by Scott Sacry
The Bitterroot Bucs and the Bitterroot Red Sox are nearing the end of the 2024 American Legion baseball season. Both teams are in the West A Conference of the Montana and Alberta’s Class A American Legion Baseball league, and Sunday, July 21st, is the last day for conference play.
In the West A standings, the Bitterroot Red Sox are in 2nd place (as of July 14th) with a 12-6 conference record and a 24-8 overall record. The Bitterroot Bucs are in 3rd place with an 11-7 conference record and a 22-11 overall record.
The Class A West District Tournament will be hosted by the Bucs on Thursday, July 25th – Sunday, July 28th. The Class A State tournament will be in Polson from Wednesday, July 31st – Sunday, August 4th.
The Red Sox played in the Missoula Maverick Invitational last week and won the tournament in dramatic fashion. In the championship game on July 14th, they trailed Calgary 3-5 in the bottom of the 7th when Hunter Harrness hit a 3-run double to give the Red Sox a 6-5 victory. The Red Sox went 6-0 in the tournament. The Bucs went 0-2 last week.
Last week’s results as below:
Red Sox 11, Northern Lakes 7
On Thursday, July 11th, the Red Sox defeated Northern Lakes 11-7. For the Red Sox, Conner Ekin and Hunter Harrness each had a triple and 2 RBIs, and Toby Demoss went 2 for 2 with an RBI.
Red Sox 11, Expos-Norden 16U 8
On Thursday, July 11th, the Red Sox defeated Expos-Norden 11-8. For the Red Sox, Jackson Lubke went 2 for 4, hit a home run and drove in 4 RBIs, Reese Earp went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Owen Marston went 2 for 4 and scored 3 runs.
Red Sox 7, Missoula Mavericks A 2
On Friday, July 12th, the Red Sox defeated the Mavericks A team 7-2. Jackson Lubke went 3 for 4 and scored a run and Jude Widmer went 1 for 3, scored a run and had an RBI. Red Sox pitcher Brandon Brenneman struck out 5 batters and got the win.
Red Sox 3, Calgary Premier Blues 2
On Saturday, July 13th, the Red Sox defeated Calgary Premier Blues 3-2. Atticus Southwell went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Jackson Lubke went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Lubke also got the win as the pitcher, striking out 11 batters in 7 innings.
Red Sox 13, Kalispell Sluggers 16U 5
The Red Sox defeated the Kalispell Sluggers 13-5 on Sunday, July 14th. For the Red Sox, Jude Widmer went 2 for 3 with 5 RBIs, and Atticus Southwell went 3 for 4, scored 2 runs and had an RBI.
Red Sox 6 Calgary Premier Blues 5
On Sunday, July 14th, the Red Sox defeated Calgary 6-5 in the championship game of the Missoula Maverick Invitational. The Red Sox trailed 3-5 in the bottom of the 7th inning when Hunter Harrness hit a 3-run double to give the Red Sox the win. Reese Earp and Atticus Southwell also had RBIs in the game. .
Bucs 3, Glacier Twins A 5; Bucs 3, Glacier Twins A 4
The Bucs played a double header on Tuesday, July 9th against Glacier and lost both games. Glacier is in first place in the West A District.
In the first game they lost 3-5. For the Bucs, Jake Roth hit a triple and scored a run, Mason Arlington had an RBI double, and Trapper Oster went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
The Bucs lost 3-4 in the second game. For the Bucs, Drew Wagner went 2 for 4, Isaiah Testerman went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Chase Wagner went 1 for 2 and scored 2 runs. Pitcher Mason Arlington struck out 8 on the mound.