Briefs: Gus Thompson games are Saturday

The Gus Thompson Memorial Baseball games will be held this Saturday at Thompson Memorial Park, starting with a Pee Wee Major League game between Rocky Mountain Builders and Sunriser Lions at 11 a.m.

For the Minor League game, Purity Health will play against Jordahl and Sliter at 1 p.m.   

This is the 10th anniversary of the games in honor of "The Father of Kalispell Baseball," Gus Thompson, who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903 and was a long-time Kalispell businessman.   

Each game will have a brief opening ceremony that will include a little about Thompson and the field, the national anthem, and a special guest in a vintage baseball uniform.   

The field is located on the corner of Eighth Avenue East and Ninth Street East, one block off Woodland Avenue.  Spectators should bring their own seating.  

Griz hire Norcross as O-line coach 

Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck announced Cameron Norcross has been hired as the Grizzlies’ new offensive line coach on Tuesday. 

Norcross is a 20-plus year veteran at the position with extensive experience in the SEC, Mountain West, and Conference USA. He comes to Montana after a year at Kennesaw State where he served as O-line coach and run game coordinator in the Owls’ first season as an FBS team.  

Prior to that he spent two seasons at UNLV (2020-21), four seasons at Vanderbilt (2016-19), four seasons at Fresno State (2012-15), and coached AT his alma mater, the University of Nevada, for 10 seasons (2001-10). 

“We are excited to have coach Norcross join us. He comes highly recommended. I have coached against him many times and know exactly how well his offensive lines have played,” Hauck said. “He will be a great addition to the Griz football coaching staff. He is a high character, small town Nevada guy, and will fit right in with this bunch.” 

Norcross replaces Joe Pawlak, who left the Grizzlies after one season for the same job at Western Michigan. The Broncos announced Pawlak’s hiring on April 1. 

Bozeman forfeiting softball season 

Dwindling numbers have forced Bozeman High to forfeit its softball season this spring, district activities director Mark Ator told several news outlets Wednesday. 

Ator said just 12 players went out for softball this spring, and tht several changed their minds about competing. Another influx of young players signed up late, and Bozeman will attempt to play a junior varsity season. 

Troy Hostetler has returned to guide a program that won just one game last spring, and 10 over the last 10 years according to montanasports.com.