by Scott Sacry
The Florence Falcons are the 2024 Baseball State Champions. Florence defeated Hamilton 4-2 in an all-Bitterroot-Valley final to claim the state title on Saturday, May 18th in Missoula. One way or another the best baseball team in the state was going to be from the Bitterroot Valley.
“We have such a great group of kids this season,” said Florence’s head coach John Hinsdale. “They came together like a family, it’s a very close knit group. We’re so proud of them.”
Florence ended the season 18-1 and finished on a 17-game winning streak. “We have a really strong conference – there are no easy wins,” said Hinsdale. “I feel that helped to prepare us for state.” This was only the second season for Montana high school baseball, with Polson winning the first title last year.
The Florence/Hamilton final was a fitting end to the state tournament, as both teams had been on a roll. Florence had won 16 straight games before the final – their only loss of the year a 0-1 defeat to Hamilton on March 22nd.
For their part, Hamilton came into the final riding a 13-game winning streak, with their last loss being a 5-6 loss to Florence on April 11th.
“Our only loss was to Hamilton in March, then we beat them in April, so this was kind of the rubber match,” said Hinsdale, “and I’m glad we could get it done in the championship game.
When asked about his team’s winning mentality, Hinsdale said, “A lot of our players were part of our football state championships, so these kids know how to win and they don’t get flustered when they face adversity. They are a confident group.”
Florence 4, Hamilton 2
The championship game was a well-played, pitcher-dominated game. Florence drew first blood by scoring two runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Hamilton responded by scoring 2 runs in the top of the 4th. Florence answered back, with Florence’s Chase Wagner getting clutch RBIs in the 5th and then again in the 6th to increase Florence’s lead to 4-2. Then, in the top of the 7th, Florence’s left fielder Isaiah Testerman caught a Hamilton pop fly for the final out, cementing the victory for the Falcons as the team rushed the field in celebration.
Florence pitcher Jake Roth got the complete game win, striking out 8 and only allowing 5 hits. Roth got into trouble a couple of times but fought his way out of it.
At the plate for Florence, Chase Wagner went 2 for 3, scored a run and had two RBIs. Drew Wagner went 2 for 4 and scored two runs. Mason Arlington went 2 for 3.
For Hamilton, pitcher Jackson Lubke had a solid game, going 5 innings. At the plate for Hamilton, Andrew Ricklefs and Atticus Southwell had RBIs, and Jackson Lubke, Boedy Tadvick, Toby DeMoss, and Hunter Harrness all had hits.
It was an epic state tournament run for Florence. They defeated Eureka 11-7 in their opening round game, then Belgrade 8-0 in the semifinals. The strength of Florence’s pitching was integral to their success.
“One of our biggest strengths this year was pitching,” said Hinsdale. “We only had to use four pitchers at State. We had a couple guys who didn’t get to pitch because we’re so deep. That’s a good problem to have.”
Florence 8, Belgrade 0
In the semifinal game on Friday, Florence defeated Belgrade 8-0. Florence pitcher Mason Arlington had a game for the ages. Arlington, Florence’s starting quarterback on their state championship football team, threw a no-hitter by striking out 14 of the 21 batters he faced in the game. The only runner to reach base all game came on a full count walk that could have gone either way. Hinsdale said of Arlington’s performance, “It was probably the best pitched game I’ve ever seen, not just this year, but ever.”
At the plate for Florence, Jake Roth went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Drew Wagner, Chase Wagner, and Levi Winters all had RBIs.
Florence 11, Eureka 7
Florence defeated Eureka in their opening round game on Thursday. Florence held a slight 8-7 lead going into the bottom of the 6th inning, then Mason Arlington hit an inside-the-park home run, scoring Drew Wagner. Then a Jake Roth triple scored another run to give Florence the 11-7 lead and the victory.
Chase Wagner went 2 for 5 with an RBI, Jake Roth went 2 for 2 and scored 3 runs, and Wes Potter went 1 for 1 with an RBI.
Hamilton takes 2nd in state baseball
The Hamilton baseball team had an amazing season. They went 18-4 for the year, had a 13-game winning streak going into the final game, and they won the 2024 Baseball State Runner-up trophy. At state, they beat Butte High 10-4 in their first round game, then defeated Columbia Falls 10-7 in the seminal game.
Hamilton 10, Butte 4
Hamilton defeated Butte High on Friday in their semifinal game. Hamilton trailed 0-3 going into the 4th, then erupted for 9 runs over the next two innings and rolled to the 10-4 victory.
For Hamilton, Conner Ekin went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Boedy Tadvick went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, Tyce O’Connell went 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Jackson Jessop went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Hamilton pitcher Conner Ekin went the distance for the win, striking out 5.
Hamilton 10, Columbia Falls 7
Hamilton defeated Columbia Falls 10-7 in their opening round game on Thursday night. The game was tied 4-4 going into the 5th inning when Hamilton exploded for six runs, the biggest being a bases loaded Atticus Southwell double that scored three runs.
Southwell went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs, Toby DeMoss went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs, and Andrew Ricklefs, Jackson Lubke, Conner Ekin, Hunter Harrness, and Elijah McNair-Neal all had RBIs.