Mavs, Royals bow out of Region 7 Legion tourney

BILLINGS — The Montana state champion Missoula Mavericks’ run at the Region 7 American Legion baseball tournament lasted three games, and ended with a 10-1 loss to Tigard (Ore.) Barbers on Friday at Dehler Park. 

Gabriel Coltman’s two-run double and Carter Stewart’s three-run home run keyed Tigard (41-4). 

On Thursday the Mavericks lost 4-3 to Gillette, Wyo., in a weather-interrupted game. Colter Nicolarsen had three hits, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a three-run burst in the first inning by Glllette. 

That included a bases-loaded walk by Missoula pitcher Schuyler Fairchild, who lasted 5 1-3 innings against the Riders, allowing seven hits and three walks. 

Rylan Davis drove in two runs in the loss. 

The tournament started promising enough, with Easton Reimers and Stellan Ridley combining on a two-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over Fort Collins, Colo. Reimers went 5 1-3 innings, allowing both hits and no walks, striking out four. 

Carter Taylor and Colter Nicolarsen hit back-to-back two-run doubles in the fourth to key the Mavs’ offense. Nicolarson drove in three runs and Taylor and Davis each had two hits and two RBIs.  Bryce Ostrom added a triple and scored three times. 

Missoula, though, ended up 55-26 while Fort Collins won twice to get into Saturday’s play. 

The Billings Royals, host team for the tournament. lost out in two games: 10-0 to Idaho Falls and 14-11 to Tigard.  

The Royals (33-18) led 4-2 early and got three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored from Camden Wilson. Tigard’s 12-hit attack was keyed by a 2-run home run from Connor Parry and a three-run shot from Coltman.