Butte High evens record with third straight win
Butte High’s postseason hopes in baseball still have a pulse.
That comes after the Bulldogs went to Dillon to avenge an earlier loss with a 2-1 South Conference victory on Cubs Field at Ray Lynch Park.
The victory lifted Butte High to 8-8 on the season. While updated standings are hard to track down, the Bulldogs believe that their hopes of reaching a play-in game for the State tournament are still alive.
With three games, left, the Bulldogs will likely need to win all three, and possibly get some help. But there is apparently still a chance after the Bulldogs won their third straight game.
Senior third baseman Matthew Donaldson came through with a two-run single, scoring Will Stepan and Tegan Duffey to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 in the top of the third inning.
Thanks to some outstanding pitcher by Jaxon Williamson and Brooks Vincent, that hit stood up for the victory.
Williamson went five scoreless innings for the win. He gave up just two hits, struck out six and walked five. Vincent got the final six outs for the high-leverage save.
Andrew Bartlome hit a two-out single to bring in Taylor Handlos to cut the lead in half in the sixth. Trenton Moreni added a single moving Handlos to third, and Cohen Hartman worked a walk to load the bases.
But Vincent got Marcus Lagunas to pop out to Donaldson to end the threat. Vincent also stranded a runner in the bottom of the seventh.
Hartman and Will Hansen held Butte High to four hits, but that proved to be enough for the Bulldogs.
Karsen McEwen joined Stepan with a double, while Gunnar Bushman joined Duffy and Donaldson with a single. Donaldson also worked a pair of walks in the crucial win.
The Bulldogs will now have a little break before they pick up their schedule Monday with a game against Lone Peak, which will be the home team, a 3 Legends Stadium. Butte High will then host Missoula Sentinel for a Senior Day battle next Thursday. They close the regular season Saturday, May 17, in Livingston.
The victory over Dillon followed home wins over Lone Peak and Livingston Friday and Saturday. Butte beat Lone Peak 7-2 before walking off with a thrilling 5-4 win over the Rangers.
In Saturday’s thriller, the Rangers tied the game at 4 when a bad hop led to a run and an unfair blown save for Vincent in the seventh.
But Logan Carden led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and a stolen base. Tocher Lee then hustled down the line to beat out an infield single. His speed forced an errant through that allowed Carden to score the winning run.
The hit was the third of the game for Lee, though the boxscore kept by an app incorrectly called his third hit an error.
He was the only Bulldog batter with a hit against lefty freshman Carter Anderson. But Butte High took advantage of 10 walks, a hit by pitch and three errors.
Lucas Harris-Huerta walked three times, while McEwen and Carden each walked twice.
Vincent got the vulture win by getting one out.
That came after chase Lubick ran into the pitch count limit with two out in the top of the seventh. Lubick put in a yeoman effort, striking out three and working around seven hits and six walks.
A day earlier, Harris-Huerta struck out nine batters and went the distance in the win over Lone Peak. He scattered five hits, gave up two earned runs and walked one.
Harris-Huerta also singled and drove in two runs. Stepan tripled and Donaldson hit a double. Duffy, McEwen and Kodye Kjersten singled.
BC rally falls short of Big Horns
Butte Central rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday at 3 Legends Stadium.
Unfortunately for the Maroons, that was not enough because Lone Peak put up a five spot in the top half of the inning. The result was an 11-8 win over the Maroons.
Sid Morris went 3 for 4 with two RBISs, while Ebe Grabow homered and doubled to lead the 13-hit Lone Peak attack.
Morris also pitched six innings, fanning seven and walking one to get the win.
The Maroons poked nine hits in the loss. Jack Nagle and Tony Stajcar each hit a double and a single to lead the Maroons.
Trapper Stajcar added two singles and four stolen bases, while Gunnar O’Brien, Kelon Keene and Treigh Hollow each added a single for BC.
That loss came after an up-and-down week that saw BC beat Dillon 5-4 on Thursday and lose to Belgrade 19-0 on Saturday. Both games were played at 3 Legends Stadium.
O’Brien pitched six and two thirds inning and Kelton Berger got the final out for the save as BC upset the Beavers on Thursday.
Colt Hassler doubled and drove in two runs, while Beau McGree and O’Brien each singled and registered an RBI. Trapper Stajcar also singled for BC.
