Glacier 14s win state Babe Ruth crown
Members of the Glacier Babe Ruth team that won the 14-year-old state title are, front row from left, Colin King; second row, Luke Lafontaine, Blake Ladenburg, Cooper Olson, Shane Marcial, Logan Harwood, Nick LaGrandeur, Dyllon Parker; back row, coach Kevin Slaybaugh , manager Eric May, Austin Martin, Jace Kalbfleisch, Peter Seymour, Jake Slaybaugh, Chase Liberty, Coach Blair LaGrandeur, Jake May and coach John Kalbfleisch.
Getting revenge from a first-game loss, the Glacier 14-year-old Babe Ruth all-stars captured the District 1 Tournament title with a 10-4 victory over Bozeman on Sunday in Bozeman.
The title game was not without controversy and a protest by the Glacier coaches. After a second delay due to weather with no score in the third inning, the umpires were replaced due to a conflict of interest. Only one replacement umpire could be found, but he competently finished the game.
"It really sparked our kids. They got it done," Glacier manager Eric May said. "We silenced them (Bozeman) and their crowd. It was pretty neat to take control of the game.
"This is their back-to-back," May said. Nearly all the players on this team were on the prep state champion last year.
Bozeman led the championship game 2-0 after three innings, but Glacier had the next 10 runs — scoring six times in the fourth and four in the fifth. Jace Kalbfleisch pitched the first three innings and Austin Martin the next three. Cooper Olson came on in the seventh with the bases loaded to finish the game.
"The pitchers were rolling ground balls and getting popups," May said. Jake Slaybaugh made a diving catch in left-center field in the sixth inning. "We made some great plays.
"It was a team wrecking crew," May said of the Glacier offense, which was led by Olson, Jake May, Peter Seymour, Colin King, Logan Harwood and Kalbfleisch.
To get to the title game, Glacier beat Mission Valley, 6-1, and Bozeman blanked Great Falls, 2-0. Seymour pitched the first five inning and May got the save. Each hurler gave up just one hit.
To begin pool play, Glacier lost to Bozeman, 10-8, scoring four runs in the second inning.
"They got the better of us," May said. "From that point on we kind of marched through teams." Glacier rebounded with Mission Valley 18-5 and Great Falls 12-2. "Our defense was solid the next four games."
Glacier erupted for 13 runs in the fourth inning against Mission, highlighted by a solo homer by Olson. Luke LaFontaine threw the first three innings and May pitched the last two.
Olson and May combined to shut down Great Falls, a game in which Glacier scored seven early runs.
It's practice time for the Glacier 14-year-olds as they prepare for the regional tournament, which begins Aug. 2 in Moscow, Idaho.