Glacier Prep Stars in state Babe Ruth title game

The Daily Inter Lake

The Glacier Prep (13) All-Stars notched two victories in loser-out baseball play Saturday to advance to the championship game of the Montana State Babe Ruth Tournament.

Glacier defeated North Bitterroot 8-7 Saturday morning and followed that with a 9-4 afternoon victory over Kalispell at Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Field in Columbia Falls.

Glacier will face undefeated Bozeman today at noon in Columbia Falls in the title contest. If Glacier wins the first game, a second championship game in the double-elimination tournament is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Glacier had to rally against North Bitterroot, scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Shane Marcial reached on a throwing error to get things started and advanced to second. Jake Mitich followed with an RBI single to center field to score Marcial and tie the game at 7-all.

Peter Seymour and Jake May both singled to load the bases, with Mitich moving to third. Mitich then scored on a passed ball to give Glacier the victory.

North Bitterroot finished fourth in the tournament.

Glacier made up for a 3-2 loss to Kalispell on Friday by winning this meeting 9-4.

Seymour, Austin Martin and Mitich combined on a five-hitter as Glacier never trailed.

"We played really good defense," Glacier coach Eric May said.

"We didn't have any errors."

Jace Kalbfleisch, Cooper Olson and Seymour doubled for Glacier.

Glacier is now 5-1 in tournament play.

14-15 Babe Ruth

The Glacier 14-15 All-Stars moved closer to the championship game Saturday, downing Southern Mountain (Whitehall, Ennis and West Yellowstone) 9-3 at the Montana State Babe Ruth Tournament in Columbia Falls.

Southern Mountain scored a run in the top half of the first inning, but Glacier came right back with three in the bottom half and never trailed again.

Glacier's Mac Roche and Jake Walp combined on a three-hitter.

Glacier collected 10 hits in the game, led by Zach Maason, Chris King and Roche, who all doubled. Maason's double was off the fence.

"Our defense has been solid all along and it continued to be solid today," Glacier coach Kurt Blades said.

"Really, it was a nice team effort. We didn't have anybody that stood heads and shoulders above everyone else. They all contributed."

Glacier turned one double play in the game and committed just one error.

Glacier, 4-0 in tournament play, faces Mission Valley today at 9 a.m. in Columbia Falls.

In the other 9 a.m. game, South Valley plays Glendive in Whitefish.

The winners from this morning's action advances to the championship game at 3 p.m. at Columbia Falls.