BILLINGS — Every Billings Scarlets vs. Billings Royals American Legion baseball game has a story behind it or a buildup to it.
One week ago on May 24, the Scarlets swept a twin bill from the Royals — winning 1-0 and 10-4 — in the teams’ first meetings of the year.
This time, another interesting twist occurs as the two longtime rivals will play at Pirtz Field following the conclusion of the Billings Blue Jays vs. Billings Cardinals game, with the Class A contest set to start at 5 p.m.
For the Scarlets, Friday is a chance to begin their Class AA American Legion baseball conference season 1-0.
“We always look forward to the Scarlets-Royals games. They are a lot of fun,” said Scarlets coach Adam Hust. “Good crowds come out to watch the games and it makes for a good atmosphere for the players.”
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The Royals, after sweeping the Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs in a three-game series May 18-19 are 3-0 in the league but will be looking to get back on track vs. their nemesis.
“We are just excited to get another shot at them. It is a conference game, so it adds a little more to the game,” said Royals coach David Swecker. “We will go out there and play solid defense, get solid pitching and try and get timely hits and see if we come out on top.”
The games will occur on the last day of school in the Magic City. Seniors finished school earlier than the rest of the students with graduations in Billings occurring May 26.
Neither the Scarlets (14-1) or the Royals (9-9) have played since their last encounter.
Scarlets coach Adam Hust said that the celebration of graduation and school still being in session played a major role in that.
“With graduation parties we take the rest of the week off and get back to practice Tuesday and get ready to play on Friday,” Hust said of the break in action.
Swecker said the players will be eager to hit the Pirtz Field turf on the last day of school.
“It is always one of your favorite games as a kid and as a coach. I’m a teacher, too,” Swecker said. “We look forward to playing baseball on that last day of school and look forward to really getting to playing baseball and a bunch of games. The boys are excited to not practice as much and play more. There will be a bunch of excitement with it being the last day of school.”
Both of the squads have been trying to work on aspects of their game that need improvement.
“We just have to get a little more consistent and pitch a little more consistently and hit a little more consistently,” said Swecker. “Our defense has been our biggest strength so far. If we can pitch a little more consistent and hit a little more, which we will when we get more at-bats, I really like where our team can be headed.”
Hust said the Scarlets are working on avoiding base running and defensive miscues.
“We are just trying to get better every day and work on the things we make mistakes on,” he said. “All in all, I’m happy with our effort and our attitude is great. We’ll just try and work hard to get better and clean up some mistakes we’ve had this year.”
Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on X/Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL
