Optimist captures HYBA Babe Ruth title

Local sports have been subject to weather issues throughout the spring and summer and earlier this week, rain delayed the Havre Youth Baseball Association Babe Ruth city championship.

Yet, the title game went on as scheduled Thursday night at Legion Field with Optimist taking on Frank Leeds Construction for the championship. The two teams battled back-and-forth for six innings, before Optimist scored the narrow 5-4 victory.

With the score tied in the sixth inning, both teams had chances to score. FLC got a runner to third base in the top half of the inning, but Optimist was able to get out of a jam. Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Optimist loaded the bases, before getting the winning run across on a passed ball.

Optimist, the champion of Babe Ruth, was coached by Randy Cloninger and Stan Huston. The team which put together a 7-3-1 record during the season featured Eli Cloninger, Logan Cloninger, Brenden Fetter, Jacob Huston, Landen Keeling, Conner McKay, Tavish McLean, Collin Miller, John South, Orion Thivierge and Stephen Topsky.

Frank Leeds and Shane Reno coached FLC, the runner-up. The players on the team were Daesean Bullshields, Braydon Cline, Adam Habeger, Connor Henderson, Carter Leeds, Carson Lunak, Trenton Maloughney, Kale Reno, Kelly Schafer, Hunter Smith and Jason Wold.