Bitterroot Bruins taking on the ‘big’ guys
A group of 15-year-old boys are taking on the ‘big’ guys in baseball this year. The Bitterroot Bruins are made up of players from throughout the valley. They decided this year to play tougher competition in preparation for the state Junior Babe tournament. Last weekend they played against American Legion and senior Babe Ruth teams from around Western Montana at the Maybelle Arther tournament in Dillon.
The highlight for this young team came when they defeated the defending American Legion ‘A’ champions, the Mission Valley Mariners, 6-5. The two teams met up again in the championship game and although Mission Valley came out the champion, the young Bitterroot team served notice to everyone they were legitimate contenders.
The Bruins lost to the Butte Miners, 8-4, in their opening game. Brandon Friday was the losing pitcher. Riley Della Silva had two RBIs. Friday and Bret Huxtable each had one RBI in the game.
The Bruins next took on the Great Falls Hawks. Rees LeSoine was the winning pitcher with Dylan Gavlak coming in for the save. Brennan Fisher had four RBIs and Della Silva added two more. Alex Draper and LeSoine each had one RBI. Chase Conner and Draper each had a double.
Gavlak was the winning pitcher in the first game against the Mariners. The teams were tied going into the seventh inning when Justin Horvath knocked a home run to give the win to the Bruins. Huxtable and Gavlak each had doubles, and Huxtable, Conner, and Horvath all had RBIs.
The Bitterroot Bruins then took on the hometown Dillon Cubs, and defeated them, 8-7. LeSoine was the starting pitcher. Draper had a home run. Conner, Draper, LeSoine and Gavlak all had stolen bases in the game.
The win set them up for the championship game again the Mariners. The Mariners won, 9-6. Huxtable, Draper, Della Silva, Horvath and Kolton Wilson all had RBIs.
The Bitterroot Bruins will host their own tournament in Hamilton against other junior Babe Ruth teams. That will begin on Friday.