scotty Klinker, a returning All-State selection, went five innings, spreading out five hits and two walks, while striking out six to earn the victory.

BOZEMAN BUCKS        AB  R  H BI  GREAT FALLS CHARGERS AB  R  H BI
Luke Rizzo            3  0  2  2  Liam Sullivan         3  0  0  0  
Cole Smith            3  0  0  0  Brinkley Evans        4  1  1  1  
Bryce Hampton         2  0  0  0  Trigg Mapes           4  0  0  0  
Josh Woodberry        3  0  0  0  Landen Lockwood       1  2  1  0  
Quinn Pershing        2  0  0  0  Seamus Sullivan       3  1  1  1  
Austin Cooper         3  0  0  0  Lane Seim             1  1  0  1  
Dylan Poulin          3  0  1  0  Mason Davis           1  0  0  0  
Jadin Frandsen        3  1  1  0  Cole Pace             2  0  0  0  
Jarrett Herz          2  1  1  0  Noah Bandarauhb       2  1  0  0  
TOTALS               24  2  5  2  TOTALS               21  6  3  3

BOZEMAN BUCKS                 001 010 0 -- 2  
GREAT FALLS CHARGERS          010 050 x -- 6  

LOB--BOZEMAN BUCKS 7, GREAT FALLS CHARGERS 6. ERR--Jadin
Frandsen, Cash Jones, Bryce Hampton, Noah Bandarauhb.
2B--Luke Rizzo. HBP--Cole Pace, Mason Davis. SACF--Lane
Seim. SACB--Jarrett Herz. SB--Jarrett Herz.

 BOZEMAN BUCKS                   IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Cash Jones (L)                 4.67    3    5    3    5    7    0
Justin Garcia                  1.33    0    1    0    1    0    0
 GREAT FALLS CHARGERS       
Scotty Klinker                 5.00    5    2    2    2    6    0
Shane Jefferson (W)            1.33    0    0    0    3    3    0
Noah Bandarauhb                0.67    0    0    0    0    0    0

BALK--Cash Jones (2). SO--Cole Smith, Jarrett Herz, Austin
Cooper (2), Josh Woodberry, Dylan Poulin (2), Quinn
Pershing, Bryce Hampton, Cole Pace (2), Seamus Sullivan,
Brinkley Evans, Liam Sullivan (2), Trigg Mapes. BB--Cole
Smith, Luke Rizzo, Quinn Pershing, Bryce Hampton (2), Noah
Bandarauhb, Landen Lockwood (2), Mason Davis, Lane Seim,
Liam Sullivan.

No. 5 Missoula 12,  No. 4 Billings Royals 9

Missoula used a seven-run fourth inning, with five of those runs coming with two outs, to break a 4-4 tie and eventually outlast the Royals in the first-round nightcap.

The defending state champion Royals had more hits in the loss, 11-9, but committed six errors on defense.

Finn Davis and Henry Black each had two hits in the victory. Davis and Owen McGuinn each had two RBIs and a stolen base.

Billings third baseman Ethan Chaney went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Second baseman Sy Waldren and shortstop Kayden Keith each had two hits and an RBI in the loss.

Missoula pitcher Schuler Fairchild relieved starter Easton Reimers in the third inning and pitched 4 1/3 innings, spreading out six hits, four walks and three earned runs (6 total), to earn the victory on the mound. He struck out four.

Billings starting pitcher Jaiden Turner, a returning All-State selection, absorbed the loss, using 79 pitches to go 3 1/3 innings, striking out four with five walks and five hits, giving up four earned runs (7 total).

