Senators squeak out AA Legion title

MISSOULA — Luke Dowdy threw a complete game four-hitter, and Manu Melo had a hand in both Helena runs in the Senators’ 2-1 win over the Billings Scarlets Wednesday, in the Montana/Alberta AA Legion baseball championship.

Dowdy issued three walks and allowed one unearned run as the Senators (53-15) won their second state title in three seasons, this one coming at Lindborg-Cregg Field.

The Scarlets (44-16) led 1-0 on Hunter Doyle’s one-out, bases-loaded single in the third inning, and were poised for more runs but grounded into a double play to end that threat.

Helena, the home team as the higher seed, drew even in the bottom of the fifth: Melo singled, took second on a bunt, stole third and scored on Tycen Mooney’s one-out single.

In the sixth the Senators’ Walker Bennett singled, moved up on two bunts — the Scarlets didn’t field the first one — and scored on Melo’s grounder.

That play also resulted in Billings’ second error of the inning, but like the inning before, when the Senators left runners on second and third, Helena couldn’t add on.

It was enough, though Dowdy had to work around a one-out walk in the seventh. He got a popup and a fielder’s choice grounder to end it.

Nathan Swandal gave up both Helena runs for the Scarlets, leaving after allowing Bennett’s single to open the sixth inning. Only one was earned. Drew McDowell, who threw 6 2-3 no-hit innings on Saturday, finished up for Billings. striking out two.

The Scarlets were gunning for their 11th title since Montana/Alberta Legion split into AA and A in 1987; the last title came in 2016.

Helena was making its fourth straight title appearance, having lost to the Billings Royals in last year’s championship, and to the Bozeman Bucks in 2020. The Senators have five AA titles, to go with a Class A title won in 1968.