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Duclos, Vicevich, Brandl lead the way as Spring trap league opens
Seth Duclos, Dave Vicevich and Rayelynn Brandl were the top shooters as the Butte Trap Club began its Spring League.
Duclos and Vicevich each broke 49 out of 50 targets to top the field of men shooters. Kohlten Fultz, Rich Long, Mark Hislop and Riley Rigby each shot a 48, while Mark Moline, Curtis Thresher, Jake Taverna and Lane St. Clair each broke 47 targets.
Brandle’s 45 topped the women’s field, beating Gillian Clark by one. Will Davey shot a 44 to lead wobble shooting.
Baker Auto took the lead in team scratch standings at 188. Anaconda Trap Club and Wolverine Systems are next at 186.
Butte Trap Club – 2025 Spring League – Week 1 Standings
Team Scratch Standings
Baker Auto – 188
Anaconda Trap Club – 186
Wolverine Systems – 186
Arc Electric – 176
Peterson Electric – 176
Lost Art Builders – 172
S&S Plumbing/Northwest Pipe – 169
Archibald Co. – 163
Pro Repair – 163
Edward Jones/Walt McIntosh – 162
Northwest Clay Busters – 162
Timberline Security – 160
Lockmer Plumbing – 157
Nick’s Casino – 154
Clay Howery Construction – 153
Maloney’s/Harrington’s Pepsi – 150
St James Hospital – 149
Q-Stains – 148
Air Tight Solutions – 143
Superior Title – 128
Daddy’s Girls – 126
Eastridge Enterprise – 117
12 G Girls – 99
Cooney’s Locksmith – 0
WET – 0
B Squared Pest Control – 0
Lisac’s/Jim Lynch State Farm – 0High Individual Scores
Seth Duclos – 49×50
Dave Vicevich – 49×50
Kohlten Fultz – 48×50
Rich Long – 48×50
Mark Hislop – 48×50
Riley Rigby – 48×50
Mark Moline – 47×50
Curtis Thresher – 47×50
Jake Taverna – 47×50
Lane St Clair – 47×50High Lady Scores
Rayelynn Brandl – 45×50
Gillian Clark – 44×50
Dawna Raiser – 32×50
Colleen Fink – 30×50
Liz Gates – 28×50High Wobble Trap Scores
Will Davey – 44×50
Riley Dobb – 41×50
Robert Phillips – 41×50
Kaden Hafer – 40×50 -
Podcast No. 258: Ken Carver
Ken Carver is not unique in being a sports official who misguided fans like to yell at. But he has been doing it long enough that enough people know his name.
So, instead of yelling “Come on ref,” they yell, “Come on Carver.”
They know his name at youth sporting events because Mr. Carver has spent his entire adult life working with our youth. He works as a teacher at East Middle School, where he currently teaches seventh-grade math.
Mr. Carver was a member of Butte High’s first three Class AA State championship wrestling teams. He was runner up at 112 pounds as a junior and a senior. After injury cut his collegiate wrestling career short, Mr. Carver got into coaching.
He first started as a volunteer for Beaverhead County High School in Dillon. He coached under Jim Street at Butte High before beginning a long stint as a wrestling coach at East Middle School.
At East, Mr. Carver still coaches cross country and track. This Saturday, he will spend the day officiating the Smith/McCarthy tournament at East Middle School.
Next Saturday in Dillon, Mr. Carver will get some well-earned recognition for his 35 years as a teacher in the Butte School District when he is inducted into the Montana Western Education Hall of Fame.
The “Night of Stars” will include a video presentation to honor Mr. Carver and a speech that he is about to start working on.
Listen in to this podcast as he talks about being a part of the first of 13 straight Butte High state titles. Listen as he talks about his coaching, teaching and officiating days. Listen to how much he relies on the support of his wife Zana and their two sons, Kody and Bryce.
Listen to how he has put up with so many people yelling, “Come on, Carver.”
Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty.
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Davies lives up to ‘Legend’ nickname
Sophomore fires perfect game in first varsity start for Bulldogs
Maybe we should start calling the ballpark “4 Legends Stadium.”
While making his first career varsity start, Butte High sophomore Hunter Davies lived up to his nickname in a big way. Davies, known as “The Legend” since his days playing in the 7-8 division of the Northwest Little League, fired a perfect game Tuesday afternoon as Butte High bounced back from a couple of tough losses with a 15-0 win over Townsend on Miners Field at 3 Legends Stadium.
The game was called after four innings by the run rule.
Davies needed just 41 pitches — 26 of which went for strikes — to get Townsend to go 12 up, 12 down. He struck out three and relied on some stellar defense from his infielders for the perfecto.
Hunter Davies (Photo courtesy Alycia Holland Photography. Shortstop Cayde Stajcar made a couple of spectacular plays, and first baseman Karsen McEwen made a great play, snagging a wide throw and slapping a tag in one motion, to keep Townsend off the bases.
Stajcar also blasted an inside-the-park home run, burning the center fielder before racing around the bases.
Butte High did its damage on 10 hits, and the improving Townsend squad committed just one error.
Stajcar went 2 for 2 with three RBIs, while Lucas Harris-Huerta went 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Tegan Duffy poked t singles, while Tocher Lee, Matthew Donaldson and Gunner Bushman each smacked one.
Lee, Stajcar and Bushman worked walks, while Logan Carden and McEwen each hit by pitches. Each Butte High player either had a hit or scored a run in the win that followed two tough losses.