MISSOULA MAVERICKS   AB  R  H BI  BILLINGS ROYALS      AB  R  H BI
Chris Compton         5  2  1  1  Davis Chakos          5  3  2  1  
Carter Taylor         4  2  2  1  Sy Waldron            4  1  2  1  
Sam Matosich          3  1  0  0  Davis Mosier          4  1  1  3  
Henry Black           3  3  2  0  Carson Jenkins        4  1  1  0  
Owen McGuinn          2  1  1  2  Ryan Denowh           4  1  1  1  
Finn Davis            4  1  2  2  Kayden Keith          4  1  2  0  
Jace Bykari           4  1  1  1  Ethan Chaney          4  1  3  1  
Colin Boyce           4  0  0  0  Nathan Kojetin        4  0  0  0  
Colter Nicolarson     4  1  1  0  Alex Brown            3  0  1  0  
TOTALS               33 12 10  7  TOTALS               36  9 13  7

MISSOULA MAVERICKS            301 710 0 -- 12 
BILLINGS ROYALS               004 040 1 -- 9  

LOB--MISSOULA MAVERICKS 6, BILLINGS ROYALS 10. ERR--Jace
Bykari, Colter Nicolarson, Davis Chakos, Kayden Keith (2).
2B--Henry Black, Carter Taylor, Ryan Denowh, Sy Waldron.
3B--Colter Nicolarson, Carter Taylor. SB--Henry Black, Sam
Matosich, Finn Davis, Davis Chakos.

 MISSOULA MAVERICKS              IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Schuyler Fairchild (W)         4.33    7    6    5    4    4    0
Easton Reimers                 2.33    6    3    3    0    3    0
Colin Boyce (S)                0.33    0    0    0    0    0    0
 BILLINGS ROYALS            
Jaiden Turner                  3.33    6    7    7    4    5    0
Ethan Moore (L)                0.67    4    5    2    2    1    0
Payton Waskow                  3.00    0    0    0    0    5    0

WP--Easton Reimers, Schuyler Fairchild. SO--Jace Bykari (2),
Colter Nicolarson, Henry Black, Colin Boyce, Sam Matosich
(3), Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn, Chris Compton, Davis
Chakos, Nathan Kojetin (2), Alex Brown, Sy Waldron, Davis
Mosier, Carson Jenkins. BB--Henry Black, Sam Matosich (2),
Carter Taylor, Owen McGuinn (2), Alex Brown, Sy Waldron,
Davis Mosier, Carson Jenkins.

BOZEMAN--In the final game of the MAALB Class AA conference season, Bozeman scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday to beat Medicine Hat, 15-14, and vault into the No. 6 seed for the state tournament, also Great Falls completed a three-game sweep over Kalispell, 11-8, to claim the No. 3 seed outright, into the state tournament.

The state tournament starts Saturday in Missoula.

No. 1 Helena will play No. 8 Medicine Hat. The No. 2 Billings Scarlets will play No. 7 Kalispell. No. 3 Great Falls plays No. 6 Bozeman. And the No. 4 Billings Royals will play tourney-host No. 5 Missoula in the opening day nightcap.

Bozeman third baseman and leadoff hitter L Rizzo went 3-for-4 Tuesday with a triple, double and six RBIs to help lead Bozeman. He also had the game-winning two-run double in the sixth inning.

Standings updated as of July 18th games. REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS COMPLETE.
*Class AA teams will play a 24-game conference schedule; 3 games against each team. FInal games of conference regular season scheduled for July 18.
**Top 8 teams from the regular season will advance to the Class AA State Tournament in Missoula from Saturday, July 22- Wednesday, July 26.
***State champion will advance to the Northwest Regional Tournament in Gillette, Wyo., from Aug. 2-6.

If two or more teams end the regular season with identical win/loss records for conference games, the team's eligibility for post season play shall be decided as follows:

A) The team winning the most of the conference games will advance.

B) If teams split the conference games, the total runs scored in all conference games by the teams shall decide the winner.

C) If both teams conference wins and total runs scored are identical. A flip of a coin will decide the eligibility of the two teams by the Chairman.

D) If three or more teams are tied, the best winning percentage against teams ending the season (tied or not) in positions 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 in the final conference standings will determine the highest seed with the other teams following in order based on highest to lowest winning percentage.

