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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.
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Podcast No. 255: Caden Tippett
Nobody outworks Butte Central junior Caden Tippett when she is competing in a sport. She might not lead the team in points on the basketball court, but she leads the state in floor burns from diving for loose balls.
She might not be the fastest mountain bike rider on Butte’s Copper Sprockets youth racing team, but she is fearless enough to be known for taking headers while riding as fast as she can downhill.
She just might lead the state in road rash. Caden has only one gear, and that is all out. She also has the voice of an angel.
That voice is on display in Caden’s first single, “Ghost,” by Caden Lee, her stage name. The song was released on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your music on Saturday, April 5.
Caden, who can be seen in the Orphan Girl Children’s Theatre performance of “Something Rotten” this Thursday through Sunday, seems destined for big things. She plans to go to school for music and acting, and we already know she has the work ethic to pull off whatever she sets her mind to. Caden somehow crams 30 hours into every day.
She recorded and worked on the production of her single “Ghost” with Butte Central band director Russ Nelson while she was playing basketball for the Maroons. She is working hard to improve her numbers in the shot put and discus while cramming in hour after hour to get ready for a play.
Yesterday, Caden competed in one event at a track meet hosted by Butte High, then raced up town to rehearse her play.
Listen in to this podcast as Caden talks about her busy life and how much she loves competing in sports, performing on stage and signing her songs. Listen as she talks the process of writing and performing the song that has been in the works for quite some time.
Listen to hear her plans for the music video, which will likely be released early next month.
Listen as she talks about her work ethic, which could be attributed to the Tippett or Stillwagon side of her family. Then, make sure to check out Caden’s first single.
Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty.
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Five Butte boys post wins as Bulldogs host first home track meet
Henderson, Houchin, Wiltsie, Polich, Lee grab victories
Five members of the Butte High track & field team claimed individual victories Tuesday as the Bulldogs hosted a meet with Helena Capital and Butte Central on the Charlie Merrifield Track inside the Gene Fogarty Complex. (Results)
Sam Henderson continued his hot start to his season with two first-place finishes and one second-place showing. Seniors Brett Polich and Tocher Lee also grabbed wins, as did juniors Camden Houchin and Levi Wiltsie.
For the second straight meet, Henderson reached State qualifying standards in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump. He placed second in the hurdles with a time of 15.02 seconds. Capital’s Oliver Moe won in 14.58. Henderson, a future Montana Grizzly won the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 2 inches, and soared 47-1 to win the triple jump.
Lee, who is the leadoff hitter on the Butte High baseball team (more on that later), won the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 1/5 inch. That jump surpasses the qualifying standard by a half an inch, meaning Lee will compete in the State meet in Kalispell.
Bulldog teammates Cohen Andrews, Ryan Hanson and Dylan Bache took the next three spots in the long jump.
Polich won the shot put for the second straight week, this time with a put of 47 feet. He also placed fifth in the discus.
Houchin, who won the 800- and 1,600-meter races last week in Missoula, posted a personal record to win the 80o in 2:01.62. Wiltsie won the 1,600 in 5:07.73.
Capital won the boys’ team title with 100.5 points. Butte High scored 60.5, and Central posted one point. On the girls’ side, Capital won with 119 points. Butte High scored 30.
Butte High’s boys got second-place performances from Mason Leber in the pole vault, Charles Killebrew in the 800 and Lincoln Zell in the 1,600. Hanson, who took third in the long jump, also placed third in the high jump.
Tyler Olsen took third in the pole vault, Jacobe Galle finished third in the 110 hurdles, and Jaeger Hansen finished third in the javelin.
Also, Braydon Pierce took fourth in the javelin, Bradey Doyle finished fourth in the pole vault, Bridger Luebke placed fifth in the 800, Matthew Donaldson took fifth in the javelin, Brady Hanson placed fifth in the high jump and Minor Lee ran to fifth in the 200.
Keefer McGree’s fourth-place finish in the 300 hurdles led the Maroons.
Second-place performances by seniors Dylan Bartoletti, Brityn Stewart and Peyton Trabert and sophomore Cadence Graham led the Butte High girls.
Bartoletti took second in the 100 and fourth in the high jump. Stewart took second in the javelin, Graham ran to second in the 400, and Trabert finished second in the pole vault, just ahead of Valleria Trabert, who took third.
Autumn Clary (200), Berkli Salusso (800), Adelaide Thomson (1,600), Penelope Luebke (110 hurdles), and Darby Harrington (high jump) placed third for the Bulldogs. Alyssa Verlanic (800) and Mylee Demarais (shot put) placed fourth, and Kate DeShaw (100) and Jaycee Cleveland (javelin) finished fifth.
