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Butte High sets ‘Kids’ Night’ as Bulldogs kick off fall
The Butte High Bulldogs will hold Kids’ Night Friday at Naranche Stadium. The event will run in conjunction with the Bulldog Fall Kickoff.
Action begins at 3 p.m., and Kids’ Night starts at about 4, giving young fans a chance to meet the Bulldogs as they get ready for their fall sports seasons.
Free pictures with the Bulldog mascot will be available, and the first 100 kids will receive a poster for autographs courtesy of Dream Big Montana. The Extra Sprinkles Ice Cream Truck will also be there for kids to purchase treats.
Butte High’s volleyball, cross country, soccer and football teams will be in action. The cross country teams will race starting at 3 p.m. The runners will finish inside Naranche Stadium.
Volleyball action begins at 3 p.m. with a freshman scrimmage inside the Richardson Gym. Frosh Purple will play the sophomores at 3:40, and Frosh White will take on the sophomores at 4:20. The junior varsity will battle the varsity at 5.
Butte High’s boys’ soccer team will scrimmage at 4 p.m. on the Naranche turf. The girls will scrimmage at 5:15.
The night concludes with the football Purple-White game at 7 p.m.
All parents, family and friends of Butte High athletics are invited to attend. Food will be provided by the Butte Athletic Council, which will also be selling memberships.
Memberships are $125, and that includes two passes to all regular-season events.
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Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Brenner Booth and Kate DeShaw
Golfers Brenner Booth and Kate DeShaw are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honors come after they claimed overall titles at the Junior City Championship tournament last week at the Highland View Golf Course. Both will be key players for the Butte High golf teams, which open the season this week in Great Falls.
Booth takes home the boys’ honor for winning the boys’ 15-17 division title and the overall crown. He followed a 39 with a 37 on the back nine for a 76, beating Bulldog teammate Chase Choquette by one shot.
Booth will be a senior this school year. He is looking to close out his Butte High career on a high note after placing 18th at the Class AA State tournament last fall.
DeShaw receives the girls’ honor after winning the 12-15 title. She shot an 85 to run away with the overall tournament championship.
DeShaw will be a sophomore this season for the Bulldogs. She has been a varsity player since she was in the eighth grade.
For the second 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 in an effort to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
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Podcast No. 206: Karen Maloughney
If you live in Southwestern Montana, she just might be one of the most important people in your life — even if many people will never realize or recognize that fact.
Karen Maloughney is Butte-Silver Bow’s health officer/director.
Karen replaced Karen Sullivan after Sullivan retired in late 2021. Both Karens were instrumental in leading Butte through the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the workers at the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department received threats and criticism, they played a role in saving lives. It’s hard to say how many lives, but they definitely saved lives.
The Health Department does a whole lot more than protecting us from COVID, too. The dedicated workers there worry about so many things that we probably will never even hear about. They worry about a lot of things we do not want to hear about.
Listen in to this podcast as Karen discusses the long list of duties she takes on in her role as health officer. Listen in as she talks about the trials and tribulations she and her co-workers went through during the pandemic.
Listen in to hear about Karen’s days hanging out with her dad and to hear which instrument she played for the Butte High band back in the 1980s.
Listen in to hear her take on her first name being hijacked by people who want to speak to your manager.
Today’s podcast is presented by Thriftway Super Stops. Download the TLC app and start saving today.
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DeShaw, Booth win Junior golf titles
Kate DeShaw and Brenner Booth were the overall winners at the Junior City Championship golf tournament Wednesday at the Highland View Golf Course.
Both players are part of the Butte High golf team that will open the season next week.
DeShaw won the girls’ overall title and the 12-15 age division with an 85. She followed a 48 with a 37. Mya McGree placed second at 105.
Booth followed a 39 with a 37 for a 76 to win the boys’ overall title. He also won the 15-17 division. Chase Choquette placed second at 77, while Zach Sawyer took third in the age group at 79.
