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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of May 11.
This is the final week of the regular season. The season-ending tournament will begin next week.
Monday
7 p.m. — Moof’s Dawgs vs. Parish
8 p.m. — Parish vs. Washington Generals
9 p.m. — Rosary Rattlers vs. Someday StartersTuesday
7 p.m. — Poi Time vs. Rosary Rattlers
8 p.m. — Crib Crew vs. HoopballasWednesday
7 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Someday Starters
8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Poi TimeThursday
7 p.m. — Rosary Rattlers vs. Moof’s Dawgs
8 p.m. — Hoopballas vs. ButteSports
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Pete Sorini Day set for June 6
The 11th Annual Pete Sorini CDT Trail Logout/Stewardship Day will be held on the Continental Divide Trail on Saturday, June 6.
The purpose of the event, which is named after the late friend and respected neurosurgeon, is to ready the trail for the hiking and biking season.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Highlands Camp at 8:30 a.m. and plan to be back at the trailhead around 4:30 p.m. Also, people are asked to dress safely with closed-toed shoes, long pants, bug spray and sunscreen.
A group barbecue, featuring Rick Douglas will follow the trail work. Volunteers are asked to register ahead of time for an accurate food count.
Gina Evans, a group organizer, said this year’s event will include more downed trees than in recent years because of the weather over the past few months.
“We will need a solid, motivated group of volunteers to assist throughout the day,” Evans said. “This nonprofit has a responsibility to take care of all 3,100 miles of trail.”
Click here for more information or contact Evans at (406) 498-9653 or eatdirtpigpen@gmail.com.
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Episode No. 345: Max Demarais
As a sophomore in high school, Max Demarais could have probably run for any office in town — and won easily.
Around here, he was as famous as he is likable.
Max was diagnosed with a tumor behind his right eye after he struggled with the vision test while taking the driver’s education program. It was the summer before his freshman year at Butte High School.
That led to rounds of chemotherapy before he eventually made the incredibly tough decision — as a sophomore — to have his eye surgically removed.
That, did not stop Max. While the vision problem might have ended his basketball career a little early, he still went on to a great career playing defensive line for the Bulldogs. He also played baseball after the removal of the eye, hitting over .300 one season for the Butte Muckers and wiping away excuses for people like me who couldn’t hit the ball with two eyes.
Max grew up dreaming of playing football for the Montana State Bobcats. His family has long held season tickets, and Max went to his first Bobcat game in the first few days of his life.
He did not end up playing for the Cats, but this morning he graduated from the school with an engineering job already in hand. He graduated as a highly-decorated student with some prestigious scholarships in his pocket.
Before he starts that new career in Missoula — where he will not become a Grizzly fan — Max is going to spend a month traveling around Europe for a well-deserved vacation after graduating from MSU in four years.
Yesterday, I met up with Max over Zoom for a conversation on the eve of his college graduation. Listen in as Max talks about his fight with cancer and how he kept a positive attitude throughout.
Listen as he talks about the support he received from his teammates, friends and people from the community who he never knew.
Listen as he talks about his four years of college and find out how much MSU national championship gear he already owns.
Today’s episode is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the friendly non-commission sales staff that always has your back. It is also available on YouTube:
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Brandl, Lerum, Zimpel perfect during Week 4 of trap league
Rayelynn Brandl, John Lerum and Kevin Zimpel broke all 50 targets to top individual standings during Week 4 of the Butte Trap Club’s spring league. (Results)
The perfect scores were the first of the spring league.
Kohlton Fultz and Walt McIntosh each shot a 49, and Scott White, John McIntosh, Gillian Clark and Jon Petro each shot a 48.
Brandl’s perfect score led women’s standings. After Clark’s 48, Ciana Dale shot a 42, and Colleen Fink shot a 41.
Dave Vicevich and Walt McIntosh led wobble scores at 49.
Through four weeks, Wolverine Systems leads team scratch standings at 759. Triple S Construction is second at 742, followed by WET 1 at 744.
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Eric Dunmire to lead BC wrestling
A Butte High legend has been hired to coach Butte Central wrestling program.
The school announced today that it is hiring 1998 Butte High graduate Eric Dunmire as its next head wrestling coach.
He brings extensive competitive experience, coaching knowledge and passion for student-athlete development to the position, the school said in a statement.
Dunmire was a four-time state champion wrestling for coach Jim Street’s Bulldogs. He then continuing his wrestling career at the University of Northern Iowa. During his collegiate career, he became an NCAA Division I National Qualifier and later earned NAIA All-American honors.
His accomplishments have also been recognized locally through induction into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 as an individual and again in 2026 as part of the 1995 Butte High state championship team.
In addition to his competitive success, Dunmire has remained actively involved in wrestling through coaching at both the high school and middle school levels, as well as serving as an volunteer coach with the Butte Silver Bow Wrestling Club.