GREAT FALLS--The Great Falls Chargers swept a doubleheader from the Kalispell Lakers on Monday, and the Billings Scarlets beat the Royals with a walkoff in the 9th.

Those outcomes, along with Missoula conference season ending at 12-12, look as if a three-way tie could come into play for the Nos. 3, 4, and 5 seeds. Tuesday's single games between Great Falls and Kalispell, as well as Bozeman versus Medicine Hat, will effect the final regular season standings for seeds into the state tournament.

Tuesday is the final day of Class AA play. The state tournament starts on Saturday in Missoula. Helena has the No. 1 seed locked up. The Billings Scarlets have the No. 2 seed locked up.

If Great Falls beats Kalispell Tuesday, the Chargers will be the No. 3 seed.

The Billings Royals hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Missoula, winning two of three games this year against them. So if Great Falls wins, the Royals would be the No. 4 seed and Missoula would be the No. 5 seed. They would face each other in the nightcap of the opening round of the state tournament.

If Great Falls loses, and creates a three-way tie for the No. 3 seed, the Billings Royals would win the tiebreaker because they beat No. 1 Helena twice (Great Falls beat them once and Missoula didn't beat them at all). Great Falls would then claim the No. 4 seed, Missoula would be the No. 5 seed. They would face each other in the nightcap of the opening round of state.

If Kalispell beats Great Falls, it would earn the No. 6 seed and play the No. 3 Billings Royals in the first round at state.

However, if Kalispell loses and Bozeman beats Medicine Hat, the Lakers would drop to the No. 7 seed because of a head-to-head tiebreaker with Bozeman, which swept the Lakers in a three-game series. So, then, No. 6 Bozeman would play the No. 3 Royals. The No. 7 Lakers would play the No. 2 Scarlets in the opening round.

If both Kalispell and Medicine Hat Tuesday, the Lakers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Med Hat, having won two of three games against Med Hat.

The loser of the Bozeman-Med Hat game will take the No. 8 seed.

HELENA--The Helena Senators swept a doubleheader from the Great Falls Changers on Saturday, 4-3 and 13-3, to clinch the No. 1 seed at the Class AA State Tournament.

The state tourney starts Saturday in Missoula.

The Senators capped their Class AA conference schedule with an 18-6 record. They are 47-14 overall on the season with a couple of non-conference games left in the regular season. They will play the No. 8 seed, which is yet to be determined.

Elsewhere in Class AA play on Saturday, the Billings Scarlets beat the Kalispell Lakers to take two of three from them. The victory clinched the No. 2 seed for the Scarlets.

Also on Saturday, Missoula and Lethbridge split a doubleheader. Missoula's seed is yet to be determined. While Lethbridge is on the verge of being eliminated from the post season.

GREAT FALLS--The Great Falls Chargers and Helena Senators swept doubleheaders from Medicine Hat and Missoula, respectively, on Wednesday to solidify holds in the Class AA MAALB standings.

Also on Wednesday, the Kalispell Lakers completed a three-game series sweep of the Billings Royals, to drop the Royals into a third-place tie with Great Falls.

Helena and the Billing Scarlets, who beat last-place Lethbridge on Wednesday, remain atop the standings in first and second place, respectively.

KALISPELL--Kalispell Lakers pitchers Max Holden and Andre Cephers hurled their team to complete-game victories Tuesday night to get themselves within one game of .500 ball.

Kalispell second baseman Carter Schlegel hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to help the Lakers improve to 32-16 overall on the season. 

The victories improved the Lakers to 8-9 in the Class AA standings and leapfrogged Medicine Hat for the No. 5 seed in the standings. The Royals (31-23 overall) dropped to  11-8 in Class AA play, and still maintain a solid hold on third place over Missoula and Great Falls.

