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. 

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