Butte Central also competed at the Hamilton Bronc Invitational Friday in Hamilton. (Results)
Justus McGee led the Maroon boys with a fifth-place showing in the 100. He also took sixth in the long jump. Danny McCarthy placed eighth in the 100 for the BC boys. Caden Tippett placed 10th in the shot put to lead the BC girls.
Stajcar’s six RBIs lead Bulldogs past Maroons
Butte High junior Cayde Stajcar showed off his Gatorade form Monday as Bulldog baseball team knocked off Butte Central 19-3 on Miners Field at 3 Legends Stadium.
Stajcar, who took home the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year Award last baseball season, went 4 for 4 with a home run, three doubles and a walk. He drove in six runs and scored two.
Stajcar belted a two-run no-doubt home run in the first inning, highlighting a 13-run first frame as the Bulldogs took command early in the game that had been twice postponed by weather.
In all, Butte High pounded 15 hits to back up a strong performance by starter Brooks Vincent. The junior righty scattered three hits and worked around five walks to pick up the wins in three innings.
Koyde Kjersten got the final three outs in the game called by the run rule after four innings.
Second baseman Tocher Lee set the table for the Bulldogs with three stolen bases and four runs scored.
Matthew Donaldson went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, while Gunner Bushman poked two doubles and Will Stepan went 2 for 4 and drove in three. Logan Carden tripled, Teagan Duffy doubled, and Karsen McEwen joined Lee with a single.
Trapper Stajcar, Beau McGree and Gunnar O’Brien singled for the Maroons. McGree, O’Brien and Colt Hassler drove in runs.
The game was the first in nine days for the Bulldogs. The Maroons, meanwhile, played in the frigid cold Thursday in Dillon, falling 8-3 to the Beavers.
In Dillon, the Maroons couldn’t take advantage of 13 free passes — eight walks and five bean balls. Hassler and Jack Nagle each singled for BC. Hassler and Tony Stajcar drove in runs.
Trapper Stajcar took three beanballs. He also walked once, as did O’Brien, Hassler, Nagle, Tony Stajcar, Aiden Ossello, Kelton Keane and Treigh Hollow.
Andrew Bartlome homered and pitched three innings for the win. Will Hansen got the last nine outs for the save. Bartlome also singled.
Trenton Moreni hit two singles, and Cohen Hartman doubled for the Beavers.
On Monday, the Maroons ran into Gabe Banks. He struck out 10 batters and held the Maroons without a hit as the Belgrade Panthers beat Central 10-0 in Belgrade.
Max Dunning homered and drove in three runs to lead Belgrade’s offense. Sawyer Olson and Keegan Cook each drove in two runs.
McGree and Kelton Berger reached on walks for the Maroons.
Butte High will play host to Dillon on Friday before going to East Helena on Saturday. The Maroons play at Laurel on Thursday.
Bulldogs break out for two wins
Butte High’s softball team busted out in a big way this past week.
The Bulldogs piled up a total of 26 hits to pick up Western AA victories over Missoula Hellgate and Missoula Sentinel. Butte used an 18-hit attack to take down Hellgate 20-9 Thursday in Missoula. Then, Butte High downed Sentinel 7-4 Monday at Stodden Park.
Mattie Stepan pounded a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, while Reece Johnson, Gracie Ferriter and Gracie Jonart each poked three hits in the win. Kendallyn Schad homered and singled in a three-RBI performance.
Johnson, Ferriter, Allie Becker and Ashlinn Mullaney doubled in the win. Jonart joined Schad with three RBIs. Stepan drove in two runs, while Johnson, Ferriter, Mullaney, Becker, Ally Godbout and Hailey Skeel each drove in one.
Godbout poked two hits, and Brittyn Klima added a single.
Mullaney pitched the distance for the victory. She struck out 1 and worked around eight walks.
Butte High jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held on for the win Monday at home. Godbout hit a two-run single to highlight Butte’s four-run first inning. Mullaney smoked a three-run home run in the second inning.
Ferriter drilled a pair of singles for Butte, which also got singles from Madisyn Swanson, Jonart, Stepan, Godbout and Schad. Ferriter worked a pair of walks.
Mullaney again went the distance. She struck out nine and walked three in the victory.
Makenna Thorson hit a three-run home run to lead the Spartans.
Butte High, which improved to 2-4 overall and 2-0 in Western AA play, will play host to Helena High Thursday at Stodden. The Dogs will play at Helena Capital on Saturday.
