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 team’s 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. Jitters from playing in a historic game for Montana Legion baseball affected the Scarlets, coach Adam Hust said, and they’ll be hoping to come back stronger for its second game at the ALWS on Saturday.
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“You want good things to happen early, and unfortunately today, we got out to a slow start in a pretty awesome atmosphere with a big crowd,” Hust said in a phone call to The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports on Thursday night.
“I think we were a little nervous … the good thing is we battled back and the boys played hard, and we started having some good at-bats in the middle and end of that game.”
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 in the opening frame.
Colter Wilson got the start for Billings, with his rhythm affected by what was an 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, with Wilson struggling to gain solid footing and traction early on because of it.
“It was a mess,” Hust said. “They watered it twice and created just the worst mess you’ve ever seen. … It looked like it was sticky, but I couldn’t tell how bad it was. And then finally, I sat and I was like, ‘Man, this is bad.’
“I called time and went out and looked at it and talked to Colter and had to call the umpires in and just say, ‘Hey, this is unacceptable. Can you guys fix this so that we can at least compete?'”
Still, even after the mound was fixed and Wilson managed to get out of the inning, Billings’ bats weren’t clicking.
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.
“We had our opportunities and we didn’t capitalize,” Hust said. “I think that’ll help us moving forward, too, is that we’ve got to be a little bit better in those situations. Cut down on the strikeouts and get balls in play.”
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. For their off day in North Carolina on Friday, however, it’ll be all about regrouping and enjoying some time with those who flew out to follow the team earlier in the week.
Once the weekend hits, though, it’s go time all over again.
“We probably had 20 or so families here that came to follow us,” Hust said. “The community has been amazing. The people have (taken) care of us everywhere we’ve been. … It was fun, we’ve just got to loosen up and go play like we know how we can play.”
Email Briar Napier at briar. napier@406mtsports.com or follow him on Twitter/X at @ BriarNapier