Elsewhere in Class AA play, the Billings Scarlets beat Lethbridge, 6-1, to improve to 12-5 and maintain their hold on second place in the standings, behind Helena. Lethbridge fell to 5-14, further into last place with only five games left in the regular season.

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta--With the final berth into the Class AA State Tournament on the line, the No. 8 Bozeman Bucks won two of three games against the No. 9 Lethbridge Elks.

Bozeman improved to 7-12 in the Class AA conference season. Lethbridge fell to 5-13. There are 24 games in the Class AA conference schedule.

The Class AA State Tournament is in Missoula in a couple of weeks.

The Helena Senators and two Billings teams, the Royals and Scarlets, seem on their way to locking up the top 3 seeds into the state tourney.

KALISPELL--The Lakers won their season series against Lethbridge with a 10-4 victory on Thursday. The victory plants the Lakers into 6th place, while Lethbridge stays in last.

If the regular season ended today, Great Falls would play Missoula in the Nos. 4-5 game. The No. 3 Royals would play No. 6 Kalispell. The No. 2 Scarlets would play No. 7 Medicine Hat. No. 1 Helena would have No. 8 Bozeman.

BOZEMAN-- The Billings Scarlets swept a doubleheader from Bozeman on Wednesday, 5-3 and 8-1.  The victories lifted the Scarlets into second place in the standings at 11-5. Bozeman dropped to 5-11, into 8th place in the standings.

Elswhere in Class AA play, Lethbridge bit Kalispell, 1-0, before the Lakers split the doubleheader, 10-4. Kalispell improved to 5-9 in the standings, good for 6th place. Lethbridge dropped to  4-10, and is in last place.

Helena completed its 3-game conference sweep over Med Hat with a 10-0 win. With the win, the Senators have a 1-game lead in the standings in first place over the Scarlets. 

HELENA--The fireworks were on display on Tuesday as the Senators swept a doubleheader from Medicine Hat, 9-8 and 8-0.

Shortstop Trystan Mooney hit a no-out, two-run single up the middle to help lead the Senators in rallying from a 8-7 deficit in their final at bats to secure the second-game victory.

In the first game, Helena pitcher W Lyng didn't walk any while spreading out seven hits in an 8-0 complete-game shutout. First baseman C Perlinski had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Senators on offense.

The victories improved first-placed Helena to 13-6 in conference play 39-12 overall on the season. Medicine Hat dropped to 7-10 in Class AA play and 15-16 overall on the season.

Elsewhere in Class AA play on the holiday, Great Falls pitcher L Sullivan hurled a complete game while catcher B Evans and first baseman L Seim collected multiple RBIs in a 13-3 victory over Lethbridge.

Great Falls improved to 7-6 in Class AA play and 24-21 on the season.  The Chargers are sitting in fourth place. Lethbridge dropped to 4-10 in Class AA play and are in last place.

BILLINGS--Scarlets' pitcher N Swandal spread out four hits and three walks over six innings of work while K Northrup, H Doyle, R Gioioso, and N McDonald each put together a quality at bat to score runs to help Billings in beating Great Falls, 4-1, to complete a Class AA doubleheader sweep on Monday, July 3.

The Scarlets won the first game, 13-0, behind catcher Gioioso's four RBIs and improved to 9-5 in the conference and 31-11 overall on the season.

BILLINGS--The Billings Royals' Sy Waldron hit a bottom-of-the-seventh, two-out, line-drive single into left field to score Jaiden Turner and help lead the Royals in beating Missoula, 5-4, on Wednesday, June 28, to help improve the Royals to 11-6 in the MAALB Class AA standings.

At the end of June, with the state tournament starting in three weeks in Missoula, the Jon Burnett-led Helena Senators and David Swecker-led Billings Royals are atop the standings at 11-6.  The Senators are 33-11 on the entire season; while the Royals are 23-18. 

The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, after Missoula took a 4-3 lead with the three-run top of the sixth. The Royals broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth with two runs.