Butte High dropped a 3-2 home decision to Dillon on Friday before heading to Helena for a 3-1 loss to East Helena on Saturday.
Dillon’s Cohen Hartman pitched six innings, striking out nine, to hold down the Bulldogs Friday in Butte.
The Beavers did their damage on just one hit, a single by Andrew Bartlome. The team drew seven walks, and Marcus Lagunas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Stajcar went 3 for 3 with a triple to lead the Bulldogs. Matthew Donaldson, Bushman, Harris-Huerta and Will Stepan singled.
Liam Priebe fired five innings for East Helena Saturday. Jack Taylor pitched two innings to of relief to get the win.
Kash Walker doubled in Taylor with the go-ahead run, breaking a 1-all tie in the bottom of the sixth. Priebe then reached on an error, scoring Walker.
Butte High could only muster three hits in the loss, a double by Stajcar and two singles by Stepan.
Butte High will head to Billings Friday to take on Billings West. The Bulldogs will stay in the Magic City to take on Billings Skyview on Saturday. The next Butte home game is an April 24 showdown against Butte Central at the home of the legends.
Central goes back-to-back
Butte Central’s baseball team is officially on tear.
The Maroons picked up their first win of the season Thursday in Laurel, battling back from a 10-2 hole for a 13-10 win.
On Tuesday, BC proved that the win was not a fluke with a 3-2 victory at East Helena.
A two-run single by Colt Hassler proved to be the difference. That big hit, which came in the top of the third inning, put the Maroons up 3-0.
Kelton Berger, the hero of Thursday’s win, pitched five and two thirds innings for the win. He struck out three, gave up three hits and worked around four walks. Gunar O’Brien got the last four outs for the save.
Central picked up the win with just two hits. O’Brien also singled in the win. Berger, Tony Stajcar and Kelsen Brackett drew walks, while Beau McGree, Treigh Hollow, Trapper Stajcar and Tony Stajcar were hit by pitches.
The Stajcar cousins each stole a base.
Killian Snarr, Kai Richey, Boston Adams and Liam Priebe singled for East Helena.
Berger hit the first home run in the history of the Butte Central baseball program to highlight Thursday’s win.
Trapper Stajcar pitched four and two thirds inning of relief to get the victory in that game. O’Brien joined Berger with a three-hit game. Berger doubled and drove in three runs. Jack Nagle added a single and a double and three RBIs, and Berger knocked in two runs.
McGree also poked a pair of hits. He joined Trapper Stajcar, O’Brien, Nagle and Tony Stajcar with two runs scored in the win.
Dallas Jackson went 3 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs to lead Laurel. Kale Hunter, Jack Carpenter and Luke Fox doubled.
The Maroons will head to Townsend Thursday. They play host to Livingston next Tuesday before battling the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Maroons drop three at Stodden
Butte Central’s softball team dropped three home games in the past week at Stodden Park. They fell 11-8 to Corvallis on Thursday, lost 17-4 to Hamilton on Saturday and dropped a 10-0 decision to Stevensville on Tuesday.
The young Maroons, though, saw some pretty good individual efforts. BC’s roster includes three juniors, four sophomores, eight freshmen and one eighth grader.
Stevensville ace Maddix Yeager had a huge game Tuesday to hold the BC bats at bay. She struck out six and gave up three singles in a 10-0 win that was called by the run rule. Maddix also tripled in the victory.
Olivia Hanson smacked three singles and drove in two runs to lead the Stevensville offensive. Lilly Newsom, Molly Davids each added two hits.
Kodee Badovinac’s two singles led the Maroons. Fellow freshman Kenzie McQueary added a single.
Against Corvallis on Thursday, the Maroons led 7-6 before the Blue Devils ripped off five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Ella Daly, Scarlette Lendak and Taylor Anderson each smacked two singles to lead Corvallis. Bella Cardullo doubled, and Daly and Lendak each drove in three runs.
Sophomore third baseman Marly Mansanti hit a pair of doubles for the Maroons. Junior catcher Arika Stajcar and freshman pitcher Braelynn Schelin added doubles, and freshman Natalie Osterman singled in a run.
Freshman Cambri Campbell added two singles for BC.
Against Hamilton, it was an 11-run fifth inning by the Broncs that did in the Maroons. Leadoff hitter Mariah Johnson smacked two hits and drove in three runs to lead Hamilton. Casey Kennedy and Addalyn Henderson each knocked in two runs for the Broncs, who did their damage on 15 hits.
Osterman went 2 for 3 with a double from the leadoff spot for BC. Badovinac hit two singles, and freshman Zayona Otherbull, Stajcar and Mansanti each added a hit.
The Maroons will have a week off before playing host to Dillon next Wednesday.
Corvallis 11, Butte Central 8
Corvallis 401 100 5 — 11 11 4
Butte Central 121 120 1 — 8 8 6
Caitlin Nelson and Bella Cardullo; Braelynn Schelin and Arika Stajcar. W — Nelson. L — Schelin.
CORVALLIS (1-4, 1-3) — Ella Daly 2-5, Lacey Jessop 0-3, Brenna Bear 0-1, Caitln Nelson 0-4, Sophie Cooper 1-3, Libby Jessop 2-4, Kirsten Race 0-0, Scarlette Lendak 2-3, Savanna Johnson 0-2, Jossalynn Lendak 1-2, Taylor Anderson 2-3, Bella Cardullo 1-3.