“We are excited to welcome Eric as the leader of our wrestling program,” Butte Central activities director Chad Petersen said in a statement. “Eric’s experience, wrestling background, and commitment to developing young people make him a tremendous fit for our student-athletes and school community. He understands the tradition of wrestling in Butte and has a strong vision for building a positive, disciplined, and competitive program.”
Dunmire replaces Andrew Holmes, who led the Maroons the past couple of seasons.
The photo of Dunmire above is from the 2024 Butte Sports Hall of Fame Green Jacket Ceremony. It was provided by Josie Trudgeon.
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Butte High boys run to Tomich title
Dogs, Maroons host Senior Days
Butte High’s boys’ track team seems to be heating up at the right time.
The Bulldogs opened May with a team victory Saturday at Butte Central’s John Tomich Invitational at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.
Butte High captured first place in six events to chalk up 127 team points. Laurel took second at 114, and Frenchtown finished third at 71, one point better than Boulder. The Host Maroons placed eighth in the nine-team meet with 17 points.
Frenchtown won the girls’ title with 143 points. Boulder was second at 97, and Butte High placed third with 64.
Senior Jacob Galle had a huge day for the Bulldogs, winning both hurdles races.
Galle won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.28 seconds. He won the 300-meter hurdles in 41.57 seconds. The 110 time reached the qualifying mark for the Class AA State meet. That was the third time he reached that standard this season.
Galle also ran a leg of both Butte High relay teams. The Bulldogs won the 1,600-meter relay and placed second in the 400-meter relay.
Senior Camden Houchin won the 800-meter race in 2 minutes, 3.31 seconds. Classmate Levi Wiltsie won the 3,200 in 10:40.70.
Senior Ryan Hanson continued his outstanding season winning the long jump and placing second in the high hump. His long jump mark of 21 feet, 9 inches was a personal-best for Hanson. It once again reached a qualifying standard.
Running with Galle in the 1,600 relay were Reece Cunneen, Raeder Grey and Houchin. Galle ran with Miner Lee, Preston Jensen and Brady Walsh in the short relay.
Walsh placed third in the 100, fifth in the 200 and fourth in the long jump. Other place winners Tyce Snow (second in the 200), Jaeger Hansen (third in the javelin), Lee (fourth in the 200), Charles Killebrew (fourth in the 800), Chase Choquette (fifth in the 400), Bradey Doyle (fifth in the pole vault), Lincoln Zell (sixth in the 800), Isaac Zell (sixth in the 1,600) and Cohen Andrews (sixth in the triple jump).
Danny McCarthy won the 100 in 11.43 seconds to lead the Butte Central boys. Palmer Kellicut took third in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles.
Butte High’s girls won the 1,600-meter relay. Evelyn Smith, Cadence Graham, Penelope Luebke and Wakely Burelson each ran a leg. The Bulldog 400-meter relay team placed second, with Kloe Dickinson, Autumn Clary, Kate DeShaw and Burelson each running.
Graham also placed second in both hurdles races for the Bulldogs. Milee Stillwagon placed third in the 1,600 and fourth in the 800, and Clary took fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 200.
Other place winners for the Bulldog girls were Sophia Houchin (fourth in the 400), DeShaw (fifth in the long jump), Luebke (sixth in the long jump), Burelson (sixth in the 400) and Emma Johnson (sixth in the discus).
Three days later, the Bulldogs hosted Missoula Big Sky and Butte Central in a meet at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.
Big Sky won on the boys’ and girls’ side, though the Bulldogs did not run their normal team.
The Eagles scored 105.5 points to win the boys’ race Butte High was next at 59, followed by BC at 10.5.
On the girls’ side, Big Sky scored 108.8 points. Butte High was second at 64.4, and BC scored 4.6.
Houchin, Isaac Zell, Wiltsie and Hansen picked up victories for the Butte High boys. Houchin won the 400 in 53.10 seconds, while Zell ran to a win in the 800 in 2:19.03. Wiltsie won the 1,600 in 5:02.91, and Hanson won the long jump in 20-2.
Galle took second in the 200 and third in the 100.
Other Bulldog boys placing in the top three were Killebrew (second in the 400), Lincoln Zell (second in the 1,600), Gannon Sullivan (second in the discus), Doyle (second in the pole vault), Andrews (second in the long jump) and Bridger Luebke (third in the 400).
Kellicut won the 110 hurdles with a personal-best time of 15.67 seconds to lead the Maroons. McCarthy placed second in the 100 with a PB of 11.14. That again reached a qualifying time for the junior.
Henly Mansanti took second in the high jump.
Saege Grey, Graham, Houchin, DeShaw, Johnson and eight grader Peyton Poole posted wins for the Butte High girls.
Grey won the 100 in 13.05 seconds, and Graham won the 100 hurdles with a personal-best time of 15.95. She also took third in the 200 and fourth in the 100.
Houchin added a personal best in the 400, winning in 1:01.77. DeShaw jumped a personal-best 16 feet to win the long jump.
Johnson won the discus in 101-3. She also placed third in the shot put.