Hartman struck out seven in the hard-luck loss for Dillon. Moreni hit a double and a single, while Hartman and Garrett Tackett each hit two singles.
Saturday’s game was one the Maroons would just as soon forget. Belgrade used 15 hits to do their damage. Chance Stephens doubled in a three-hit game to highlight the Belgrade attack. Brandt Turcotte also added three hits, while Andrew Hazen doubled and singled while knocking in four runs from the No. 9 hole.
Fay Wells-Minthron pitched the distance and struck out five in the game that was called by the run rule after four innings.
Trapper Stajcar accounted for both of BC’s hits. Both were singles, and Stajcar swiped two bags.
The Maroons will celebrate Senior Day when they take on Townsend Thursday at 3 p.m. at 3 Legends Stadium. BC then closes the season Friday at Lone Peak.
Beavers deny Central softball
The Dillon Beavers jumped out to a 7-0 lead and downed Bute Central 14-4 Tuesday in a Southwestern A softball game in Dillon.
Kylie Konen and Kinzy Creighton both hit home runs to lead the Dillon 12-hit attack in the win. Creighton went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Konen also drove in three, as did Bailey Blake.
Tymber Barnes, who hit a triple and a double, pitched the distance, striking out eight in the win. The game was called after six innings by the run rule.
Braelynn Schelin hit a double and a single to lead the Maroons. Natalie Osterman added two ingles. Cambri Campbell, Kenzie McQueary and Sophia Gelling each added one.
The battle with Dillon came after BC went 1-1 in conference games Saturday in the Bitterroot Valley. BC fell 10-0 at Hamilton before bouncing back for an 18-10 win at Corvallis.
Schelin struck out 11 batters to get the win against Corvallis. She also hit two doubles, drove in two runs, scored two runs and swiped two bases.
Osterman hit a double and two singles, and McQueary added three singles. Campbell and Evyn Smith hit two singles, and Kodee Badovinac, Zayonna Otherbull and Stajcar each hit one. Osterman and Otherbull joined Schelin with two RBIs.
In the morning game, Mel Race held the Maroons to four hits as the Broncs won the game that was called by the run rule after five innings.
Marly Mansanti, who later left the game with an injury, tripled, and McQueary doubled. Schelin and Stajcar singled.
Central will play four games as it hosts the Laverne Combo Invitational Friday and Saturday at Stodden Park.
Howard one-hits Bulldogs
Butte High could not parlay Saturday’s Senior Day win over Missoula Hellgate into a winning streak Tuesday in Helena.
Instead, the Bulldogs ran into Faith Howard. The Helena High ace struck out 13 batters and held the Bulldogs to one hit as the Bengals topped Butte High 4-0.
Keira Campbell and Heidi Ricketts each poked two hits to lead the Bengal offensive, which took advantage of five Bulldog errors. None of the runs were scored against Butte High starter Ashlinn Mullaney were earned.
Mullaney pitched five innings, while eighth grader Brea Henderson, who picked up the in in the junior varsity game, pitched one.
Mullaney, who singled for Butte’s lone hit, struck out eight in the complete-game win on Saturday. She also helped her own cause with two doubles. Allie Becker also hit two doubles. She joined Madisyn Swanson with three RBIs.
Swanson, Kendallyn Schad, Gracie Jonart and Mattie Stepan singled in the win.
The Bulldogs broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Thursday in Missoula, the Bulldogs dropped a 6-4 decision to Sentinel
Sydney Goldbar homered and joined Kai Gillis with two RBIs in the win for the Spartans. Gillis doubled.
Reese Johnson smacked two hits and drove in three runs from the leadoff spot to lead the Bulldogs. Ferriter joined her with two hits. Both hit doubles. Stepan and Schad added singles for the Bulldogs.
Bute High will Thursday at Helena Capital before closing the regular season Saturday at Missoula Big Sky.
BC boys take second in Dillon
Butte Central’s track teams put up impressive performances Friday at the Dillon Invitational at Vigilante Field. (Results)
The Maroon boys took second in the 10-team meet, scoring 127.2 points. The host Beavers won with 138.4.
Central took fourth on the girls’ side with 34 points. Dillon dominated the meet, scoring 284 points for the win. Leadore, Idaho took second at 47, and Whitehall finished third at 42.
Senior Keefer McGree and sophomore Danny McCarthy both picked up a pair of victories to lead the Central boys in the meet.