BUTTE CENTRAL (0-3, 0-2) — Cambri Campbell 2-4, Natalie Osterman 1-5, Braelynn Schelin 1-3, Zayonna Otherbull 1-4, Kodee Badovinac 0-2, Arika Stajcar 1-4, Sophia Gelling 0-2, Marly Mansanti 2-3, Evyn Smith 0-4.
2B — Cardullo; Mansanti 2, Stajcar, Schelin. RBIs — Daly 3, S. Lendak 3, Cardullo 2; Osterman 2, Campbell 1, Otherbull 1, Smith 1.Hamilton 17, Butte Central 4
Hamilton 204 0(11) — 17 15 1
Butte Central 000 3( 1) — 4 7 5
Melanie Race and Addison Flynn; Braelynn Schelin and Arika Stajcar. W — Race. L — Schelin.
HAMILTON (4-2, 3-0) — Mariah Johnson 2-5, Addison Flynn 2-5, Melanie Race 1-4, Trinity Nelson 0-0, Dawsyn Ekin 2-4, Casey Kennedy 2-3, Coco Vachon 2-3, Kennedi Cooper 2-3, Hayleigh Savage 0-2, Addalyn Henderson 1-2, Hadley Lockhart 1-3.
BUTTE CENTRAL (0-4, 0-3) — Natalie Osterman 2-3, Braelynn Schelin 0-3, Sophia Gelling 0-2, Zayonna Otherbull 1-2, Kodee Badovinac 2-3, Arika Stajcar 1-3, Evyn Smith 0-0, Olivia Scott 0-2, Marly Mansanti 1-2, Brylee Armstrong 0-1, Sawyer Svejkovsky 0-1, Chloe Wright 0-0.
2B — Cooper, Osterman. RBIs —Johnson 3, Kennedy 2, Henderson 2, Race 1, Ekin 1, Vachon 1, Cooper 1; Osterman 2, Badovinac 1, Svejkovsky 1.Stevensville 10, Butte Central 0
Stevensville 004 511 — 10 11 2
Butte Central 000 000 — 6 3 3
Maddix Yeager and Molly Davids; Braelynn Schelin and Arika Stajcar. W — Yaeger. L — Schelin.
STEVENSVILLE (5-2, 3-2) — Jaidan Oyler 1-5, Lilly Newson 2-3, Davids 2-4, Morgan Yeager 0-2, Kenzi Frost 1-3, Maddix Yeager 1-3, Khloe Frost 0-2, Emma Tan 0-0, Olivia Hanson 3-4, Emilee Ross 1-4.
BUTTE CENTRAL (0-5, 0-4) — Natalie Osterman 0-3, Schelin 0-3, Kenzie McQueary 1-2, Zayonna Otherbull 0-3, Kodee Badovinac 2-3, Sophia Gelling 0-2, Stajcar 0-1, Marly Mansanti 0-2, Evyn Smith 0-1.
3B — Maddix Yeager. RBIs — Newsom 2, Hanson 2, Ross 2, Davids, Maddix Yeager.
Bulldogs go 1-1 against Helena schools
Butte High’s softball team won one and lost one last week, playing Western AA games against Helena High and Helena Capital.
The Bulldogs fell 7-6 to Helena High Thursday at Stodden Park. They then beat Capital 3-1 Saturday in Helena.
Butte and Helena were tied at 5 before Heidi Ricketts scored on an error and Keira Cambell stole home in the top of the sixth inning. Campbell, Ricketts, Delta Lieberg and Faith Howard each smacked two hits to lead the Bengals in the victory. Howard pitched the distance, striking out seven, for the win.
Butte High out hit Helena 14-12 in the loss. Allie Becker and Gracie Jonart each smacked three singles to lead the way. Madisyn Swanson hit a double and a single, while driving in two, and Gracie Ferriter hit two singles. Ashlinn Mullaney, Matie Stepan, Ally Godbout and Kendallyn Schad also singled in the game.
Stepan joined Swanson with two RBIs. Becker and Jonart each drove in one.
Mullaney struck out seven in the loss.
Butte High pounded 11 hits to back up a strong pitching performance by Mullaney in the win at Capital. Mullaney fanned eight in the complete-game victory.
Stepan went 3 for 3 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs to lead the Bulldog attack. Jonart hit a double and a single, while Swanson and Schad each hit two singles. Ferriter added a hit in the win.
Ella Krepps hit three singles to lead the Bruins. Ali Miller, Jaiden Grooms and Sophie Smith each hit one.
Butte High is back in action Friday at home against Missoula Big Sky. That game was moved back one day because of the weather forecast.
Butte High sweeps Dillon on track
Dillon did not bring a full team to Tuesday’s dual with Butte High at the Chalie Merrifield Track inside the Gene Fogarty Complex. (Results)
But the Bulldogs do not have to apologize for their performance in picking up the victories. Butte High’s boys won 136-3, while the girls picked up a 109-7 victory. A Bulldog won every event of the day, including the relays.
On the girls’ side, Dylann Bartoletti won the 100- and 200-meter races. She just missed a qualify mark in the 100, which was one of the best events of the day. Bartoletti, a senior, finished in 13.08 seconds for the win. Eighth grader Saege Grey took second in 13.19.