Poole launched the javelin 111-5. That came withing 2 feet of the qualifying standard.
Other Bulldog girls in the top three were Allie Ballensky (second in the discus), Smith (second in the 400), Valerie Trabert (second in the pole vault), Stillwagon (third in the 800), Rylee Erickson (third in the 300 hurdles), Gabby Gamez (third in the javelin), Luebke (third in the long jump) and Kynslee Wrampe (third in the high jump).
Caden Tippett took second in the shot put to lead the BC girls. Harper McGree took third in the high jump.
The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday when they head to Billings West. The Maroons will compete Saturday in Dillon.
Maroons rally past Devils
Butte Central’s softball team made Corvallis pay for its mistakes Wednesday afternoon at a windy Stodden Park.
BC took advantage of 10 Corvallis errors to post a 13-8 Southwestern A victory. (Boxscore)
The win capped a busy stretch that saw the Maroons play six games in seven days. That includes four games at Frenchtown’s tournament over the weekend.
BC rolled past Livingston for a 15-0 win on Thursday. Then, the Maroons went 1-3 in Frenchtown. They lost 6-0 to Ronan and 19-9 to Frenchtown on Friday. BC beat Browning 17-0 before falling 13-7 to Havre on Saturday.
Only the Frenchtown game in that tournament counted in league standings.
Jordyn Samson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday to break an 8-all tie. The Maroons added four runs in the bottom of the fifth the pull away.
BC pounded 10 hits in the victory. Braelynn Schelin smoked two doubles, while Kenzie McQueary and Ryan Olson each hit a double and a single in the win.
Cambri Campbell, Luci Fantini, Natalie Osterman and Kodee Badovinac hit singles for a Maroon lineup that got contributions from top to bottom.
Blake Smith walked and scored twice, while Arika Stajcar drove in a run.
Schelin pitched the distance, striking out six, for the win.
McQueary drove in four runs in the loss to Frenchtown. Her day included a double and a single. Campbell also doubled in the game. Smith and Marly Mansanti also singled for BC.
BC used 11 hits in the win over Browning. That includes three singles by Samson and two by Campbell. Stajcar, Cendyl Campbell, Mila Carriger, Olson and Zayonna Otherbull doubled. Mya McGree pitched the distance in the game called by the run rule after three innings. Seven of the nine outs she got came by way of the K.
In Thursday’s home win over Livingston, Alli Forrelli and McGree combined to hold the Rangers to just one hit.
Cambri Campbell doubled, while the nine BC hits were singles. Carriger, Olson and Stajcar each smacked two hits, while Samson, Fantini and McGree hit one. Stajcar drove in four runs, and Olson knocked in three.
The Maroons will travel to Corvallis for another game with the Blue Devils on Saturday. Next week, BC will host the Laverne Combo Invitational at Stodden Park and the Longfellow Complex.
Bulldogs set for Senior Day
Butte High’s softball team will celebrate Senior Day Thursday when Missoula Sentinel comes to town for a 3 p.m. Western AA contest at Stodden Park.
The Bulldogs will honor their four seniors and their parents before the first pitch. Those seniors are Mattie Stepan, Lauren Warren, Gracie Jonart and Ally Godbout.
That comes after Butte High went 1-2 in three games against the Class AA Billings schools last week in the Magic City.
Butte High fell 11-0 to a strong Billings West team on Thursday. (Boxscore) The Bulldogs beat Skyview 8-3 on Saturday (boxscore) before falling 7-2 to Senior (boxscore)
West’s Taum Bush struck out 14 batters in Friday’s one-hit victory over the Bulldogs. Taytem Abrams hit a pair of home runs, while Asa Edwards added one to power the Golden Bears’ offense.
Allie Becker bunted for a fifth-inning single to break up the no hitter. Avery Barsness bunted and reached on an error.
The Bulldogs rebounded for a nice win over the Falcons to start the day Saturday. First baseman Kendallyn Schad had a big day, going 3 for 4 with four RBIs to lead the Bulldog 15-hit attack. Reese Johnson added two singles and a double, while Stepan hit three singles in the win.
Godbout belted two singles. Brittyn Klima, Jonart, Brea Henderson and Cliry Conway each hit one.
Henderson fanned seven batters in the victory from the pitcher’s circle.
Senior’s Rayvin Fischer struck out eight batters to get the win for the Broncs to end Butte High’s weekend. She held the Bulldogs to just two hits.
Braella Jennings and Soraya Shirley doubled to lead the Senior offense.
Becker hit two singles for the Bulldogs. Schad reached on a walk.
Butte High will head to Missoula to take on Missoula Hellgate Saturday at the University of Montana stadium. The Bulldogs will then close out the regular season with three games next week.
Butte High will play at Helena Capital on Tuesday, play host to Helena High on Thursday and play at Missoula Big Sky on Saturday.
Central baseball hosts Florence
It will also be Senior Day Thursday at 3 Legends Stadium as the Butte Central baseball team takes on Florence at 5 p.m.