Jack Muhlestein won the boy’s 12-14 division and placed third overall with a 78. He topped Teagan Yelenich by two shots to win the age group.
Braden Donnelly won the 12-14 B division. Boys in that classification played the Par 3 course on the back nine because they had East Middle School orientation earlier in the day. Donnelly shot an 84 to beat Lane Lisac by four shots.
Wyatt Edelen carded a 35 to win the nine-hole 9-11 division. Colsyn Crawshaw and Keene Walsh were next at 40.
Natalee Hubbard won the girls 9-11 group with a 51 over nine holes. Kaitlyn Kachmarik was second at 59.
In all, 26 boys and six girls competed in the tournament. Highland View course manager said that the plan is to expand the tournament to two days next year, with one round at Highland View and one round at the Butte Country Club.
GIRLS
12-15
Kate DeShaw 48-37 — 85
Mya McGree 63-42 — 1059-11
(Nine holes)
Natalee Hubbard 51
Kaitlyn Kachmarik 59
Kymber Edelen 61
Brynlee Mansell 82BOYS
15-17
Brenner Booth 39-37 — 76
Chase Choquette 40-37 — 77
Zach Sawyer 40-39 — 79
Beau McGree 45-36 — 81
Will McGree 47-43 — 90
Riley Reynolds 47-50 — 97
Mason Shogren 52-49 — 10112-14 A
Jack Muhlestein 41-37 — 78
Teagan Yelenich 41-39 — 80
Connor Kachmarik 41-41 — 81
Gus Struznik 53-53 — 106
Caleb Heard 58-53 — 11112-14 B
(Back nine played on Par 3 course)
Braden Donnelly 50-34 — 84
Lane Lisac 50-38 — 88
Drew Kachmarik 49-42 — 91
Connell Walsh 53-46 — 999-11
(Nine holes)
Wyatt Edelen 35
Colsyn Crawshaw 40
Keene Walsh 40
Coy Carpenter 48
Clark Fredrickson 53
Jackson Street 54
Mason Street 56
Mark Johnston 62
Eli Weeks 63
Bodie Petritz 72 -
Special Olympians just do it better
The putt was somewhere between a gimme and a tester.
Early in a match, it is the kind of putt you tell your opponent to pick up. But you make him sweat it out in the later holes.
My orange Top Flight XL was about 4 feet from the hole when I lined up the par putt on hole No. 9 at the Highland View Golf Course. I already won the match with my dad through eight holes, and he pressed on the final hole.
That meant I would win $2 if I made the putt, and I was 100 percent confident I was going to make it. Back when I was 12, I was a very good putter. That was the product of spending hours on the putting green at the municipal golf course as my parents and grandparents hung out with their friends on the porch of the old clubhouse.
My dad was not a good loser. Oh, he would do anything for me. He still would. But he wanted to save face on that last hole.
No, my dad was not one of those dads who let his sons win. At least he wasn’t when we were old enough to know better. He would make up rules as he went when we played one-on-one in basketball, just to get into my head.
If you are arguing rules and laughing at the silly rule interpretations, you are probably going to miss shots. That is why I have a losing record against my dad, even though I was a way better shooter and ball handler than him.
Like most dads, my dad had a gamesmanship quality about him that made it tough for me to beat him.
I squatted down to take a good, long look at the break for the winning putt. Then I stood up and took a couple of practice strokes before addressing the ball.
Just before the putter moved on my putt, my dad said, “Knock it up close.”
That is something you might say to encourage someone when they are hitting from 100 yards out. Not on a short putt.
My dad, you see, is no Josh Mota.
Josh is a young Butte guy who plays for the Butte Eagles Special Olympics basketball team. He isn’t the flashiest player, but Josh will bury you if you leave him open at the top of the key.
While he hardly ever leads the team in scoring, Josh leads the league in composure and leadership. He is like a coach on the floor, directing players on both ends of the court.
Josh is also about as nice of a guy you will ever meet.
Big Joe Gibson is also a Butte Eagle. Joe is a mountain of a man, and he is nearly impossible to stop when he gets the ball on the block.