Another great race saw freshman Evelyn Smith win the 400 in 1 minute, 7.27 seconds. Junior Franki Salusso took second at 1:07.92. In the discus, Allie Ballenski took home the title with a mark of 93 feet, 9 inches. Fellow Bulldog junior Emma Johnson placed second in 92-6.
Freshman Milee Stillwagon ran to wins in the 800 and 1,600.
Junior Cadence Graham won the 300 hurdles in a time of 49.50 seconds, closing in on a qualifying time.
Other Bulldogs to post wins include Mylee Demarais in the shot put, Brityn Stewart in the javelin, Darby Harrington in the high jump, Peyton Trabert in the pole vault, Kloe Dickinson in the long jump, Elly Rumler in the 3,200, and Penelope Luebke in the 110 hurdles.
Junior Jacob Galle won both hurdles races, while seniors Brett Polich and Sam Henderson with qualifying marks to lead the Butte High boys.
Polich, who threw 49-2 on Tuesday, while Samson posted a personal best by clearing 6-5 to win the high jump. Both previously eclipsed the state standard in those events. For Polich, that included a throw of 51-2 in a victory Saturday against Glacier in Kalispell.
The race of the day might have been the 1,600, where Levi Wiltsie won with a time of 508.32. Fellow Butte junior Lincoln Zell took second in 5:08.73.
Senior Mason Lieber cleared 11-6 to win the pole vault, beating Butte junior Bradey Doyle by six inches. In the long jump, junior Cohen Andrews won with a leap of 20-11.25, missing the qualifying mark by less than an inch. Senior Dylan “Bobby” Bache placed second at 20-10.5.
Also for Butte High, Sam Sampson won the 100, Miner Lee took the 200, Bache won the 400, Charle Killebrew won the 800, Camden Houchin ran to victory in the 3,200, Colt Stenson won the discus and Braydon Pierce posted a win in the javelin.
On Saturday, Glacier swept the Bulldogs in the dual. The Wolfpack won the boys’ meet 98-67-46.33. They won the girls’ battle 102-43. (Results)
Sampson won the 100 and took second in the 200, while junior Ryan Hanson won the high jump and took second in the long jump and triple jump.
Junior Ziggy Okrusch won the 800, Houchin won the 1,600, and Leber won the pole vault, clearing 11-6.
On the girls’ side, Bartoletti ran to victory in the 100 and 200. Graham won the 400, Smith picked up a win in the 800, and Stewart won the javelin with a season-best mark of 123-8.
Butte High’s girls also won the 1,600-meter relay. Autum Clary, Graham, Salusso and Smith each ran a leg.
Butte High’s boys will host the Dahlberg Invitational Friday. The Bulldog girls will head to the Optimist Meet in Great Falls.
BC posts wins on East Helena track
Butte Central’s track team finished fourth out of four in a meet in East Helena Tuesday. (Results)
Helena Capital took the boys’ title with 206.5 points. The Bruins were followed by East Helena at 139, Helena High at 97.5 and BC at 73. The Helena High girls won with 177 points. The Bengals were followed by Capital at 164, East Helena at 89 and Central at 36.
BC enior Keefer McGree clinched a spot in the Class A State meet. He won the 100-meter hurdles with a qualifying time of 16.09. McGree also won the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 9 ½ inches, and he ran to second in the 300 hurdles.
Sophomore Danny McCarthy also grabbed two wins for the Central boys. He ran to victories in the 100 and 200.
On the girls’ side, freshman Evyn Tippett won the 100 with a personal-best time of 14.11 seconds. She also took third in the 400 and fourth in the 200.
Junior Caden Tippett also had a big day. She took second in the shot put with a person record of 30 feet, 6 inches. She placed third in the discus.
On Saturday, BC competed at the Gallatin Valley Invitational in Bozeman. That meet saw 19 boys’ teams and 16 girls’ teams score points. (Results)
McCarthy took fourth in the 100, while sophomore Teghan Sparks ran to second in the 400. BC also placed fourth in the 1,600-meter relay. Palmer Kellicut, Patrick Stimatz, McCarthy and McGree ran a leg in that race.
The Maroons are done for the week. They will not compete in any meets leading up to Easter.
Weldon victory highlights Bulldog tennis
Butte High’s tennis teams did not pick up a lot of victories Thursday when the Bulldogs took on Missoula Sentinel and Missoula Hellgate in Missoula.
Sentinel swept Butte High, winning 7-1 in the boys’ and girls’ battles. Hellgate took down the Dogs 8-0 on both sides.
Sophomore Matthew Weldon, though, was a bright spot for the Bulldogs. He beat Bowen Pratt of Sentinel in a 1-6, 6-4, 10-8 thriller in the No. 1 singles match.
“He’s a strong force this year, and he’s only a sophomore,” Butte High coach Shawndee Gratton said of Weldon. “We haven’t had a trophy since 2007, so the kid is on a mission.”
Butte High’s other victory on the day came from Emily Allred and Danika Smith. They won in straight sets at No. 4 doubles in the girls’ battle with Sentinel.
The Bulldogs head back to Missoula on Saturday for the Western AA meet.