BC will honor its six seniors and their parents before the first pitch. Those seniors are Kelton Berger, Colt Hassler, Jack Nagle, Kelton Keene, Trapper Stajcar and the very dapper Tony Stajcar.
The Senior celebration will come two days after Tuesday’s 7-1 loss in Dillon. (Boxscore)
Jase Alvarez doubled while going 4 for 4 to lead the Beavers in the win. Garrett Tackett hit a double and a single, while Andrew Bartlome and Trenton Moreni each hit a pair of singles.
Cohen Hartman struck out 12 Maroons in six innings to get the victory on the bump.
Hassler doubled, and Gunnar “Goo” O’Brien hit two singles for the Maroons. Trapper Stajcar, Cohen Stajcar and Treigh Hollow also singled for BC.
BC fell 10-6 to East Helena Friday at Helena’s Ryan Park. (Boxscore)
An eight-run first inning gave the Vigilantes a lead they would not relinquish. Hunter Sutton scored three times from the leadoff spot to lead the way for East Helena, which got two singles from Kash Walker.
Berger doubled in a 3-for-4 performance to lead the Maroons. He drove in two runs. Beau McGree and O’Brien each poked a pair of hits, while Kelsen Brackett and Hollow each added one.
The Maroons will play at Lone Peak at noon on Saturday. BC will close out the regular season next Thursday and Saturday with trips to Livingston and Florence on Thursday and Saturday.
Bulldogs rope Vigilantes
Kodye Kjersten had a huge game to lead the way as the Bulldogs pounded East Helena 13-2 Tuesday at Ryan Park. (Boxscore)
The sophomore outfielder went 4 for 4 with a double and three RBIs in the win. He also struck out four batters in two scoreless innings to close out the game.
Hunter Davies picked up the win, going four strong innings. The game was called by the run rule after six.
Calvin Cunningham smacked three hits and joined Kjersten with three RBIs. Logan Carden tripled, and Cole Solomon singled for Butte high, which used seven walks and took eight beanballs.
Teagan Duffy walked twice, while Carden, Kjersten, Evan McEwen, Grady Foley and Brooks Vincent each walked once. McEwen, Solomon and Cayde Stajcar were each hit twice. Foley and Carden were hit once.
That win came after Butte High split home games with the Kalispell schools. Butte High fell 11-6 to Flathead on Friday. (Boxscore) The Dogs rebounded for an 11-5 win Saturday over Glacier. (Boxscore)
Chase Lubick pitched into the sixth inning to grab the win Saturday. He fanned sixth. Solomon got the last five out — three by way of the K — to finish off the win.
Butte High smashed 16 hits in the win. That includes triples by Cunningham, Stajcar and Carden, and doubles by Stajcar and Carden.
Carden and Stajcar each had a three-hit game. Kjersten, Cunningham and Duffy each had two hits. McEwen, Gunner Bushman, Troy Samson and Foley hit one.
Ryne Gillette hit two singles to lead the Wolfpack.
Hunter Fann smacked three doubles to lead the 11-hit attack for Flathead on Friday. Eli Coopman added two doubles, and Jacobe Sullenger tripled as the Braves avenged an early-season loss to the Bulldogs.
Liam Rech pitched the distance for the win.
Stajcar and McEwen doubled for the Bulldogs. Stajcar also singled, and Cunningham hit two singles. Carden and Kjersten also singled for Butte.
The Bulldogs are in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the Western AA as they head toward crunch time. The top two teams receive a berth in the Class AA State tournament, which is May 28-30 in Butte.
The Bulldogs will play at Missoula Sentinel at 5 p.m. on Thursday. They host Missoula Hellgate at 4 p.m. on Saturday before taking on Missoula Big Sky for Tuesday’s Senior Day celebration.
The Bulldogs will honor their seniors — Stajcar, Carden, Vincent, Lubick, Foley and Bushman — and their parents before the game. Jaxon Williams is missing his senior season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.
The Bulldogs will close the regular season next weekend against the Great Falls schools. They will host CMR on Friday before heading to Great Falls High on Saturday.
Tennis teams in action
Butte High and Butte Central will be in action in tennis this week.
The Bulldogs will be at home Friday to take on Helena High and Helena Capital, while the Maroons will head be home Thursday taking on East Helena at noon and Stevensville at 3 p.m.
Central played host to Lewistown last Friday. Jaylee Williams beat Kendall Tepper in a 6-7, 6-4, (10-3) thriller at No. 4 singles. That was BC’s lone win of the day.
The Bulldogs played Saturday in Missoula before hosting home action with Big Sky, Sentinel and Belgrade on Tuesday.
Results of those matches were not submitted in time for this report.
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Episode No. 344: Jamie Campbell
Jamie Campbell is a standup comedian who will be performing at Butte’s Covellite Theatre on Thursday, May 14.
Advanced tickets are recommended for this show because it just might sell out. (Click here to buy tickets.)