Joe is also one of the most competitive players on the Eagles. He wants to win every game. That probably goes double for the Boyles’ Buddies game of the Burgman/Boyle Classic.
The latest edition of the Boyle’s Buddies Game was played Saturday night at East Middle School. The contest marked the ninth anniversary of the tragic deaths of Butte buddies Kyle Burgman and Casey Boyle.
The Eagles players were split into two teams for the game to honor Kyle and Casey. Joe played on the White team, along with Jalen “Hollywood” Foley, Christian Schock, D.J. Macumber and Krystina Segna.
Josh played on the Red team with Zach Stenson, Dalan Dagen, Kallie Robins and Bryce “Smiley” Bailey.
In the second half of the game, Joe got the ball down low and drew a foul, sending him to the line for a pair of free throws. After a little confusion by the players lining up to rebound, Joe’s first shot was off the mark.
Josh, sensing Joe’s frustration, ignored the fact that he and his pal were wearing different colored jerseys. He stepped up to Joe and offered some calming advice.
“Take your time and knock this one down,” Josh told Joe.
Joe nodded, appearing to heed the advice from his friend. Then, shot No. 2 was nothing but net.
It is hard to say if Josh’s words of encouragement to the guy on the other team helped. But it certainly did not hurt.
That right there is an example of what makes the Special Olympics great. You would never see that in any other game.
Oh, we see plenty of great examples of sportsmanship during other sporting events. But it isn’t usually quite like that in the middle of a game.
It was a great game, too. The White team opened up a big lead, only to see Red come back with a furry. Just when it looked like Red would win big, though, White battled back to take a one-point lead.
Red eventually won 49-48, thanks to a clutch jump shot from Smiley, who would still have been grinning ear to ear if his shot missed.
This year marked the second straight time I got to referee the game. So, I got a great vantage point to watch the sportsmanship from start to finish.
That sportsmanship also included the play of Casey Boyle’s nephews J.T. and Hunter Boyle and Kyle Burgman’s nephews Carter “The Professor” and Teague Barsness.
Little Hunter did his best LeBron James impersonation for a couple of nice moves to the basket. For the most part, though, the job of the nephews was to give the starters some rest and to pass the ball to the open players.
The names of the Special Olympians have largely stayed the same since the first Boyle’s Buddies Game in 2016, and I have been to most of them.
Never did I once hear a player or coach beg for a call — like you do in almost every other game. Actually, you see the exact opposite from Boyle’s Buddies.
You see players cheering for their opponents. You see players lobbying for what is fair — even if it goes against their own team.
Late in Saturday’s game, we had a held ball between players, and the alternate possession went to the White. D.J. Macumber, while wearing a white jersey, told me that it should be Red ball because the Red player had more control than the white player.
D.J. didn’t care that it was a one-point game. Most of the players didn’t care. Actually, I think a few of them didn’t know if they won or lost the close game.
They were just having fun, which is what the game is supposed to be all about. They have fun without the gamesmanship.
Although, I must say that that gamesmanship has its place in sports, too. That goes double when you are competing against your son.
While it was nearly 40 years ago, I can still see the look on my dad’s face after I stopped laughing made that putt.
Had he offered words of encouragement instead of a heckle, I probably wouldn’t remember that round of golf.
— Bill Foley, who is already looking forward to the 2025 Boyle’s Buddies Game, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Bernie Boyle, Boyle’s Buddies, Bryce Bailey, Burgman/Boyle Classic, Casey Boyle, Christian Schock, Dalan Dagen, DJ Macumber, Highland View Golf Course, Hunter Boyle, Jalen Foley, Joe Gibson, Josh Mota, JT Boyle, Kallie Robins, Krystina Segna, Kyle Barsness, Kyle Burgman, Special Olympics, Teague Barsness, Zach Stenson -
Rigby perfect as Fall League opens
Riley Rigby broke all 50 targets for a perfect score on the opening night of the Butte Trap Club’s Fall League Thursday.