BOYS
Missoula Sentinel 7, Butte High 1
Singles
Matthew Weldon, Butte, def. Bowen Pratt 1-6, 6-4, 10-8
Ben Stake, Sentinel, def. Tashi Hanley 6-1, 6-3
Blase Olsen, Sentinel, def. Drew Hanson 6-0, 6-2
Willam Nowen, Sentinel, def. Indro Paramanik 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
Kane Szalay/Colter Elam, Sentinel, def. Philip Russo/Josh Schroder 6-1, 6-0
Preston Thormahlen/Ethan Strizich, Sentinel, def. Jason Johns/Cole Skeel 6-1, 9-7
Everett Peters/Weston Lutey, Sentinel, def. Briggs Joseph/Jaxon Jonart 6-4, 5-7, 10-6
John Hurteau/Sloan Kindseth, Sentinel, def. Matthew Lockmer/Archer Adams 6-1, 6-2Missoula Hellgate 8, Butte High 0
Singles
Jack Currie Welch, Hellgate, def. Matthew Weldon 6-0, 6-0
N/A, Hellgate, def. Josh Schrader 6-0, 6-0
Brendan Cowie, Hellgate, def. Tashi Hanley 6-2, 6-1
Max Watters, Hellgate, def. Bryce Gratton 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Sam Ender/Andrew Duman, Hellgate, def. def. Jason Johns/Cole Skeel 6-0, 6-0
Oscar Hanford/Nicco Kujawa, Hellgate, def. Briggs Joseph/Jaxon Jonart 6-1, 6-2
Ryan Meng/David Andrew, Hellgate, def. Phillip Russo/Drew Hanson 6-1, 6-2
Gabe Hammitt/Eli Hammitt, Hellgate, def. def. Matthew Lockmer/Archer Adams 6-4, 6-4GIRLS
Missoula Sentinel 7, Butte High 1
Singles
Jacelyn Cheyney, Sentinel, def. Rachel Law 6-1, 6-1
Claire Karlovich, Sentinel, def. Murphy Sullivan 3-6, 6-5, 10-5
Ava Rice, Sentinel, def. Avery Blue 6-2, 6-3
Greta Fero, Sentinel, def. def. Allissa Pennock 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
Lovis Tegeder/Taylor Cook, Sentinel, def. Ayva Gerry/Hallie Vanderlind 6-2, 7-5
Rose Richmond/Eliza Ascher, Sentinel, def. Chloe Jewell/Sienna Bradley 6-2, 6-2
Taeya Shvarkman/Drew Bohm, Sentinel, def. Aubrie llmendinger/Sofia Groesbeck 6-0, 6-0
Emily Allred/Danika Smith, Butte, def. Hazel Phares/Maya Strawbridge 6-3, 7-6Missoula Hellgate 8, Butte High 0
Singles
N/A, Hellgate, def. Murphy Sllivan 6-0, 6-0
N/A, Hellgate, def. Avery Blue 6-0, 6-0
R. Holler, Hellgate, def. Rachel Law 6-0, 6-0
B Stone, Hellgate, def. Carliegh Donaldson 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
H. Massy/ S. Tolleson-Knee, Hellgate, def. Chloe Jewell/Sienna Bradley 6-0, 6-1
D. Clark/Elly Stockman, Hellgate, def. Ayva Gerry/Hallie Vanderlinde 6-1, 6-0
J. Howder/Arianna Roberts, Hellgate, def. Aubrie Almendinger/Sofia Groesbeck 6-4, 6-3
Anias Currey/Addie Tellawinger, Hellgate, def. Jordyn Yelenich/Reena Hubber 6-0, 6-1
Central competes on home courts
Butte Central competed at home Corvallis on Saturday. That came after the Maroons battled Dillon last Tuesday in East Helena.
Owen McPartland grabbed an exciting three-set win in No. 1 singles against Dillon. He won in straight sets in the match with Corvallis.
On the girls’ side, Logan LeProwse and Mackenzie Cupp picked up singles victories against Corvallis. LeProwse won a tiebreaker, and Cupp won in straight sets.
The Maroons traveled to Belgrade to take on the Panthers’ JV team Tuesday. Results from those matches, however, were not submitted in time for this roundup.
BC’s next scheduled action is at home against East Helena on May 1.
Butte Central vs. Dillon
BOYS
Singles
Owen McPartland, BC, def. Zach Sandall 1-6, 6-3, 10-2
Zach Maki, Dillon, def. Jim Bradshaw
Atlan Graham, Dillon, def. Joe Bradshaw 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Ben Lund/Declan Oswald, Dillon, def. Joe Bradshaw/Conan Holmes 6-0, 6-1
Aydan Estes/Danner Pfoytar, Dillon, def. James Holmes/Connor Hardy 8-2
Carson Fluckinger/Jim Pyer, Dillon, def. Owen McPartland/Jim BradshawGIRLS
Singles
McGabe, Dillon, def. Presli Smith 6-1, 6-1
Gabrielle Thomas, Dillon, def. Arwen Regester
Doubles
Sam Stedman/Skylar LaPierre, Dillon, def. Logan LeProwse/Presli Smith
Anelise Maki/Aliyah Rainer, Dillon, def. Mackenzie Cupp/Sloan PetersonButte Central vs. Corvallis
BOYS
Singles
McPartland, BC, def. Pierce Yaskus 6-3, 6-2
Handley Jessop, Corvallis, def. Jim Bradshaw 4-6, 6-4, 10-2
Cody Humphrey, Corvallis, def. Joe Bradshaw 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Emmett Allsop/Brennon Fehr, Corvallis, def. def. McPartland/Jim Bradshaw 2-6, 7-6, 10-5
Atticus Chavez/Bradley Powell, Corvallis, def. def. Joe Bradshaw/Conan Holmes 6-3, 6-2
Jackson Pliley/Beauden Therian, Corvallis, def. Hardy/Karter Lindau 6-2, 6-2GIRLS
Singles
Ava Wilcox, Corvallis, def. def. Smith 6-2, 6-2
LeProwse, BC, def. Eliana Hubert 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
Lottie Jessop, Corvallis, def. Regester 6-2, 6-2
Cupp, BC, def. Charlie Allsop 6-3, 6-4
Doubles
Brooke Child/Sophie Jessop, Corvallis, def. def. Smith/LeProwse 6-2, 6-2
Kenley Jessop/Olivia Lawson, Corvallis, def. def. Cupp/Peterson 6-3, 6-2
Kylie Debuff/Melissa Reynesso, Corvallis, def. def. Regester/Peterson 6-2, 7-5 -
Hurdles remain for prep baseball
Never have I attended a baseball game when the announcer only acknowledged the existence of one team.
Until Saturday, that is.
Sure, the media in Seattle sometimes acts like the Mariners are the only team playing, but the public address announcer recognizes both sides during home games. So, it was a little puzzling to hear that only the East Helena players were being introduced before each plate appearance during Saturday’s junior varsity game against Butte High at Ryan Park.
While that did not really anger any Bulldog fans, it kind of made them scratch their heads a little bit. Why would you only announce one team?
Then, after a few of us dads put our thick skulls together and finally realized that the announcer sounded a little bit like the bad guy from the movie “Scream,” it started to make sense. The voice was just too perfect as it announced each Vigilante player. It was like the announcer was asking Sydney, “What’s your favorite scary movie?”
We also noticed that there did not appear to be anybody doing the actual announcing. So, we figured they were using some kind of app with an artificial intelligence voice calling out the players.
Sure, it would not have taken too much time to type in the names of the Butte High players, too, but that realization completely removed my annoyance for ignoring the Bulldogs. Some parents were still annoyed, but not me. I knew who the Butte players were.
High school activities directors have such big jobs, and that can be overwhelming in the spring. The schedules change by the minute, and there is just so much to do with softball, baseball, track, tennis and proms.
Finding someone to announce games is tough, too, since public speaking generally polls as the No. 1 fear in life for most people.
Not every place has an announcer for JV games, either. In fact, I have not been at a JV football or basketball game or volleyball match with a P.A. announcer in years. So, I will give East Helena a pass for not announcing Butte High’s JV players. They did, after all, announce both sides when it came to the varsity game.
More than anything, we should be praising East Helena for having a baseball program in the first place. For that, the Vigilante administration deserves some serious kudos.
The same cannot be said about the two Class AA schools in Helena. It cannot be said about a lot of schools in Montana as the state jumps into baseball with the speed of a three-toed sloth.
This slow move has several factors, including cost and lack of facilities. With places like Helena facing teacher layoffs this year, it is hard to get too fired up about baseball. But I do anyway.
A far bigger crime than the visiting players being ignored by the announcer — real, AI or otherwise — was the fact that they were playing in a Little League field. Parents and fans crammed around the fence, sitting in their camping chairs or on the uncomfortable portable bleachers.
They did this while the beautiful Kindrick Legion Field sat empty two and a half miles away.
When the Bulldogs opened the season against Missoula Big Sky in Missoula, the teams played on a tiny Little League field that sits in the shadow of Lindborg-Cregg Field, the incredible home of the Missoula Mavericks.
Granted, the issue of facilities is kind of complicated. One reason for this is some American Legion baseball programs have not welcomed high school baseball.
Another major reason is Title IX. Some administrators probably figure that if the boys play in a nice Legion stadium, then they might get called onto the mat for not having enough facilities for the girls.
That, though, is no way to address the problem. You do not hold one group back to make it appear that the other one is equal. That is called robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Butte High, Butte Central and the Butte Legion program have a close relationship, which makes things run smoothly in Butte. The Miners, Muckers and Motormen of the Legion do not open the season until after Butte High and Butte Central are done playing. That makes it easy for boys to play in high school and Legion.
That is not the case everywhere.
More importantly, the Butte Legion program works hard to make sure cost is not an issue for the players. We might have the cheapest-to-join Legion program in the nation. It only costs $100 to sign up, and then each player must sell some raffle tickets and season passes.
Or, rather, their parents must sell those items. That reminds me. I have some tickets for the $10,000 cash drawing and some season passes to sell you. Let me know how many you want.
In other programs around the state, players pay thousands of dollars just to try out. Then, they do not get all that money back if they get cut. Missoula, Billings and Helena, among others, cut players, too.
Butte has not cut any player in as long as I can remember, and nobody is making any money off Legion baseball in the Mining City.
In some places, Legion baseball can be about the money. Why would a Legion coach who makes good money want kids to be able to play for the low price of a high school activity card when they could be paying him big bucks to play instead?
If more kids play high school ball, maybe less kids will try out for Legion ball, even though more kids are playing the game overall. That must be the thinking.
Well, that is not how it is supposed to be. More kids playing baseball is always a good thing. If you do not see that, then you just might be in it for the wrong reasons.
Youth sports should never be solely about winning, and it should never be about lining pockets.
We have many more barriers than money to overcome if we are going to make high school baseball work in Montana. If it does not work, then it could be lost forever.