Yellowjackets sting Maroons
Morgan Yaeger limited Butte Central to just wo hits, and Lilly Newsom and Molly Davids each drove in three runs to lead Stevensville to a 15-0 Southwestern A win over the Maroons Saturday in Stevensville.
Yaeger struck out seven batters and walked three in a game called after four innings by the run rule. She also hit a pair of doubles for Stevi, which improved to 3-1 on the season.
Braelynn Schelin and Zayonna Otherbull singled for the Maroons. Schelin also worked a walk, as did Marly Mansanti and Evyn Smith.
Schelin pitched and performed better than her stat line might indicate. She struck out five and was victimized by nine BC errors and six unearned runs.
The Maroons will again try to play their first home game Thursday when Corvallis comes to town for a Southwestern A game. Central will host Hamilton on Saturday.
Central 000 0 — 0 2 9
Stevensville 346 2 — 15 12 0
Braelynn Schelin and Arika Stajcar; Morgan Yeager and Molly Davids. W — Yeager. L — Schelin (0-2).
BUTTE CENTRAL (0-2, 0-1) — Schelin 1-1, Natalie Osterman 0-2, Kodee Badovinac 0-2, Zayonna Otherbull 1-2, Marly Mansanti 0-1, Evyn Smith 0-1, Olivia Scott 0-2, Sawyer Svejkovsky 0-2, Brylee Armstrong 0-1, Stajcar 0-0.
STEVENSVILLE (3-1, 1-1) — Jaidan Oyler 1-3, Lilly Newsom 3-3, S. Maddix Ueager 0-3, Morgan Yeager 2-2, Davids 2-2, Emma Tan 0-2, Handlie Leonard 0-1, Olivia Hanson 1-2, Khloe Frost 2-2, Ciara Des Jarlais 0-1, Emilee Ross 1-3.
2B — Morgan Yeager 2, Hanson, Davids, Oyler, Newsom. RBIs — Newsom 3, Davids 3, Frost 2, Oyler, Morgan Yaeger, Ross.Bulldog boys pick up win on court
Butte High’s boys’ tennis team both picked up their first wins of the season Saturday at Stodden Park.
Each Bulldog team played Billings Senior and Billings Skyview. Butte High’s boys beat Senior 5-3 and fell 7-1 to Skyview. The Bulldog girls fell 5-3 to Senior and 7-1 to Skyview.
On the boys’ side, Matthew Weldon and Tashi Hanley won on in straight sets on the singles side to help the Bulldogs get the win over the Broncs.
Butte High got three wins in doubles. Cole Skeel and Jason Johns won a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles, while James and Max Pearston did the same at No. 2.
Playing their first match of the season, Matthew Lockmer and Archer Adams won in straight sets at No. 3.
Against Skyview, Skeel and Jones grabbed Butte’s lone win at No. 2 doubles.
On the girls’ side, Avery Blue won a tiebreaker at No. 3 singles, while Rachel Law won in straight sets at No. 4. Chloe Jewell and Sienna Bradley won in straight sets at No. 2 doubles.
Blue won a tiebreaker in a No. 2 singles match for the lone Butte win against Skyview.
The Bulldogs will be back in action Thursday when they travel to Missoula to take on Hellgate and Sentinel.
BOYS
Butte High 5, Billings Senior 3
Singles
Boone Zoon, Senior, def. Josh Schrader 6-2, 6-2
Matthew Weldon, Butte, def. Nate Washington 6-3, 6-2
Tashi Hanley, Butte, def. Tavin Schilhanek 6-2, 7-5
Karter Hammbemeister, Senior, def. Bryce Gratton 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
Cole Skeel/Jason Johns, Butte, def. Jackson Borgon/Braden Borgon 6-3, 5-7, 11-9
James Pearston/Max Pearston, Butte, def. Parker Howsey/Lukas Goodriddge 3-6, 7-5, 10-7
Matthew Lockmer/Archer Adams, Butte, def. Dean Thompson/Sylas Goodwin 6-4, 6-5
Brogan Fitzgerald/Trek Roan, Senior, def. Miles Gasser/Chase White 6-0, 6-0Billings Skyview 7, Butte High 1
Singles
Kyler Jones, Skyview, def. Weldon 6-0, 6-0
Grant Williams, Skyview, def. Shrader 6-0, 6-0
Billy Benjamin, Skyview, def. Gratton 6-1, 6-3
Chase Lawren, Skyview, def. Indro Paramanik, 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
Karsh Wohler/Isaac Mosser, Skyview, def. Briggs Joseph/Jaxon Jonart 6-0, 6-0
Skeel/Johns, Butte, def. Eli Edwards/Landon Foreman 6-4 6-1
Jordan Deim/Jackson Adelmar, Skyview, def. Pearston/Pearston 6-3, 6-1
Dean Semitte/Coller Jones, Skyview, def. Hunter LaPier/Kanyon Flynn 3-6, 7-6, 10-4GIRLS
Billings Senior 5, Butte High 3
Singles