He was the lone perfect score on the season opener. Tyler Denny, Dan Rademacher and Dave Vicevich each posted scores of 49. Jake Taverna shot a 48, while Josh Bridgeman, Ryan Moodry, Gillan Clark and Tim Casidy each shot a 47.
Clark’s score topped women’s standings. Jen Hislop was second at 44, followed by Kim McCalfferty at 41 and Mindy McClernan at 40. Kohlten Fultz shot a 45 to top wobble scores. He beat Mike McLaughlin, Kaden Hafer and Tanner Tregidga by one.
Through one week, Wolverine Systems leads scratch standings at 185. Arc Electric is second at 179, followed by CF Plumbing and Heating at 178.
Teams can still sign up for the Fall League and make up Week 1 shooting.
Butte Trap Club – 2024 Fall League – Week 1 Standings
Team Scratch Standings
Wolverine Systems – 185
Arc Electric – 179
CF Plumbing & Heating – 178
Cooneys Locksmith – 177
Vicevich Law Girls – 177
Lockmer Plumbing – 176
St James Hospital – 175
D-M Ranch – 171
Baker Auto – 170
FJBCHO – 170
S&S Plumbing – 169
KR Contracting – 167
Maloney’s – 167
Pro Inspection – 166
Randy’s Boys – 154
Archibald Co. – 153
Superior Title – 149
J3 Construction – 143
WET 2 – 142
Daddy’s Girls – 131
Doodlebobs – 117
Hazlett’s Heroes – 111
WET1 – 0
Cooney’s/Vicevich – 0
Clay Howery Construction – 0
Granite Amusement/Oasis – 0High Individual Scores
Riley Rigby – 50×50
Tyler Denny – 49×50
Dan Rademacher – 49×50
Dave Vicevich – 49×50
Jake Taverna – 48×50
Josh Bridgeman – 47×50
Ryan Moodry – 47×50
Gillian Clark – 47×50
Tim Cassidy – 47×50High Lady Scores
Gillian Clark – 47×50
Jen Hislop – 44×50
Kim McClafferty – 41×50
Mindy McClernan – 40×40High Wobble Trap Scores
Kohlten Fultz – 45×50
Mike McLaughlin – 44×50
Kaden Hafer – 44×50
Tanner Tregidga – 44×50 -
Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Boyle’s Buddies
Boyle’s Buddies are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honor comes after the Special Olympic basketball players put on a show during the annual Boyle’s Buddies Game of the Burgman/Boyle Classic. Playing on the ninth anniversary of the tragic deaths of Kyle Burgman and Casey Boyle, the Red team beat the White team in a thrilling 49-48 game at East Middle School.
The game saw a series of runs as if it was an NBA game. White took a big lead before Red battled back to take a big lead. Just when it looked like a blowout, White went on a late run and took a one-point lead before Red pulled out the victory.
Players for the Red team were Zach Stenson, Dalan Dagen, Kallie Robbins, Josh Mota and Bryce “Smiley” Bailey. Players on the White team were Joe Gibson, Jalen “Hollywood” Foley, Christian Schock, D.J. Macumber and Krystina Segna.
The players are normally all teammates competing together for the Butte Eagles.
Casey Boyle’s nephews J.T. and Hunter Boyle also played in the game to make sure the players had some rest. So did Kyle Burgman’s nephews Carter and Teague Barsness.
Then the players and fans enjoyed a pizza party at the Knights of Columbus, where they talked about their plans to play in the game again next year.
For the second 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 in an effort to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
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Podcast No. 205: Rob Cox
Imagine walking into a small-town Montana bar with Robert Redford, Craig Sheffer and Brad Pitt. Then the first person you see is Michael Keaton.
After that, you probably would never be starstruck again.
In 1991, that is exactly what happened to Rob Cox, who was hanging with the movie stars because he had a role in the iconic movie “A River Runs Through It.”
Rob played one of the friends of Norman and Paul Maclean. Rob was Conroy, who famously told Paully that he can’t “shoot the shoots.”
