AMERICAN LEGION WORLD SERIES
Billings Scarlets had a tough task on Sunday, needing to win two games to stay in the competition, a scenario they were familiar with. This time, it was in the American Legion World Series, with even narrower margins for error.
The Northwest Region champion Scarlets suffered defeats of 1-0 against Bossier City (Louisiana) and 4-3 against Midland (Michigan) at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, North Carolina. These losses dropped them to 0-3 in pool play, eliminating them from reaching Monday’s semifinals and concluding their historic journey in the ALWS.
The season for the Scarlets, with an overall record of 63-16, ended with a remarkable achievement of being the first Montana team since 1962 to qualify for the ALWS. They achieved this by defeating Eugene (Oregon) twice on August 11 in the regional championship games at Dehler Park.
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Scarlets coach Adam Hust reflected on the team’s journey after the game, expressing his appreciation for the players and their accomplishments. Despite the disappointment of not progressing further in the competition, he cherished the experience and the bond with his team.
The long pause in the Montana-Louisiana game added to the challenges faced by the Scarlets. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure the victories needed to advance, with their season coming to an end with the losses.
In their second game against Midland, the Scarlets put up a strong fight against a seasoned opponent but fell short in the end. Despite the outcome, the team’s historic qualification for the ALWS will be remembered as a significant achievement in Montana baseball.
Reflecting on the journey, Hust emphasized the appreciation for the experience and the resilience shown by the team in facing formidable opponents. The Scarlets may not have achieved the desired results, but the pride in their accomplishments remains strong.
“We preached all week … about being appreciative of the fact that we’re here and (to) soak it in in your own way,” Hust said. “(For) everybody to just take a part of this experience and just cherish it forever, because it doesn’t happen to everybody and it doesn’t happen all the time.”