Bella Rogge, Senior, def. Carleigh Donaldson 6-0, 6-0
Brinnley Greulou, Senior, def. Alissa Pennock 6-2, 6-1
Avery Blue, Butte, def. Ashley Emineth 5-7, 7-6, 10-6
Rachel Law, Butte, def. Jasmine Trerise 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
Aubrey Kroll/Taryn Leikam, Senior, def. Murphy Sullivan/Ayva Gerry 2-6, 6-4, 10-5
Chloe Jewell/Sienna Bradley, Butte, def. Nora Blackford/Jordan Goodridge 6-3, 6-2
Kassidy Nichols/Kyrie Blads, Senior, def. Bella Babb/Aubbrie Almendinger 6-3, 6-2
Emily Brooke Allman/Wyrston Oken, Senior, def. Allred/Danika Smith 6-0, 6-4Billings Skyview 7, Butte High 1
Singles
Taela Bower, Skyview, def. Law 6-0, 6-3
Blue, Butte, def. Gracie Shea 7-6, 4-6, 10-6
Frankie Struck, Skyview, def. Donaldson 6-1, 6-1
Lilli Hamptman, Skyview, def. Pennock 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Elaise BauleyKennedy Miller, Skyview, def. Jewell/Bradley 6-2, 6-2
Harbor Farren/Ruby Schelle, Skyview, def. Sullivan/Sophia Groesbeck 6-4, 6-3
Tonya Wardell/Lily Brooke, Skyview, def. Gerry/Hallie Vanderlinden 6-4, 6-0
Kinsey Lierdow/Tori Wright, Skyview, def. Emily Allred/Danika Smith 6-0, 6-2
Maroons finally get matches in
Butte Central’s tennis teams finally got some real action in last week.
The Maroons opened the season Wednesday against Livingston and East Helena Wednesday in Livingston. Then, BC hosted Stevensville on Saturday.
Owen McPartland grabbed the only victory on the boys’ side in the home action against Stevensville. He won a 6-4, 7-6 match at No. 2 singles.
Jim Bradshaw, Joe Bradshaw and Karter Lindau also played singles for the Maroons. Jaxon Hiatt and Aidan McPartland played No. 1 doubles. James Holmes and Conan Holmes played No. 2 doubles, and Connor Hardy and Emmett Foley team for No. 3 doubles.
James and Conan Holmes teamed to win a pro set doubles match in Livingston.
Central picked up three wins on the girls’ side against the Yellowjackets. Logan LeProwse and Arwen Regester each won singles tiebreakers, LeProwse at No. 2 and Regester at No. 3.
Regester won an additional match against Stevensville, too.
Presli Smith, Mackenzie Cupp and Sloan Peterson also played for the BC girls.
The Maroons were set to travel to East Helena on Tuesday. Results from that action have not yet been provided.
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Anaconda-Deer Lodge is sticking it to the Copperheads, not the announcer
One of my favorite things to do when I meet someone from Anaconda is to mention the name Blake Hempstead.
Usually, I don’t even have to say his last name. Sometimes, I don’t even need to finish saying his first name before I get an eyeroll or a smile.
Blake is a guy I have long called the Anaconda town crier. He is a lightning rod in the Smelter City, where it seems like Anaconda residents, past and present, either absolutely love him or they cannot stand him. There is very little, if any, middle ground.
That is because Blake is an unapologetic teller of the truth, as he sees it. He is never afraid to tell someone to get bent if that person needs to, indeed, get bent. He is never afraid to tell someone to get bent, even if that someone does not need to.
He has a master’s degree in burning bridges with a minor in tracklessness.
Full disclosure, Blake is one of my good friends. If I need something — anything — I know that he would come through for me in the blink of an eye. But he is also usually the first one to make fun of me.
When former Anaconda coach Maury Cook was hired to lead the Butte High’s girls’ basketball program, I texted Blake to ask for his phone number. Blake’s response was “(406) 867-5309.” Then he wrote a column to publicly ridicule me for calling Jenny Jenny’s number, as he should have.
Usually, I get a kick out of following Blake’s fights in Anaconda, and there have been many. I laughed when he slammed his laptop and quit as a school board trustee in the middle of a Zoom school board meeting.
He quit the board in a huff, but not before playing an instrumental role in the remodeling of Memorial Gym.