Jamie will bring his high-energy, storytelling and positive vibe to the Mining City all the way from Kansas City, where he is still getting used to that Midwest nice.
Known for finding humor even in life’s toughest moments, Jamie delivers sharp, relatable comedy that connects with audiences across the country.
You may recognize Jamie from his Drybar Comedy special Middle Man, as well as appearances on Chicago Fire, Hollywood Darlings, and the Emmy-nominated ABC series Boondoggle. His style blends heartfelt perspective with big laughs, shaped by a life story that proves comedy can shine light in even the darkest places.
Thursday’s show will be hosted by Brittani Ferris, owner of Uptown Comedy. Kane O’Neil will also be the opener, and Jamie will take part in a meet and greet at the 51 Below Speakeasy after the show, which is rated PG-13 and family friendly.
Earlier today, I met with Jamie over Zoom for a fun conversation.
Listen in to hear how he became a comedian in the first place. Listen as he talks about working with people like Damon Waynes, Jeff Garlin and Dana Carvey.
Listen as he talks about his comedy influences and how he wants audience members leaving his shows feeling good about themselves. Listen in to see that next Thursday will be a show that you do not want to miss.
Today’s episode is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the local’s eat. It is also available on YouTube:
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Holy buckets, we need to learn the rules
Boston Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez settled under the lazy pop fly in Fenway Park.
Manny being Manny, though, he did not catch it cleanly. The ball hit off his glove and bounced into the air. Then, after it looked like he was going to really mess up, Manny somehow snagged the ball before it hit the ground.
The batter was out, and Manny threw the ball to third base, where an opposing runner had been tagging up, for what I thought was an obvious double play.
The reason I thought that was because the runner left as soon as the ball hit Manny’s glove. By the time Manny actually caught the ball, the runner was several feet off the bag on his way home.
I jumped out of my chair, screaming at the television as the umpire signaled that the runner was safe. The run scored on a sacrifice fly.
But he left before Manny caught the ball, so I knew without a doubt that it should have been a double play. The runner cannot advance until the ball is caught. Right?
Well, wrong.
Just as I was about to completely lose it, Jerry Remy, the color man for the New England Sports Network, stepped in to settle me, and the rest of “Red Sox Nation,” down. He explained the “first touch” rule in baseball.
When a runner is tagging up on a fly ball, he can legally run once the outfielder first touches the ball. He does not have to wait until the catch is secured to leave on a tag play.
As my cousin Skinny put it, the rule was a rule back when the Yankees were called the “Hilltoppers” and the Dodgers were called the “Robins.”
If you think about the rule, it makes perfect sense. A skilled outfielder could just juggle the ball as he runs into the infield, preventing a runner from tagging up.
So, even after the pivotal run scored against my team, I accepted the obvious situation after it was pointed out by the best colorman in the history of sports.
For a minute, though, I was irate because I did not know that rule — even though I had already watched an obscene amount of baseball by that time.
So, it is understandable that Butte Central fans were a little mad when something kind of similar happed in the top of the fourth inning of BC’s game against Dillon April 15 at 3 Legends Stadium.
Unlike me, however, they were not in the comfort of their own home, and the umpires could hear them.
With one out and runners on second and third, Dillon first baseman Trenton Moreni hit a high fly ball to left-center field. Sawyer Tackett tagged up on third base, and Cohen Hartman tagged at second.
The ball bounced out of the mitt of BC leftfielder Tony Stajcar. However, Tony’s cousin, Trapper Stajcar, somehow snagged the ball out of the air for the out.
Tackett and Hartman ran as soon as the ball hit Tony Stajcar’s mitt. So, when Trapper Stajcar threw the ball in for what appeared to be another out, BC fans figured it was a obvious inning-inning double play.
So, too, did the field umpire, and BC fans cheered the great play by Trapper Stajcar as the Central players ran into the dugout to bat in the bottom of the fourth.
It did not, however, fool home plate umpire Bryce Carver, who is so often the punching bag of baseball fans, even though he works extremely hard to try to master his craft.
Carver got together with the field umpire, and they correctly ruled that the two runs scored, and the top of the inning would continue with two outs.
Like I did when Ramirez bobbled the ball that day a couple of decades ago, some BC fans nearly lost their minds.
Fortunately — or, depending on your perspective, unfortunately — the video on GameChanger captured the puzzlement and anger of the fans.
“It’s an out,” one fan yelled.
“The ball didn’t touch the ground,” another said. Then more comments rolled in.
“Are you sh–ing me?”
“So why isn’t the guy on second out? He didn’t tag at second.”
“Terrible. Oh, my goodness.”
“He caught it. In the air.”
“And both the runs count?”
And my favorite:
“Holy buckets.”
Unfortunately for the home fans, they did not have Jerry Remy there to describe the rule to them. So, you have to excuse the BC fans, to an extent, for their outrage. They genuinely thought the Central players were getting jobbed by the umpire, even if the BC coach did not argue after he got the explanation.
