SHELBY, N.C. — The first appearance by a Montana team at the American Legion World Series since 1962 did not end with a victory for the Treasure State tourists.
The Billings Scarlets were defeated 6-1 by Wilmington (Delaware) in each teams’ first game of pool play at the ALWS on Thursday night at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, with the Northwest Region champions stranding a total of 10 runners on base as they’ll need strong performances throughout the rest of pool play to move on to next week’s semifinal round.
Billings (63-14 overall) saw its five-game winning streak snapped, dating back to its second game at the regional tournament last week that it hosted.
The Scarlets, who did not record an error in any of their six games at the regional, committed three errors by the third inning as Delaware took a 2-0 lead by the middle of the first. Delaware starting pitcher Matthew Speicher and second baseman Michael Smyth were the two runners to get across.
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Colter Wilson got the start for Billings, with his rhythm affected by what appeared to be a overwatered mound to begin the game as he walked four of the first five batters he faced. Play was briefly stopped with one out in the first as the field’s grounds crew worked to repair the mound.
The Scarlets struggled to find a rhythm early as they were unable to record a hit off of Speicher until the fourth, though they had baserunners that were threatening to score. First baseman Jakob Wilcox was the Scarlet closest to home in the first half of the game, being stranded on third in the second inning after reaching on an error and being helped along by a wild pitch.
Wilmington then broke the game open in the fifth, erupting for a four-run frame in which it batted around the order. Hunter DiCarlantonio and Aiden Kee drove in runs from a base hit and sacrifice fly, respectively, then the 6-foot-6 Vincent Offutt smashed a two-run home run to left-center field to bring home himself and DiCarlantonio, too.
Down six runs, the Scarlets showed some life in the bottom half of the same frame after being tagged as designated hitter Cody Collis drove in Billings’ only run on a single, with the run scored by second baseman Kade Vatnsdal.
But even after reliever Zach Stewart forced Delaware into a double play in the sixth and the Scarlets got the bases loaded with two outs when they went up to bat, power-hitting infielder Nate McDonald flew out to end the inning. A 1-2-3 seventh from Billings at the plate then officially set the result in stone.
Vatnsdal, in addition to scoring the Scarlets’ only run, was also the only Billings player to record multiple hits as he had two singles from the nine-hole in the batting order. The Scarlets had no extra-base hits and struck out 10 times in all.
Play in the Stripes pool continues for the Scarlets on Saturday as they’re due to face Bossier City, Louisiana at 5:30 p.m., with the game being streamed online on WatchESPN. They will close out pool play against Midland, Michigan at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The Scarlets must finish in the top two in their pool to advance to the semifinal round against a to-be-determined opponent from the Stars pool Monday.
Email Briar Napier at briar.napier@406mtsports.com or follow him on Twitter/X at @BriarNapier
