Mariners win state A championship
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
The Mission Valley Mariners gathered momentum with an undefeated romp through district tournament, rolling into Great Falls last Thursday for American Legion State A Tournament.
After hitting their way through the losers-out bracket, the Mariners won state 13-4.
Prior to the state tournament, coach Jami Hanson said, “We’re 46-6 on the season.”
“The toughest game was the championship game at divisionals. We were down 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh, but we kept our composure, came back and won it,” senior Mariner player Chris Clary said.
Teammate Jacob Young said that though the team is used to close games, the Bitterroot Bucks game was the closeset.
According to players Mike Bornestein and Cole McArthur, the team’s best game was possibly the first Libby game.
“There was only one error, and we played well,” Bornestein said.
“We hit well, too,” McArthur added. “We scored 14 points.”
“There’s not a given out in the line-up,” Hanson said, adding that a contributing factor to the team’s success is the camaraderie.
He gestured towards the team, working hard to make some gas money at a car wash last week.
Returning players have helped the group to gel as a team. With Clary at first base, Young at second, Robbie Gauthier at third, Justin Evertz playing shortstop and Jack Humphrey catching, the Mariners are a team with experience.
The Mariners also have strong pitching with Evertz at 11-0, Nic Crawford 9-1 for the year (before state) and Dalton Molzhon at 7-0.
“They’ve been playing together for so many years,” Hanson said, but this is the last year of Mariner ball for Clary, Evertz, Gauthier, Humphreys, Young, McArthur and Molzhon.
Head coach Hanson played for the first Mission Valley Mariners team in 1989. Assistants Chris Brown and John Rausch join him for coaching duties. Rausch played for Hanson for four years.
“It’s been a blessing having this group of kids,” Hanson said. “Also the families and parents are unbelievable, keeping true to the tradition of Mariner’s baseball.”
Hanson’s philosophy for heading into state is simple: “We’ll play one pitch at a time, one bat at a time and one inning at a time. We can’t look past anybody.”
Sticking true to their plan, the Mariners battled their way into the state championship game Monday, July 30, at Centene Stadium in Great Falls against the Glasgow Reds.
The Mariners met the Glasgow Reds for their first game at the state tourney on July 26 and lost a squeaker 4-3, putting the pressure on themselves as they played a series of loser-out games. On Friday, July 27, the veteran Mariners crew crushed Vauxhall, Alberta, 15-0, continuing on to meet defending champ and three-time state winner Laurel Saturday and grinding them under the Mariner wheels 10-3. On Sunday in a late-afternoon game, the Mariners got the bats going again and defeated Belgrade 15-1.
At 10 a.m. on Monday, July 30, the Mariners are back where they began, meeting the Glasgow Reds. Rallying the players, the Mariners handed the Reds a 12-3 loss. Since the Reds were undefeated at state, the teams played again Monday afternoon for the state title.
The Mariners prevailed with Robbie Gauthier pitching and beat the Red 13-4, cementing their title at state champions.
Both the Mariners and the Reds qualify for the Northwest A Regional Tournament in Burley, Idaho. Tournament play begins on Aug. 9.
The Mariners will begin fundraising as soon as they get back. Another car wash is a possibility, but for any fundraising ideas or to donate, please contact Eileen Evertz at 250-8206.