I can sympathize with those fans. I feel that way all the time when I’m watching my son play baseball, and I have yelled at some umpires who are friends of mine. I have yelled at football officials and baseball umpires who I have refereed basketball games with.
Every time, I feel like an idiot afterword, as I should.
The thing is, though, when you are yelling in public about a call, it is a good idea to know the rule. From my experience watching years of Little League, American Legion and high school baseball, most people do not learn the rules before the yell at the umpires.
You probably shouldn’t yell at officials in youth sports in general, but you really should keep quiet if you do not know why the call was made. There is, after all, a big difference between voicing your displeasure for a strike call on a ball that appeared to be way outside than there is arguing an obstruction call.
From my experience, I would say somewhere between 98 and 99 percent of the fans at youth games do not know the difference between obstruction and interference.
We saw that at a Butte High game this weekend. A Bulldog fan yelled at the same umpire because he gave the delayed signal for obstruction when the runner collided with the Butte High catcher, who did not have the ball.
I’m not sure why the fan yelled, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t know either. He was probably just confused when the ump briefly held out his left hand.
I think it might have been the same fan who yelled at a Butte High infielder to throw home on a two-out grounder in the junior varsity game. That is why the coaches tell the parents not to coach from the stands.
Luckily, the player did not listen to the fan, though similar screams from the crowd seemed to lead to a Butte High player throwing to the wrong base earlier in the JV game.
Too many fans also do not understand the balk rule, but they always want to argue that call when it goes against their team. I’ll admit it, I don’t always know why a balk is called, but I usually assume the umpire who is intently looking for a balk probably does.
Fans are always certain that they are right, and the umpire is wrong — even though they know that only one of them has read the rule book. Even worse, they often act like the umpire is dumb. But it not usually the umpire who looks like a fool when all is said and done.
Everyone has the right to fan how they want to fan, and umpires have the right to throw fans out of the game for getting out of hand — even if it rarely happens.
But it is a good rule of thumb to know the rules before you start yelling about a call. Otherwise, you are going to be the one who looks or sounds bad on the GameChanger video.
Like with the case on Manny’s bobble, the call on Trapper’s great catch was pretty dang obvious to anyone who ever read the rule book or listened to a good color commentator.
Holy buckets be damned.
— Bill Foley, who could tell you the difference between obstruction and interference, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74 or Bluesky at @foles74.bsky.social. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
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Butte Sports Hall of Fame inductees
Following is a list of all 20 induction classes of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was founded by the late Don Peoples Sr. and the late Pat Kearney. The first class was inducted in 1987, and a class was inducted every odd year until the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the induction in 2021. The Hall of Fame will move forward with a class every even year moving forward.
The Class of 2026 will be enshrined July 24-25 at the Butte Civic Center.
1987 individuals
Sylvia White Blaine, Bob O’Billovich, Joe Kelly, Swede Dahlberg, Milt Popovich, Jim McCaughey, Jim Sweeney, Bob Hawke, Bill Cullen, Bob O’Malley, Judy Morstein Martz, Danny Hanley, Walter T. Scott.
1987 teams
1908 Butte High football, 1927 Butte High football, 1950 Butte Central basketball.
1989 individuals
Bob Brady, Ed Simonich, Jewel Gronley Lee, Dennis Ferriter, Matt Vucurovich, Robert Poore, Sonny Holland, Kenneth Duff, Eli Thomas, Tom Penaluna, Ed Gerry, Ed Zemljak.
1989 teams
1933 Butte High track, 1941 Butte High basketball, 1936 Butte American Legion baseball, 1945 Butte Central football.
1991 individuals
Bill Barry, Eso Naranche, Sam Jankovich, Helen Rotar Burt, George Sarsfield, Bob Koprivica, Ed Foley, Bill Hawke, Mare Bartholomew, Bob Petrino, Arthur Kiely, Tom DeSylvia, Glenn Welch, Tom Lester.
1991 teams
1917 Butte High football, 1956 Butte Central football, 1946 Butte American Legion Baseball, 1960 Butte High football.
1993 individuals
Frank Brown, Tom Mulcahy, Wilbur Johnson, Wes Dowling, Otto Simon, Bill Krum, John Good, Steve Sullivan, Charlie Judd, Georgia Byrne, Bill Roberts, Sas Keane, Connie Carelli Fisher, Bob Sparks, Sonny Lubick.
1993 teams
1949 Butte American Legion baseball; 1919, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1942, 1948 Butte Central football; 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1951 Butte High football; 1924, 1925, 1928, 1932, 1933, 1943 Butte High basketball, 1905, 1909, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1943 Butte High track.
1995 individuals
Gene Allen, Dan Sullivan, Bill Peoples, John Frankino, Jim Wedin, Bob Renz, Bill Kambich, Charlie McAuliffe, JoAnn Carle, Ron Ueland, Bob Rae, Gus Janhunen, Forrest Wilson, Rose Stosich.
