Sports Talk by Jean Schurman
The summer is almost over and for high school; the fall sports are already practicing. But this summer has been a good summer for a couple of teams in Hamilton. The Bitterroot Swim Team (BST) won the state championship at the end of July, and last week, the Bitterroot Red Sox brought home the Regional title in American Legion baseball.
With 58 individual swimmers and nine relay teams, the BST was loaded at the state meet. Add to that the fact they were swimming at home and it was a done deal. The BST easily won the team scoring, putting up 914.5 points. Second place went to Sidney with 497.5 points. Lewistown (402.5) and Chinook (375) finished out the top four places. The relays were more of the same with BST putting up 172 points. Second place was Chinook with 110 points and Sidney with 90 points.
How does a team such as the BST become such a juggernaut? It happens with dedication from the swimmers, the swimmers’ parents and the coaches. These kids, ranging in ages from 5 to 19 are in the pool early in the spring, even if the weather is not kind to them. They are swimming laps, perfecting strokes and learning to compete. The older swimmers help and encourage the younger swimmers. There are enough coaches to make sure everyone is getting help. And then there are the parents. They bring the swimmers to practice and wait, and wait, and wait. Once the season begins, the parents spend their weekends, and sometimes vacations, in exotic places like Sunburst, Plains, Cut Bank, and Big Sandy, basking in the unrelenting Montana sun. Chlorine and sunscreen, oranges and water, moms and dads are at the ready with everything a swimmer needs for a race. Their reward is watching their swimmer taking a tenth of a second off their time and an occasional ‘thanks’. The skills these kids have learned extend much farther than the starting blocks and the pool. The practice and dedication they exhibit may show itself in a trophy but down the road, these are the ones that will go far.
The same dedication could be found on the Red Sox baseball field this year. Last year, the Red Sox won the American Legion Class A Northwest Regional Tournament. Their mission this year, to win it again. Their quest began last March in the snow and rain of a Montana spring. Some started even earlier, working in the off-season to get an edge on their competitors. But when you win a title, the ‘X’ on the back of your uniforms gets a lot bigger. Every team is looking to knock you down. It didn’t happen. Last year, the Red Sox won the regional tournament and finished the season with a record of 78-7, a phenomenal record. This year, they finished the season with a record of 56-15, still an exceptional record. This includes the district and state titles.
This is the final year for several Red Sox players. Kyle Crossman, Justin Horvath, Austin Ray, Joe Johnson, Chase Conner, Kade Hudgins, Kyle Norman, Jonathan Ringer, and Nate Loranger have played their final game as Red Sox. But their legacy lives on. Each have made major contributions to the team and set the bar for the upcoming players. They have been encouraging in only that way that teenage boys can be.
But the younger players have learned and the Red Sox ‘B’ team had a very successful year this year. That gives other teams in the league a bit of consternation. From hitting and fielding to pitching, this team has put together two years of outstanding baseball. There may be a little bump in the road early next year but this group of young men have left a strong foundation for the incoming teams to build on and those coming into the Red Sox organization are looking to fill those shoes.
Congratulations BST, and congratulations Red Sox!