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...