1995 teams
1951 Butte High football, 1952 Butte Central football, 1955 Butte Central football, 1957 Butte High basketball, 1953 Butte American Legion baseball, 1958 Butte High basketball, 1953 Butte Central football.
1997 individuals
Joe Antonietti, Frank Spear, Bob Moodry, Lue Jean Gronley, Don Ueland, Evan Roberts, Tom LeProwse, Hudson Willse, Jon McElroy, Liza Merrifield Dennehy, Helen Sprunger, Pat Ogrin, Ron “Swede” Kenison, Glen Welch, Frank Semansky.
1997 teams
1952 New Deal Bar softball, 1961 Butte High football, 1964 Butte High football, 1964 Butte Central football, 1963 Butte High track, 1965 Butte Central football, 1964 Butte High cross country.
1999 individuals
Jack Cavanaugh, Shirley Penaluna Shea, Jerry Olds, Jack Kyllingstad, Barbara Horst Williams, Mark Schulte, Sam Leeper, George Grant, Jim Street, Bill Salonen, Evel Knievel, Norman Ygnatowiz.
1999 teams
1966 Butte High track, 1968 Butte Central cross country, 1967 Butte High football, 1969 Butte Central football, 1968 Butte High football, 1970 Montana Tech football.
2001 individuals
Ray Becky, Bill Sever, Jim Kello, Gary Carle, Buddy Walsh, Veronica O’Brien, Doc Jordan, Cathy Gallagher-Brannon, Harry Shaffer, Ed Kelly, Gene Fogarty.
2001 teams
1908 Montana Tech football, 1969 Butte High girls’ swimming, 1964 DeLuxe men’s softball, 1970 Butte High girls’ swimming, 1965 Lucky Lager women’s softball, 1971 Butte Central football, 1966 DeLuxe men’s softball, 1972 Butte High girls’ swimming, 1968 Lucky Lager women’s softball, 1972 Butte Central football, 1969 Lucky Lager women’s softball, 1973 Butte Central football.
2003 individuals
Joe Antonietti, Jim Bertoglio, Mick Dennehy, Jim Hanley, Shawna Hanley, Mike Houlihan, Len Kelly, Don McAuliffe, Charlie Merrifield, Brian Morris, Sheila Penaluna, Joe Roberts, Dave Silk.
2003 teams
1944 Mines Navy V-12, 1945 McQueen, 1946 Silver Bow Parks, 1947 North Side, 1948 Silver Bow Parks, 1948 South Side, 1950 South Side, 1951 Miners Union, 1952 McQueen, 1953 Miners Union, 1954 Miners Union, 1957 McQueen and 1960 Copper League baseball teams; 1905 Butte High football; 1971 Butte Central boys’ cross country; 1972 Butte Central boys’ cross country, 1973 Butte Central boys’ cross country, 1974 Butte High boys’ track, 1975 Butte High boys’ track.
2005 individuals
Ron Collins, Bob Schulte, Tom Kelly, Paul Dennehy, Jack Whelan, Jim Patrick, Pat Foley, Tom Davis, Steve Stosich, Meg (Haran) Murphy, John Mike Downey, Anna Wherry.
2005 teams
1942 Butte High boys’ ski, 1943 Butte High boys’ ski, 1949-52 Butte Buzzies football, 1953 Butte High girls’ ski, 1977 Butte High football, 1978 Butte Central boys’ golf, 1978 Butte Central boys’ basketball.
2007 individuals
Gary Barker, Heidi Hemmert-Skelton, Mike Judd, Jim Sullivan, Don Peoples, Tom Pomroy, Don Rae, Brendon Rohan, Pete Schonsberg.
2007 teams
1947 Montana School of Mines basketball, 1980 Butte Central boys’ cross country, 1960 Butte High boys’ and girls’ ski teams, 1981 Butte High wrestling, 1961 Butte High boys’ and girls’ ski teams, 1981 Butte Central girls’ track, 1962 Butte High girls’ ski, 1981 Butte High boys’ track, 1980 Butte High wrestling.
2009 individuals
Jim Anderson, Bob Biastoch, Vicki Brown, Gitch Combo, John Dawson, Dan Hanley, Pat Kearney, Emmett Lyons, Bob Roach, Rick Sparks.
2009 teams
1942 Butte boxing, 1963 Butte boxing, 1965 Butte boxing, 1981 Butte High football, 1981 Butte Central girls’ basketball, 1982 Butte High wrestling, 1982 Butte High boys’ track, 1982 Butte Central boys’ track, 1982 Butte Central girls’ track.
2011 individuals
Louie Bartoletti, Bill Cords, Kelly Davis, Bob Green, Don Heater, Tom Kenney, Dan Mahoney, Holly Maloney, George Paul, Larry Richards, John Thatcher.
2011 teams
1966 Butte High boys’ ski, 1968 Butte High boys’ ski, 1971 Montana Tech football, 1982 Butte Central girls’ basketball, 1983 Butte High wrestling, 1983 Butte Central wrestling, 1983 Butte Central girls’ track.
