HELENA — Easton Reimers hugged his pitching coach, mentor, and father, clutching his MVP trophy.
Twenty-seven years removed from Cameron Reimers’ Missoula Mavericks pitching exploits – and nearly three decades after a pair of mid-1990s state championships – the Mavericks are back on top with a Reimers on the roster as Montana/Alberta American Legion Baseball State Champions.
“I’ve been chasing a lot of his stuff for a while, so to get my own and earn that is a big part of it,” Easton said. “Really exciting.”
“He’s gotten me through a lot and helped me battle throughout this whole year.”
Easton tossed a gem Sunday morning at Kindrick Legion Field, striking out four Helena Senators in a 4-0 decision, and forcing a do-or-die Game 2, which Missoula owned 6-1.
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He struck out 10 and posted an 0.53 ERA in 13.1 tournament innings, winning two of Missoula’s five games necessary to halt a seven-year title drought and punch a Northwest Regional Tournament ticket.
“I don’t think there’s a pitcher better in the state than Easton Reimers,” Mavericks outfielder Brennan Labbe said. “Plain and simple. Easton Reimers is the best pitcher in Montana, in my opinion…
Cameron, wearing a white and blue No. 13 Missoula jersey and seated above the Mavericks’ dugout, witnessed every emotional pitch. He was MVP of the 1997 state tournament, posted a career 2.12 Legion ERA, and captured 40 victories before pursuing a collegiate and professional baseball career.
“You always want your boys to know the feeling, and now they’re doing it,” Cameron said. I can’t top that, there’s no way.”
The same last name, the same jersey number, the same championship outcome.
“The game itself doesn’t affect how he performs,” Missoula head coach Brent Hathaway said of Easton.
“It’s like he’s pitching in his backyard to his dad, honestly. Stuff doesn’t bother him. That’s unique, that’s different than most kids.”
Schuyler Fairchild spun five innings of one-run baseball in winner-take-all action, out-pitching a trio of Helena bullpen arms.
Carter Taylor doubled and tallied three hits, winning the tournament batting champion award with a .522 (12-for-23) average.
Helena outfielder Sam Ark won a $500 scholarship from American Legion.
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