I laughed when he went on a Facebook rampage about the goofy Anaconda people who are feeding the deer. I laughed even more when he publicly called out the organizer of a fun event for dropping quarters on the crowd from a helicopter.
Silly Anaconda.
The thing about Blake, though, is that nobody cares more about his hometown than he does. Not many people have done more for the youth of Anaconda, either. There has certainly never been a media member who has done more.
That does not end with his writing about, taking photos of and broadcasting Anaconda Copperheads games, either. Through his business, Anode Designs, Blake and his family have been very generous to Copperhead sports and the Smelter City over the years.
Last year, Blake spent several hundred dollars of his own money to rent a dunking booth that he placed outside his business on Park Avenue. That day he raised $2,600 for various charitable causes in Anaconda and Butte.
If properly advertised, I figured Blake’s appearance in the dunk booth could have raised enough money to pay off the national debt. Those who love him and those who cannot stand him would have revel in the chance to dunk him.
Maybe Elon can get on that one this summer.
Blake is an incredibly talented writer — especially when he’s blatantly trying to copy my style — and he’s one of the best sports announcers in the state. He is also a great sports historian. He puts the achievements of current Copperheads in perspective with the Copperhead greats of yesterday so they can be properly recognized.
Yes, the student-athletes of Anaconda are lucky to have Blake.
That is why it was so puzzling to see Blake’s latest fight with some of the leaders in Anaconda.
Last year, Blake pulled a trailer into the Charlotte Yeoman-Martin Complex, and he placed it outside the right field fence so he could broadcast Anaconda softball games with some protection from the elements.
He did that because he has some expensive equipment that he does not want to have to replace every time it rains during a home game. This spring, on short notice, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County said Blake needs to have a special use permit and insurance outside the policy he already has for his business, and those are cost prohibitive for a guy who already loses money covering the games.
This sudden demand was puzzling, to say the least, but I was not about to get involved in Blake’s latest fight in Anaconda. He is strong enough to fight for himself, and I am pretty sure he likes those fights. So, he does not need my help.
I shared Blake’s Facebook post about the dispute and asked my usual question, “What in the heck is going on in Anaconda?” But that was going to be the extent of my involvement in the matter.
Then, out of the blue, I received a lengthy text message an Anaconda-Deer Lodge official to inform me a little bit about Blake’s situation before I “did a big story on him.”
Never have I received any sort of preemptive message from a government official to try to stop me from writing or influence a column before I wrote it — or even thought about writing it.
I already suspected that Blake’s dispute was fueled, at least in part, by pettiness and government retribution because of his willingness to tell people to get bent. After all, we see that kind of stuff all the time over here in Butte, America.
The text from the government official, who does not like seeing Blake “playing the victim,” clinched that suspicion for me. That is because the text did not simply try to explain the county’s side of the story. Rather, the text included accusations that Blake fraudulently claimed his radio equipment was stolen from county property to get money from the county on two separate occasions.
The only thing I can say about those allegations is that I would bet my life on Blake’s honesty. Of all the qualities my friend Biff possess, that is one of his strongest. He might be a knucklehead, but he is an honest knucklehead.
Either way, I do not know what that has to do with parking a trailer outside the right field fence. It reeks of an attempt to slander his character in an effort to get a little out-of-court prior restraint.
The result of this dispute was that Blake was not there to broadcast the home opener for the 2025 Copperhead softball team. So, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents who could not make the game, could not follow Blake’s call on the internet.
Oh, he could have brought his expensive radio gear and risked losing it all in the unpredictable weather of the Montana spring. But would you do that with your expensive equipment?
This week, Blake plans to pull his trailer and park in the parking lot — several hundred feet from home plate — and broadcast the game from there. For some reason, Anaconda-Deer Lodge does not need a special use permit for the publicly-owned parking lot like it suddenly does for the publicly-owned grass.
So, Blake will break out his binoculars and call the game from the Uecker Seats.
He will do that because he knows that those girls who play softball for the Copperheads deserve to have someone call their games. He will do it because it is the right thing to do.
He will also do it to highlight the government overreach that is on full display in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.
The thing is, it does not matter who is right in this argument. Maybe Blake could have taken steps ahead of time to prevent it. Maybe insurance companies could be more reasonable. Perhaps the county should have just left well enough alone.
Semantics do not matter when we can plainly see that county officials, whatever their motives, are hindering a journalist who is trying to report on high school sports.
No, Blake could not possibly play the victim in this case.
This time, it is Copperheads who are being told to get bent.
— Bill Foley, who also doesn’t mind telling someone to get bent, 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.
