Gallatin Valley Outlaws bring home state title

While their season has come to an end, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club had a strong season thanks to its players. Now those players have been recognized by the all-conference and all-state teams for their performances this season.

Brody Nanini was named to the all-conference team as a utility player and Caden Jenkins was named to the all-conference team as an outfielder. All three seniors on the Northstars were selected to both the all-conference and all-state team. Carson Lunak was named to both teams for the season he had at pitcher. Eli Cloninger was selected as both teams' infielder and Ethan Carlson was selected as a utility player for both teams.

Even though the Northstars' season has come to an end, the Gallatin Valley Outlaws and Glacier Twins still had plenty to play for as they faced each other in the State A tournament championship game Monday at Legion Field. The teams had already faced each other in the tournament Saturday night, when the Outlaws came back from a 5-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to win with a walkoff sacrifice fly. While Monday's game did not have a dramatic finish, the Outlaws were excited to win their first state title since 2005 as they defeated the Twins 10-0.

"These guys worked their tails off, so it was good. They deserve it and it's been a long time," said Gallatin Valley head coach Dwayne Scott. "It's nice to see their hard work pay off. I mean they're the ones that got to go play the game and they did really well this weekend."

Not only did the Outlaws win the state title but they also did so undefeated at the tournament. Over the tournament's five days, the Outlaws went 5-0 as they defeated the Glendive Blue Devils, Mission Valley Mariners, Great Falls Chargers and the Twins twice. Along with good batting throughout the weekend, Scott credits his pitching.

"Our pitching was unbelievable all weekend. I mean we faced some really good teams and some good hitters," Scott said. "Our pitching staff, they won the state championship for us."

The state title was also huge for Gallatin Valley's seniors such as Bo Hays who has been waiting years for this moment.

"We've been here, we've been to the state tournament and we hadn't quite made it, but we made it this year so it's just pure joy," Hays said. "It means so much more than all the other years because this was our last shot."

Hays was also named the tournament's MVP for his performance over the weekend. Across five games, he recorded seven hits, seven runs and six runs batted in.

"Coaches, teammates and parents, I couldn't have done it without them," Hays said. "They push me, I push them and it just works out."

On Monday, the Outlaws took the lead in the top of the second inning when Brandon Beedie hit a single to drive in a run. Gallatin Valley then took control of the game in the top of the fourth when they scored five runs in that frame. After they got the bases loaded, Josh Majors hit a single that got two runners home. Isaac Richardson got another runner home when he grounded out into a fielder's choice. Cyrus Richardson ended the inning with an RBI single to make the lead 6-0.

Looking to end it early, the Outlaws scored another four runs in the top of the fifth. Majors recorded his second RBI single to start the frame. Josh Wisecarver then made the lead 8-0 when he scored on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly and another wild pitch allowed the Outlaws to make the lead 10-0 before the inning ended.

"We had good at-bats. I mean (Glacier's) George (Robbins) is a really good pitcher and we kind of waited him out and when we got runners in scoring position, we were able to come up with a couple of big hits," Scott said.

With the state championship in hand, the Outlaws' season is not done yet. They will now head to Anchorage, Alaska, to represent Montana in the Northwest Class Regional Tournament. But before then, the Outlaws will celebrate their state title that Scott hopes will be the first of many.

"2005 was a really good baseball team and this group here persevered through all of that as well and hopefully the next state championship isn't 15 years later," Scott said. "Hopefully it's a little earlier next time."

Gallatin Valley 10, Glacier 0

GVO 0 1 0 5 4 X X - 10 10 0

GLC 0 0 0 0 0 X X - 0 4 3

Gallatin Valley batting - Brady Jones 1-4, Isaac Richardson 0-3, Cyrus Richardson 2-2, Brody Ayers 0-3, Bo Hays 1-2, Josh Wisecarver 1-2, Brandon Beedie 2-3, Josh Majors 2-3, Trevor Doud 0-1.

Glacier batting - Mason Peters 0-3, Stevyn Andrachick 2-3, Zach Veneman 0-3, Jacob Polumbus 1-2, Michael Glass 1-2, Daniel Dunn 0-1,George Robbins 0-2, Hayden Meehan 0-2, Taylor Bryan 0-1.