Master Sports wins Minors championship

On Tuesday night at Elks Park, the Havre Youth Baseball Association held its minors championship game. It was a back-and-forth affair, but Master Sports held on to win, 6-3, against Duchscher Kapperud to win the minors championship.

The scoring started in the bottom of the first when Duchscher Kapperud scored on a passed ball. But Master Sports responded in the top of the third to take control. With a pair of runners on base, the batter drove in both runners for the lead. On the same play, an error allowed the batter to score to make it a 3-1 lead.

After another runner got on base for Master Sports, a triple drove in the run to make a 4-1 lead. Another error in the inning allowed the runner from third to score to push Master Sports' lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the third, Duchscher Kapperud responded when a runner scored on a passed ball. Later in the inning, another runner scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 5-3. In the top of the fourth, Master Sports responded when a runner scored on an error to push the lead to 6-3.

The score remained the same heading into the bottom of the fifth. Duchscher Kapperud got a couple runners on base, but Master Sports recorded the final out of the game to secure the championship.

"We kept our heads in there," Master Sports head coach Dan Danielson said about the win. "We got down in the first couple innings and the boys just stuck with it and came back and started hitting to get the lead and they held onto it."

With the loss, Duchscher Kapperud finished second in minors. That second-place team was made up of Maddox Moore, Thomas Nothhelfer, Ben Nothhelfer, Carter Doney, Mekhi Jarvis, Damian Chase, Zaiden Brekhus, Sadie Griggs, Brody Brekhus, Ben Eagleman and Gunner Velk.

The minors champion Master Sports team consisted of Tavin Myers, Tucker Butler, Ronan Harrell, Braxton Huse, Austin Danielson, Reece Freeman, Xander Olmstead, Julian Ruiz, Jace Ladenburg, Jake Dormady and Easton Keller. With the hard work the players and coaches have put in, finishing the season as the minors champion was satisfying.

"It means everything," Dan Danielson said. "I've been coaching for a couple years. This is my first championship and for a lot of these kids, it's their first championship. It's an awesome feeling and there's nothing better."