McGree won both hurdles races, with BC freshman teammate Palmer Kellicut placing third in the 110 hurdles and second in the 300. McGree won the 110-meter hurdles in 16 seconds flat, once again eclipsing the qualifying standard for the Class A State meet. He won the 300 hurdles in 42.5 seconds.
McCarthy picked up wins in the 100- and 200-meter races. He won the 100 in 11.4 seconds, edging BC senior Patrick Stimatz, who finished in 11.6 seconds. McCarthy then won the 200 in 24 seconds flat. Junior Will McGree picked up a victory for the Maroons. He jumped 35 feet, 9 inches to claim the triple jump title. He also took fourth in the javelin.
Senior Justus McGree won the long jump with a leap of 19-7 ¼. He took third in the high jump.
Central also swept the relay titles. Keefer McGree, Stimatz, Kellicut and McGee ran the short relay, while Will McGree, Grady Button, Berkley Lakkala and Teghan Sparks ran the long relay.
Senior Michael Peck took fourth in the shot put and discus. Maroon sophomore Ayden Abraham scored points for BC by placing sixth in the 100 and 200.
The Tippett sisters had a big day to lead the BC girls.
Eighth grader Evyn Tippett placed second in the 200 and third in the 100. Junior Caden Tippet took second in the shot put with a personal record of 31-3.
Junior Lexa Thompson placed fourth in the 1,600, while classmate Nicolina Galindo took fifth in the 800 and 1,600. Junior Morgan Hardy placed sixth in the 800, and classmate Molly Peck took sixth in the discus.
The Maroons will compete at a meet in Livingston on Saturday. That will be the final tune up before the May 16-17 Western A Divisional meet in Polson.
Dogs pick up wins against Big Sky
Team scores were not kept Thursday as the Butte High Bulldogs sent a big team to Missoula for a dual meet with Big Sky. (Results)
Butte High, though, returned with eight first-place finishes in their lone meet of the week.
Five of those titles were posted by Bulldog girls, with freshman Berkli Salusso, eighth grader Sophia Houchin, and seniors Mylee Demarais, Catherine Sholey and Brityn Stewart all putting up wins.
Salusso won the 400 meters with a personal-record time of 1 minute, 11.29 seconds. Houchin also put up a PR to win the 1,600 in 5:44.69.
Demaris won the shot put in 29 feet, 6 inches, Sholey took the discus with a PR of 92-10, and Stewart won the Javelin in 115. Sholey also put up a PR of 94-4 to take second in the javelin.
Butte High got second-place showings from Dylann Bartoletti (100), Milee Stillwagon (1,600), Cadence Graham (300 hurdles) and Emma Johnson (discus).
Graham reached the qualifying standard in the 300 hurdles with a personal-record time of 48.22 seconds.
Saege Grey (100) and Wakely Burleson (200) placed third for the Bulldogs.
On the boys’ side, seniors Dylan “Bobby” Bache and Brett Polich posted wins, as did junior Camden Houchin. All three reached qualifying marks.
Bache popped off a personal-best jump of 21 feet, 3 ½ inches to win the long jump. Houchin won the 800 with a PR of 1:59.45.
Polich didn’t reach a PR, but he again passed the standard with a mark of 48-10 in to win the shot put.
Junior Jacob Galle posted two PRs to take second in both hurdles races, while classmate Ryan Hanson took second in the high jump and long jump. He placed fourth in the triple jump.
Senior Sam Sampson ran to second in the 100 and 200.
Junior Blaire Hamry (3,200) and sophomore Jaeger Hansen (javelin) also placed second for Butte High. Hansen posted a personal record in 146-7.
Charles Killebrew (800), Matthew Marsenich (long jump), Tyler Olson (pole vault) and Preston Jensen (200) placed third. Jensen also took fourth in the 100.
The Bulldogs will head to Belgrade on Friday before hosting the Western AA Divisional meet May 16-17 at the Charlie Merrifield Track.
Vigilantes edge Maroons on court
East Helena topped Butte Central Thursday in a dual meet at Stodden Park.
The Vigilantes won eight of the 12 matches that were played on the day. East Helena’s boys turned back the Maroons 5-3, while the Vigilante girls won 3-1.