Rob has deep Mining City roots, but he was born in Great Falls and went to high school in Havre. He majored in theater at the University of Montana, and that helped lead to his role in the classic movie.
After living in Los Angeles and having several small acting roles, including one on Bay Watch, Rob moved to Butte in 2006. He didn’t think he would stay long, but Butte quickly won him over, and he now says he will never leave.
In 2022, Rob was a part of the crew filming the Yellowstone prequel series “1923.” He also helped produce and played a role in a movie filed in Butte titled “The Tinderbox.”
Rob has some awesome plans to do more. That includes working on a script about the vigilantes.
When he isn’t working for Hollywood, Rob is the house manager at the Covellite Theater, bringing a professional touch to a small venue that has been highlighting some big-time local talent.
Listen in to this podcast as Rob talks about auditioning for “A River Runs Through It,” and why he never thought he would land a role. Listen as he talks about working in Los Angeles and all of the talented actors he got to work with and around.
Listen in to hear why Rob is now a Butte Rat for life.
Today’s podcast is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.
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Podcast No. 204: Quinn and ‘Easy’
It has been quite a week so far for Quinn Cox and Ethan “Easy” Cunningham, and it is only Tuesday.
On Monday, the former Butte Miners signed Letters of Intent to play college baseball. Cox will play at MSU-Billings, an NCAA Division II program. Cunningham will take his talent to Spokane Falls Community College, where he will team with former Miner Anthony Knott.
On Tuesday, Cox took home South A All-Conference honors for his work at the plate and behind the dish for the Miners. That comes after the catcher took home All-Conference and All-State recognition as a catcher for the Butte High Bulldogs.
Cunningham, a 2023 Butte High graduate who attended Montana Tech this past school year, earned All-Conference and Class A All-State honors for his performance. He was Butte’s ace, and he played second base when he was not pitching.
Cox and Cunningham will go down as one of the best batteries the Miners have seen, and it is great to see both take the next step while chasing their baseball dream.
Listen in to this podcast as they talk about playing for Miners’ 2022 state and regional championship team. Listen as they talk about their teammates and coaches. Listen as they talk about their love of baseball and hear how far they plan to chase their dreams.
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warrantee.
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Greatest game gets better over time
How could a football game that only included 68 yards passing — including zero by the team I was cheering for — be the best game I ever watched?
Well, a lot of that has to do with my perspective. A lot of it also comes from the fact that it was two great teams from the Mining City going head-to-head.
I was 7 years old when Butte High beat Butte Central 18-12 in overtime on Sept. 4, 1981. That Butte Central loss absolutely ripped my heart out.
From as early as I can remember, my parents told me that I was going to be a Butte Central Maroon. So, before I cheered for the Bears, Red Sox and Celtics, I rooted like crazy for the Maroons.
For several weeks leading up to that 1981 game, that looming showdown seemed to be what everyone was talking about. At the golf course, the barber shop and the grocery store, it was all Butte vs. Central.
I counted down the days to that game, figuring I would finally get to see the Maroons beat the Bulldogs. I could not wait to rub it in the face of my cousins who called me a “Crayon” for my plans to go to Butte Central. I was going to sing to them my parody version of one of the Butte High fight songs.
“Butte High will shine tonight; Butte High will shine.
“Butte High will shine my shoes.”
Of course, I was going to cheer for the Bulldogs the rest of the season, and I did — all the way through the state championship game.
The same week of the Butte High-Butte Central game, my brother got a No. 10 Butte Central jersey for his 10th birthday. He wanted that number because he has the same first name as BC quarterback Don Peoples Jr., who wore No. 10.
Not to be left out, my mom got me a BC No. 92 jersey because she figured I would graduate from Butte Central in 1992. It turns out that I graduated from Butte High in 1993.
Hey, leave me alone. Third grade was hard.
The lead up to the game was insane. The town seemed to be buzzing all summer long. The players were, too.
