Glacier 14U wins back-to-back state titles
<p>Back row, from left, coach Sonny Johnson, Bryce Fagerland, Derek Kastella, Dakota Bridwell, Daniel Seymour, Storm Kemppainen, Jared Reynolds, Coach Davin Kastella, Coach Shane Bridwell. Front row, from left, Trey Gates, Wyatt Green, Ryan Veneman, James Sampson-Keck, Kaleb Gravelin, Marty Anderson, Caleb Hickox.</p>
The 14U Glacier All-Stars won the Babe Ruth Baseball state championship on Sunday with a 10-0 blowout victory over Bitterroot in Hamilton.
Glacier went 3-0 in tournament play as they hoisted their second state title trophy in as many years. The club won the state tournament as 13-year-olds.
The All-Stars shut down Bitterroot’s bats in the championship game. Dakota Bridwell pitched the shutout, recording 10 strikeouts along the way, and was named game MVP.
“He pitched a great game for us,” Glacier coach Davin Kastella said.
Hitting was consistent up and down the line up, as well.
“That’s the thing with this team,” Kastella said. “Everyone is a good hitter. This was a complete team win.”
The All-Stars opened pool play on Saturday with a 14-6 win over Bitterroot. Bridwell was named game MVP for his work on the mound after recording 14 strike outs.
Later that day, Glacier rallied past the Kalispell All-Stars for a wild 17-16 victory to get into the championship.
Down 11-16 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Glacier’s Dan Seymour hit a 2 RBI infield single to send home the winning score and cap a six-run comeback.
“This is a mentally tough group,” Kastella said. “They never say die. Even being down like that against Kalispell, they find a way to come back. They just never gave up.”
Wyatt Green, Trey Gates and Derek Kastella combined on the mound for the win.
Derek Kastella was named game MVP for his efforts at the dish. He went 3-for-4 and tallied four RBI.
Glacier goes on to play in the Babe Ruth Regional tournament this week in Centralia, Wash. They open tourney play July 29 against North Oregon.
Kastella says Glacier could make some noise after gaining experience at regionals as a 13U club.
“We need to be confident and play as a team,” Kastella said. “We have to play like we belong there.”