Owen McPartland and Aidan McPartland picked up straight-sets wins for the Maroons in singles. Owen McPartland also teamed with Jim Bradshaw for a straight-sets victory in doubles competition.
Central’s girls a thrilling doubles win from Presli Smith and Logan LeProwse. They edged Emma Stanley and Abby Daum in a 3-6, 6-2 (10-6) battle.
The Maroons were scheduled to play host to Stevensville Saturday at Stodden, but results from those matches have not yet been submitted.
BC will play at the Fergus Invitational Friday in Lewistown.
BOYS
East Helena 5, Butte Central 3
Singles
Owen McPartland, BC, def. Walker Young, E. Helena 6-2, 6-2
Dylan Burkarl, E. Helena, def Jim Bradshaw 6-0, 6-2
Aidan McPartland, BC, def. Gabe Ruth 6-4, 6-1
Gabe Ruth, E. Helena, def. Emmitt Foley
Ali Makhometov, E. Helena, def. Karter Lindau
Doubles
Jim Bradshaw/Owen McPartland, BC, def. Cory Ryman/Kourtland Smith 6-4, 6-4
Damon Young/Gene Cardwell, E. Helena, def. Aidan McPartland/Connor Hardy 6-1, 3-6 (10-8)
Ali Makhometor/Gene Cardwell, E. Helena def. James Holmes/Conan Holmes 4-6, 6-1 (10-7)
GIRLS
East Helena 3, Butte Central 1
Singles
Taylor Hadley, E. Helena, def. Presli Smith 6-1, 6-0
Dempsey Hadley, E. Helena, def. Mackenzie Cupp 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
Presli Smith/Logan LeProwse, BC, def. Emma Stanley/Abby Daum 3-6, 6-2 (10-6)
Jordan Mungel/Brooke Hauer, E. Helena, def. Mackenzie Cupp/Sloan Peterson 6-1, 6-0
Eagles sweep Bulldogs at Stodden
Missoula Big Sky walked away with a sweep of Butte High’s tennis teams Tuesday at Stodden Park.
The Eagles won 6-2 on the boys’ side and 5-3 in girls’ play.
Bryce Gratton grabbed a straight-sets win for the Bulldogs at No. 4 doubles The other Bulldog boys’ win came from James Pearston and Max Pearston, who won a 7-6, 7-6 battle over Austin Anderson and Oliver Green.
In girls’ play, Murphy Sullivan picked up an impressive straight-sets win at No. 1 singles. Carliegh Donaldson did the same at No. 3. Butte also got a tiebreaker victory from Allissa Pennock at No. 4 singles.
Tuesday’s action came after a solid day for the Bulldogs Saturday in Missoula. Butte High fell 7-1 and 8-0 to Kalispell Glacier. Butte’s boys, though knocked off Kalispell Flathead 6-2, while the Bulldog girls played the Bravettes to a 4-all tie.
Against the Braves, Butte’s boys got wins from Tashi Hanley and Gratton in singles. Cole Skeel and Jason Johns teamed to grab a doubles win, as did Drew Hanson and Jaxon Jonart.
Butte High also got a pair of forfeit wins. Those went to the doubles team of Hunter LaPier and Kanyon Flynn and the team Pearston and Pearston.
Matthew Weldon picked up a No. 2 singles win for the Bulldogs’ lone victory against Glacier.
Murphy Sullivan’s 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 win over Azalea Bailey at No. 1 singles highlighted Butte High’s tie with Flathead.
Hallie Vanderlind won in straight sets at No. 3 singles, and Pennock won at No. 4. Ayva Gerry and Renna Hubber won a No. 3 doubles match.
Butte High has three more home dates before heading to the divisional tournament May 16-17 in Missoula. The Bulldogs play at home on Thursday and Saturday before taking on Butte Central on Monday.