Some Central players allegedly defaced the Bulldog at Naranche Stadium, so some Butte High players allegedly trashed Central player Tim Norbeck’s car in retaliation. Then, a couple of Bulldogs ignited BC’s bonfire prematurely, and one of the players ended up missing the game with severe burns.
All of that made Pat Kearney’s book, “Butte’s Big Game: Butte Central vs. Butte High.”
“That entire game you never heard so much talking back and forth between both sides,” Central running back John McGree told Kearney. “It was an all-out civil war.”
The Bulldogs got the last laugh in that “civil war” thanks largely to Don Douglas, the Butte High quarterback who signed to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers five months later.
Douglas had a hand in all three Butte High touchdowns. He scored on runs of 57 and 6 yards in regulation. Then he threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Terry LeProwse as Butte High got the ball first in the Montana playoff overtime.
In all, Douglas ran the ball 11 times for 139 yards. He completed 7 of 15 passes for 68 yards.
Butte Central got the ball with a chance to tie — or win with a touchdown and extra point. But on fourth down, a desperation Peoples pass was picked off by Butte High linebacker Larry Peterson to end the game.
I was confused for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t know why the Maroons were suddenly going the same direction as the Bulldogs. I also wondered why the Central quarterback threw the ball to the Butte High player.
Remember, I was 7. I didn’t even know what a first down was, let alone an interception.
I was heartbroken when we left that packed East Jr. High Stadium that night. Still, in my heartache, I knew that I had just watched something truly special. I knew it would be a game that I would remember for the rest of my life, and I was right.
While I have seen some incredible football games up close and personal over the years, nothing can beat the 1981 Butte High-Butte Central game in my eyes.
Not the 2012 Class AA State championship game when Jake Dennehy booted the Bulldogs past the Bozeman Hawks.
Not the 2014 Class A State title game when the Dillon Beavers beat the Maroons by about an inch and a half at Montana Tech.
The 1981 epic battle was a game played between a pair of Butte teams that wanted to beat the heck out of each other, and that is hard to top.
Butte High went on to win the Class AA State championship that season. The Bulldogs avenged their only loss of the season by beating Great Falls Russell in Great Falls. The Maroons fell in the Class A title game to Miles City in Butte.
To this day, players on the Central team will tell you they have not recovered from that loss to Butte High to start the season. The Bulldogs still revel in that victory.
The best part of the game, though, is a moment most people never knew about. I didn’t know about it until January of 2022.
Douglas was the star player for the Bulldogs in 1981. Brian Morris was the best player for the Maroons. While Douglas went to Nebraska — and eventually the University of Montana — Morris went to Stanford to play fullback. He is now the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana.
If I had to vote, I would say Morris is the greatest Maroon of all.
In January of 2022, Morris spoke in support of Douglas’ induction into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. Morris entered the Hall in 2003, and he wanted to “fill a void” in the Hall by enshrining one of the greatest Bulldogs of all time.
The selection committee agreed, and Douglas was enshrined that summer.
Morris’ talk wasn’t just about how great of a football player — and overall athlete — Douglas was in his days at Butte High in beyond.
Rather, it was a moment after that Bulldog-Maroon battle in 1981 that stood out to Morris, who was heartbroken after running for a bruising 94 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
“I was a pile of blubbering Maroons on the field after the game, crying our hearts out after the loss,” Morris said. “Someone came up, pulled me to my feet, gave me a hug, told me it was the hardest game he ever played. It was Donny D. I’ll never forget that moment.”
So much for that trashed car, the trash talk and the early bonfire. So much for the Maroons and Bulldogs hating each other.
More than four decades after that incredible football game, we learned that the best player from Butte High picked up the best player from Butte Central and offered a hug and encouragement.
Maybe that is what great sportswriter Jim Edgar was talking about when he coined the term “City of Champions” for Butte in those days.
It turns out that the greatest game ever played was even better than I thought.
And that “civil war” turned out to be more “civil” than “war.”
— Bill Foley, who still has a hard time understanding interceptions, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
