News you can use
News you can use
A batter hits during the annual Shaina's Challenge Memorial Fastpitch Tournament back in June in Havre. There's still more men's fastpitch softball to be played this summer as the 2019 Montana Men's State Fastpitch Tournament will be held this weekend at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field. The tournament, which runs Saturday and Sunday, will feature two teams from Havre, as well as several others from around the state. The championship game is set for 2 p.m. Sunday.
The fall sports season is fast approaching and soon high school sports fans will be able to get their fix. However, if you are looking for a way to keep yourself entertained this weekend, Havre will once again be hosting the Men's Fastpitch state tournament this weekend.
The action will get underway Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and all of the games will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field. The tournament will feature a six-team field that includes the Gallery Lounge and Valley Furniture from Havre, as well as two teams from Missoula, Desperado Pine and the Silver Dollar. The other two teams will be the Huson Hustlers and the Plentywood Raiders and they will kick off the tournament Saturday morning at 8. The Gallery Lounge will take on the Silver Dollar at 10 a.m. and both Valley Furniture and Desperado Pine from Missoula will receive a bye in the opening round.
Per the usual, the state tournament will be a true double-elimination affair, so even with a loss, each team will still have the chance to come through the loser's bracket and win the title, but they would need to beat the opposing team in the championship twice to pull it off.
Of course, everyone in the field will be gunning for Valley Furniture, which enters as the defending state champs. The team is loaded with former members of the Havre Northstars American Legion Baseball team including Daine Solomon, who hit a three-run homer in extra innings last year to defeat Desperado Pine for the championship. While the entire team won't be back, guys like Andy Smith, John Shennum, Kyle Miller, Ryne Antley, Justin Jensen will highlight the roster.
"It should be very competitive," Patch Wirtzberger, one of the tournament organizers and participants, said. "Valley returns a lot of great players and will have pitching depth with Andy (Smith) and John (Shennum). Gallery will have a shot with Gary Joe (Evans) on the mound and guys like Bucky Lindstrand and John Coleman behind him. The Missoula teams will be tough. They play all year long so their guys will be ready to go. The Desperado won the Shaina tournament and the Moe Smith this season so they are looking to make it 3 for 3 as far as Montana tournaments go."
All of the games will be played at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field and the championship game will be at 2 p.m. with an if-necessary game to follow at 4 p.m. if needed. The champion can advance to regionals.
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