Elsewhere on Wednesday to cap Class AA's June's games, the Great Falls Chargers beat Bozeman, 6-3, to improve to 6-4 on the MAALB Class AA season. The Tony Forster-led Chargers are tied for third place, a game and a half behind the two front runners, in the standings with the Billings Scarlets (7-5). All told in the overall seasons, the Adam Hust-led Scarlets are 25-10 while the Chargers are 23-19.

In last year's state championship game, and undefeated semifinal game, the Royals beat the Senators, 4-3. Swecker and Burnett shared Class AA's Coach of the Year Award with Forster. Hust has won the COY a few times.

Elsewhere in the Class AA standings, in which only the top eight advance to the state tournament in Missoula, starting July 21, Missoula (8-8, 27-27), Medicine Hat (7-8, 13-11), Kalispell (4-8, 26-11), and Bozeman (5-9, 18-24) round out the mid-season field with Lethbridge on the outside, looking in, a game behind in the standings.

Class AA teams will play a three-game, regular-season conference schedule to make a 24-game season to determine the state tournament's top eight teams.

KALISPELL--Ugh... After a lot of technical difficulties with SportsEngine to start this season, the scores and standings for Class AA's 2023 season should be updated.

However, the accuracy needs to be verified.

Stayed tuned.

Montana adopts high school baseball

In January, 2022, the Montana High School Association adopted baseball as a sanctioned sport.

Oh, no! What could that mean for Montana's American Legion Baseball?

Prior to 2023, one of a Montana's high school students' only options to play baseball was through American Legion Baseball, which has existed throughout the country since 1926. ALB has hosted a World Series since then, longer than both the College Baseball WS and the Little League World Series.

Montana-Alberta American Legion Baseball has experienced a long and prosperous program. Some even argued that at the highest level, it has perhaps put a better product on the field than Montana's Minor League Pioneer League.  

Now with high school baseball a thing, many people have wondered what's next for Montana's American Legion Baseball?

Some of the first thoughts were that some boys would get their baseball "fix" through the short high school season, and then not want to commit to summer ball. The Class AA MAALB season typically lasts about 60 games from April through July; while the high school season will be lucky to get 18 games in during April in May.  But perhaps a kid could get enough taste of baseball through high school ball to not continue on, perhaps getting a job, or spending more time in Montana's great outdoors (camping, hiking, fishing, dirt biking, etc.); but, more than likely, eating up more time on their smart phones.

I think that MAALB enrollment numbers will drop. My trump argument is that MAALB baseball programs have recently significantly increased their enrollment numbers through their Class B teams about 10 years ago; and now over the last two years through their Class C teams.  So there's really nowhere to go, except down.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Local programs and volunteers--the true grassroots community organization of Americanism that the American Legion looks to promote and serve--have been stretched thin.  Both manpower--like having a program president, secretary, tournament director, concessions folks, coaching staff, etc.-- and resources--like buses, bats, money, field time, as well as field wear and tear, uniforms, equipment, etc.--are extremely hard aspects to not get burnt out on for programs. The entirety of the ALB organization is built around volunteerism and community-business, and family/neighbor-based sponsorships. While, as local governmental agencies, high schools have paid activities directors, administrators, and state organizers. 

Another argument to be made against a decrease in enrollment numbers is that the quality of play could improve, with the boys staying to play baseball through the summer because they truly want that all-star, travelling-team experience, they might work hard to achieve it--instead of a kid that was "forced" into the long 60-game season because that was his only choice. Essentially, high school ball could weed out the non-hackers, or kids that don't want to work hard, or have the sense of commitment, or internal drive and stamina to achieve the greatness a 60-game season provides.

Class AA coaches definitely did not want high school baseball to come into fruition. Across the American Northwest, Montana ALB had a wonderful reputation for stellar play, fields, and ball parks. Coaches from other states continually complimented the programs and wishful sentiments that their state didn't have high school baseball, like ours.

... more to come...

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