MISSOULA — The Missoula Mavericks secured the Class AA American Legion state baseball championship for the first time in seven years on Sunday.
Driven by a group of experienced leaders and solid pitching, the team now sets its sights on a tournament that none of the current players have faced before: the Northwest Regionals beginning Wednesday in Billings.
“The heightened excitement in win-or-go-home games,” Mavericks manager Brent Hathaway explained, “the more you experience that, the better equipped you become to handle those situations.”
The regional tournament, commencing just three days after Missoula’s triumph at the state championship, includes two teams from Montana as well as teams from Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Alaska.
This situation is unfamiliar territory for the Missoula roster; the last time the Mavericks reached regionals was in 2018 when Missoula hosted the event at Ogren-Allegiance Park. In 2017, the Mavericks were defeated in the regional championship by Idaho on a walk-off hit.
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“I always tell the kids, ‘It’s not about who you play, it’s about how you play,'” Hathaway emphasized. “Every team there is a state champion. They’re all quality ballclubs. But ultimately, it comes down to how we approach the game.”
No Montana team has won the regional championship since 1962, when the Billings Royals claimed the title.
“One of the enduring aspects of this game is its ups and downs,” Hathaway remarked. “You’re hot, you’re cold, so we’re hoping we can ride this momentum.”
Missoula kicks off the tournament on Wednesday afternoon against Bellevue, Washington at 4 p.m. The tournament, concluding on Sunday, will take place at Dehler Park in Billings.
Two victories over Helena over the weekend marked a full-circle moment for many of the Missoula players; the Senators eliminated the Mavericks from the tournament last year.
“It really sunk in this morning,” Mavericks third baseman Sam Matosich mentioned on the day following their sweep over Helena. “Yesterday on the bus was enjoyable, but this morning you woke up as a state champion. It’s an indescribable feeling.”
The Mavericks’ pitching staff allowed just three runs in the last three games of the state tournament, all of which were elimination games for Missoula.
The standout pitcher of the weekend was Easton Reimers, who was named the tournament MVP. In the first game against Helena, Reimers pitched a complete shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out four.
“I’m feeling confident right now,” Reimers expressed. “I just need to keep pitching to the best of my ability. If I do that, we’ll continue winning.”
Reimer’s efforts set up a winner-takes-all final against Helena, and his team sealed the deal. A 6-1 victory, including a four-run seventh inning, wrapped up the tournament and sent the Mavericks to Billings.
The offense has also been performing well in recent games, scoring less than six runs only once in the state tournament. Shortstop Colin Boyce had an especially productive tournament, tallying six RBIs in as many games.
With the rapid transition into regional play, Hathaway hopes the hot bats will continue their success.
“In previous years, after finishing the state tournament, you’d have a week to 10 days to relax and lose that momentum,” Hathaway explained. “We don’t have that luxury this time.”
Carson Cashion is a sports writer for 406 MT Sports, primarily covering the Bitterroot Valley. Follow him on X @CarsonCashion or contact him at carson.cashion@406mtsports.com.