For one thing, we are going to need many more umpires. As it is, we do not have nearly enough men and women in blue to do the job. If every school in the state fielded a team, we would not have close to enough umpires to cover all the games.
Also, some Class AA Legion coaches have told their players they cannot play high school baseball. That is because their Legion seasons are ready to start, and Legion offers a better overall baseball experience than high school right now.
It is hard to blame a Legion coach who wants all his players to be available to play the entire season. If you are paying thousands of dollars so your son can play Legion ball, you also want him to go to as many games as possible.
Somehow, though, they pull it off in the other 47 states that offer high school baseball. Players can represent their high school and then seamlessly move into the Legion season for the summer in other states — while paying top dollar to play.
We should be able to do that here.
For the first two years, Butte High and Belgrade were the only two Class AA teams to play baseball. That number rose to eight this year with the addition of the three Missoula and three Billings schools.
Next year, the two schools in Great Falls and two in Bozeman will join the party. That leaves us only waiting on Helena and Kalispell.
Hopefully those four schools come to the table soon so we can have all 16 Class AA schools in the mix. Then maybe we will start to believe that high school baseball is going to make it in Montana.
After that happens, we can start getting worked up about announcers forgetting that each game includes two teams.
— Bill Foley, who doesn’t like any scary movies, 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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No. 257: Tommy Mellott Part 2
There is no question that Tommy Mellott is one of the greatest athletes the Mining City has ever produced.
He is in the conversation when you extend that debate out to cover the entire state. The 2024 Walter Payton Award winner led the Montana State Bobcats to the FCS national championship football game two times.
That came after he became just the second boy at Butte High School to earn 12 varsity letters. He led the Bulldogs to the 2019 Class AA state championship football game. In addition to lettering four years in football, Tommy letter four times in basketball and track.
In Butte, we have long known about Tommy, who first burst onto the scene while competing in Little Guy Football and the Grade School Track Meet. The rest of the state — and beyond — really started paying attention once he began his magical run at Montana State.
Today, Tommy is still a very busy man as he gets ready for next week’s NFL Draft. Where and when will he go? Well, that is hard to say.
We only know that some teams just might be paying more attention to the former Butte High Bulldog after he put up some impressive numbers at the MSU Pro Day on April 4. Tommy posted a vertical jump of 41 inches. He also put up a blazing time of 3.39 seconds in the 40-yard run.
That was the official time, anyway. Tommy knows that he has run faster than that before.
Those of us who have watched Tommy over the years know that he is even faster when he is wearing football pads. While he played quarterback for the Bobcats and Bulldogs, it was often his running ability that blew opponents away.
He can cut on a dime and change directions without slowing down. Once he gets free, not many people on the planet can catch him.
Photos of Mellott courtesy Blake Hempstead. So, while Tommy has not ruled out playing quarterback, he readied for his pro day by training like he might play receiver. In addition to throwing, he ran receiver drills and fielded punts in front of the scouts.
Tommy said he could envision himself being a player like Taysom Hill of the New Orleans Saints or maybe even Julian Edelman, who was a receiver on his favorite team, the New England Patriots.
Maybe he’ll even be a quarterback.
All I know is that I would never doubt or bet against Tommy. While his athletic ability is off the charts, he is even stronger with his focus, dedication and character.
Listen in to this podcast as Tommy talks about his days playing for the Bobcats and Bulldogs. Listen as he says playing for Arie Grey, the architect behind Butte High’s strength and conditioning program, got him ready to excel at the college level.
Listen as he talks about going to San Diego to train for the pro day in front of the scouts. Listen to hear even after achieving so much fame and success, he is still just Tommy.
This is Tommy’s second appearance on the ButteCast. His first came on episode No. 37 on Dec. 28, 2022.
Today’s podcast is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.
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Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Kelton Berger and Gracie Jonart
Butte Central junior Kelton Berger and Butte High junior Gracie Jonart are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honors come after they both had a big week on the diamond for the Maroons and Bulldogs.
Berger takes home the boys’ honor after hitting the first home run in the history of the Butte Central baseball program in Thursday’s 13-10 win at Laurel. The infielder blasted a no-doubt solo shot over the wall in left-center field during a three-run fifth inning by the Maroons.
Central trailed 10-2 after three innings before scoring two in the fourth, three in the fifth, one in the sixth and five in the seventh for the first BC win of the season.
On the game, Berger went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. He is carrying a .400 on-base percentage with a .900 OPS through five games.
Jonart takes home the girls’ honor after a big week at the dish by the Bulldog left fielder. Jonart went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Helena Capital in Helena. That came after Jonart went 3 for 4 with an RBI in Thursday’s 7-6 home loss to Helena High.
On the season, Jonart is batting .444 with a .946 OPS. She has driven in four runs through Butte High’s first eight games. Jonart has also been a solid glove in the outfield for the Bulldogs.
For the third year, Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty, 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.
Photo Berger courtesy Jaeden Berger. Photo of Jonart provided by Alycia Holland Photography.
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Svennungsen defends handball title
MISSOULA — Shelby native Pete Svennungsen won the Montana State Singles Handball Championship at the Peak Raquet Club Sunday.
Svennungsen defeated Chris Tico of Sand Point, Idaho in the final match 16-21, 21-10, 11-4. It is the second consecutive title for the Spokane resident.
Kirk Johnson defeated Don Schmidt 21-20, 21-13 to win the Super Golden Masters division for players 60 and over in a matchup of Missoula players. It is Johnson’s second Montana singles title.