2013 individuals
Todd Ericson, Jim Janhunen, Tami Mathewson, Dave MacDougal, Jim Michelotti, Tim Mueller, Josh Paffhausen, Wayne Paffhausen, Dick Roche, Dan Ueland, Dick Wilson.
2013 teams
Butte Independent Football League champions, 1984 Butte High wrestling, 1984 Butte Central boys’ basketball, 1984 Butte High boys’ basketball, 1984 Butte High girls’ golf, 1984 Butte High girls’ track, 1985 Butte High wrestling, 1985 Butte High girls’ golf.
2015 individuals
Bert Markovich, Deann Johnson, Jack O’Billovich, Joe Simonich, John Metz, Kellie Johnson, Mick Delaney, Monte Sever, Bernie Boyle.
2015 teams
1986 Butte High wrestling, 1987 Butte High wrestling, 1988 Butte High wrestling, 1986 Butte High girls’ track, 1987 Butte High girls’ track, 1989 Butte Central boys’ golf, 1996 Butte Central girls’ softball, 1997 Butte Central girls’ softball.
2017 individuals
Randy Street, Jamie (Wolstein) Toivonen, Eric Dunmire, Rick Lyons, Marck DeVore, Joe Petroni, Mark Johnston, Anna Fabatz, Dan Hodge, Fraser MacDonald.
2017 teams
1992 Butte High softball, 1988-89 Bute High wrestling, 1991 Butte High football, 1991-2 Butte Central boys’ basketball.
2019 individuals
Tom Hauck, Tom Pomroy Sr., Krystal Ackerman-Carlson, Walter Lonner, Kathy (Bender) Means, Paul Riley, Bob Rowling, Jason Street, Barry Sullivan.
2019 teams
1979 Montana Tech football, 1981 Montana Tech volleyball, 1989-90 Butte High wrestling, 1994 Butte High volleyball.
2022 individuals
Tony Banovich, Corey Bolton, Ron Collins Sr., Don Douglas, Deanna Dugdale, the late Hoot Gibson, Bob Given, Ray Jay Johnson, Gary Kane, Julie (Leary) Nadeau, the late Don “Lefty” Orlich, Tom Roberts, Debbie Silk and the late Ed Yeo.
2022 teams
1982 Montana Tech volleyball, 1983 Montana Tech football, 1990-91 Butte High wrestling, 1995 Butte High softball, 1996 Butte Central-Anaconda swimming.
2024 individuals
Steve “Coachie” Schulte, Ron Richards, Matt Buckley, Martha (Apostel) Lonner, Wanda Jean (Matteson) Olson, Linda (Lyons) Paull, Dan Lean, Erin Popovich, Kyle Smith, Don Tamietti, Bruce Sayler, Betty Merrifield and John Rickman.
2024 teams
1983, 1984 and 1985 Montana Tech men’s basketball, 1988-89 Butte High boys’ basketball, 1991-92 Butte High wrestling, 1996 Butte High softball, 1999 Butte Central softball.
2026 individuals (to be inducted July 24-25, 2026)
Brian Bolton, Bernie Brophy, Shirley Chesterfield-Stanton, Susie Hogart-Harrington, John Kovacich, Scott Paffhausen, Kevin Parvinen, the late Jane Pascoe, Don Peoples Jr., the late Greg Salo, Butch Starin and Chunky Thatcher.
2026 teams (to be inducted July 24-25, 2026
1972 Mile High All-Star baseball team, 1976 Northwest All-Star softball team, 1995 Butte High wrestling team, 2000 Butte Central softball team and 2009 Butte High girls’ track team -
Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Kendallyn Schad and Jacob Galle
Butte High junior Kendallyn Schad and Butte High senior Jacob Galle are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
Schad takes home the girls’ honor after leading Butte High to an 8-3 win over Billings Skyview Friday in Billings. The first baseman went 3 for 5 with a run scored and four RBIs in the victory.
Schad belted two-run singles in each of the first two innings as the Bulldogs built a 5-0 lead.
Through 12 games, Schad leads the Bulldogs with a .405 batting average. She also leads the teams with 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Schad, who has three doubles on the season, carries a .952 fielding percentage at first base.
She has also been a key contributor for the Butte High basketball team.
Galle takes home the boys’ honor after winning both hurdles races at Butte Central’s John Tomich Invitational Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium. He posted personal-best times in both events.
Galle won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.28 seconds. He won the 300-meter hurdles in 41.57 seconds. The 110 time reached the qualifying mark for the Class AA State meet. That was the third time he reached that standard this season. His 300 time missed the qualifying mark by 7 hundredths of a second.
Galle, who was a key contributor to the Butte High defense last football season, competed at the Class AA State meet in the 110 hurdles last year.
For the fourth year, Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back, is teaming up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
Photos of Schad and Galle courtesy Alycia Holland Photography.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 