BOYS
Butte High 6, Kalispell Flathead 2
Singles
Holden Askvig, Flathead, def. Josh Schrader 6-1, 6-2
Rowen Alexander, Flathead, def. Matthew Weldon 6-2, 6-3
Tashi Hanley, Butte, def. Badge Busse 6-0, 6-0
Bryce Gratton, Butte, def. Storm Lister 6-0, 5-1 (medical forfeit)
Doubles
Cole Skeel/Jason Johns, Butte, def. Aiden Skees/Frias Bailey 6-3, 6-1
Drew Hanson/Jaxon Jonart, Butte, def. Joel Jones/Kolbe Ghetkiere 6-3, 6-1
Hunter LaPier/Kanyon Flynn, Butte, won by forfeit
James Pearston/Max Pearston, Butte, won by forfeit
Kalispell Glacier 7, Butte High 1
Singles
Creed Norick, Glacier, def. Shrader 6-1, 6-0
Weldon, Butte, def. Aiden Lamb 6-0, 6-1
Gavin Rodriguez, Glacier, def. Hanley 6-3, 7-5
Weston Heller, Glacier, def. Philip Russo 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
Carl Bitney/Sam Engellant, Glacier, def. Skeel/Johns 6-2, 6-4
Dalyn Mathison/Brouden Jenkinson, Glacier, def. LaPier/Flynn 6-2, 6-1
Ethan Ronngren/Micah Klippenstein, Glacier, def. Pearston/Pearson 6-1, 6-1
Karson Stafford/A.J. Zlagar, Glacier, def. Miles Gasser/Matthew Lockmer 6-1, 6-0
Missoula Big Sky 6, Butte High 2
Singles
Brody McGinnis, Big Sky, def. Schrader 6-1, 6-0
Liam B., Big Sky, def. Weldon 6-1, 6-2
Jace Meyer, Big Sky, def. Hanley 6-2, 6-1
Gratton, Butte, def. Derek Johnson 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
Colter Jensen/Eli Farley, Big Sky, def. Skeel/Johns 6-3, 6-0
Will V./Isaiah Reed, Big Sky, def. Lockmer/Mason Johnson 6-1, 6-0
Adrion Tribole/Jax Holloway, Big Sky, def. LaPier/Flynn 6-0, 6-3
Pearston/Pearston, Butte, def. Austin Anderson/Oliver Green 7-6, 7-6
GIRLS
Butte High 4, Kalispell Flathead 4
Singles
Murphy Sullivan, Butte, def. Azalea Bailey 6-1, 4-6, 10-8
Allie Goff, Flathead, def. Rachel Law 6-1, 6-2
Hallie Vanderlinde, Butte, def. Piper McEwlin 6-4, 6-0
Allissa Pennock, Butte, def. Illyadssua Ba 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
Sara Loren/Nina Paris, Flathead, def. Chloe Jewell/Sienna Bradley
Sienna Blamhard/Hazel Bridge, Flathead, def. Aubbrie llmendinger/Isabella Babb6-1, 7-5
Ayva Gerry/Renna Hubber, Butte, def. Ava Malmin/Norah Adonetti 6-2, 6-2
Piper McEwlin/Breanna Martinez, Flathead def. Jordyn Yelenich/Emily Allred 6-0, 6-2
Kalispell Glacier 8, Butte High 0
Singles
Leiloni Lennarz, Glacier, def. Sullivan 6-3, 6-0
Autumn Bashara, Glacier, def. Law 6-0, 6-1
Emilee Lister, Glacier, def. Allissa Pennock 6-0, 6-2
Lindsey Lemler, Glacier, def. Dankia Smith 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Claire Ennis/Miley Fritz, Glacier, def. Jewell/Bradley 6-2, 6-4
Quinn Berkram/Red Sanders, Glacier, def. Gerry/Emily Allred 6-1, 6-1
Avery Bender/Bella Laseala, Glacier, def. McKenzie Reed/Rory Trafford 6-1, 6-3
Clara Narick/Amelia Bender, Glacier, def. Yelenich/Hubber 6-1, 6-3
Missoula Big Sky 5, Butte High 3
Singles
Sullivan, Butte, def. Lauren Donovan 6-5, 7-5
Brynn Winward, Big Sky, def. Wanderlinde 6-2, 6-1
Carliegh Donaldson, Butte, def. Brooke Wiswell 6-2, 7-6
Pennock, Butte, def Claire Hyllon 6-3 5-7, 6-0
Doubles
Katie Williams/Chloe Dosier, Big Sky, def. Jewell/Bradley 6-0, 6-1
Nevaeh Beard/Maya Halter, Big Sky, def. Allmendinger/Babb 6-0, 6-1
Finynci Kellum/Brett Whitmore, Big Sky, def. Gerry/Hubber 3-7, 6-1, 7-4
Liv Stocker/Paylin Morina, Big Sky, def. Yelenich/Allred 6-2, 6-1
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 