Mike Meyer of Billings won the Diamond Masters for players 70 and over by defeating Luther’s Dan Scilley 21-14, 21-15. It is Meyer’s fourth straight title in the division and eighth state singles title.
Eric Schmit defeated Alan Noonan 21-16, 10-21, 11-4 to win the A Division in another matchup of Missoula Players.
Complete Results:
Open Division
First round – Don Foley, Butte d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula 21-14, 21-10; Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Jake Brooks, Spokane, WA; Henry O’Brien, Florence d. Alan Noonan, Missoula
Quarter Finals – Pete Svennungsen, Spokane, WA d. Foley 21-4, 21-9; Travis Peevey, Cheney, WA d. Madrazo 21-11, 21-17; Chris Tico, Sand Point d. Tom Polzin, Seattle, WA 4-21, 6-8 Injury Default; Brett Badovinac, Butte d. O’Brien 8-21, 21-6, 11-2
Semifinals – Svennungsen d. Peevey 21-4, 21-12; Tico d. Badovinac 21-14, 21-18
Final – Svennungsen d. Tico 16-21, 21-10, 11-4
Open Consolation
Semifinal – Foley d. O’Brien 21-19, 12-21, 11-9
Final – Madrazo d. Foley 21-16, 16-21, 11-9
Super Golden Masters (60+)
Quarterfinals – Sam Baldridge, Whitefish d. Brad Chumrau, Missoula; Don Schmidt, Missoula d. Scott Salo, Butte;
Semifinals – Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Baldridge; Schimit d. Mike Hitchcock, Butte 21-17, 21-13
Loser Out – Hitchcock d. Chumrau 13-21, 21-11, 11-10; Baldridge d. Salo
Third – Baldridge d. Hitchcock 21-18, 21-18
Final – Johnson d. Schmidt 21-20, 21-13
Diamond Masters (70+)
Quarterfinals – Dan Scilley, Luther d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman; John Larson, East Helena d. Paul Polzin, Missoula; Dan Adams, Helena d. Jay Stender, Sheridan, WY; Mike Meyer, Billings d. Tom Madrazo, Butte
Semifinals – Scilley d. Larson 21-12, 20-21, 11-3
Consolation – Birrell d. Polzin 21-12, 21-7
Third – Adams d. Larson 16-4 Injury Default
Final – Meyer d. Scilley 21-14, 21-15
A Division
Semifinal – Eric Schmidt, Missoula d. Jake Brooks, Spokane, WA 21-5, 21-5
Final – Schmidt d. Alan Noonan, Spokane 21-16, 10-21, 11-4
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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of April 14.
Monday
6 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Cook
7 p.m. — Cook vs. Hertz
8 p.m. — Parish vs. HoopballasTuesday
6 p.m. — ButteSports vs. Trojans
7 p.m. — Trojans vs. Jellyfam
8 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. Poi TimeWednesday
7 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Rosary Rattlers
8 p.m. — Hertz vs. Hoopballas
9 p.m. — Poi Time vs. Washington GeneralsThursday
6 p.m. — BC vs. Rosary Rattlers
7 p.m. — BC vs. Someday Starters
8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Parish
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No. 256: Dougie Peoples Part 2
More than two years have passed since Dougie Peoples hit that 27-foot, game-winning shot in the Class A State championship game in Missoula.
Yet, Dougie is still very much a celebrity in Montana. You do not need to say his last name for people to know you are talking the Butte Central legend.
Even his teammates at the College of Idaho are still talk about that shot, even if they do it to tease him.
Dougie’s legend just continues to grow. He scored 21 points as the College of Idaho beat Oklahoma Wesleyan University 93-65 in the March 25 NAIA National Championship game in Kansas City. Dougie hit his first five 3-point attempts and scored 17 points in the first half to help the Yotes build a 49-29 lead at the break.
Of course, it is not surprising for us that Dougie came up big in a big game. He has been doing that his entire life.
Dougie is finishing up his second year at the school in Caldwell, Idaho. He said he likes the feel of the small school and the family atmosphere of coach Colby Blaine’s basketball program.
This summer, Dougie put on his “Dougie’s Dribblers” for the third summer. Click here to find out information about how you can have your son or daughter learn the game from a national champion.
Listen in to this podcast as Dougie talks about the championship game and playing for the Yotes. Listen as he looks back at some of his big moments while playing for Butte Central.
Listen as he talks about getting his start playing basketball in the Knights of Columbus Little Kid Hoops program, and listen to what it was like for the great Dougie Peoples to get cut from a Select Basketball team when he was 13.
Listen to how that only fueled Dougie to do great things.
This is Dougie’s second appearance on the Butte Cast. He first appeared on Episode 13 in October of 2022.
Today’s podcast is presented by Thriftway Super Stops. Download the TLC app and start saving today.
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Pete Sorini Day set for June 7
The 10th Annual Pete Sorini CDT Trail Logout/Stewardship Day will be held on the Continental Divide Trail on June 7.
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 9 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.
Gina Evans, a group organizer, said that this year’s event will feature fewer Forest Service employees because of the Trump administration budge guts. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is also is also partially supported by government funding.
“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.”
Volunteers are asked to sign up by June 1 to be included in the food count. Click here to register.
Contact Gina Evans at (406) 498-9653 or eatdirtpigpen@gmail.com for more information.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 