A Good Evening for Billings

The Mustangs out-of-town hitting and pitching and fielding were enough to subdue the Voyagers 7-5 up there in Great Fall, and either the Billings Scarlets or the Billings Royals would win here in Billings at Dehler Park on the eve of Independence Day. Has to be a good deal for those who like to watch Legion baseball. By the way, the new radio broadcaster Joe Bloch is really easy to listen to and he calls a very good game. I listened off and on to him on Friday night when the Brewers were here in Billings.

The issue was in doubt until with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th the Scarlets pulled out a nail-biter. Too much adrenalin on the part of the Royals' pitcher Josh Benjamin had put two men on base via walks and then Brady Muller whacked the first pitch he saw into the left field corner which just eluded the outstretched glove of the left fielder Ryan Gratwohl, tying the score at 5-5.

On the very next pitch Max Tolstedt hit a screamer at Blake Loran, the first baseman, which bounced high over his head to score the winning run. I thought Coach Hust was having an epileptic seizure during these last two pitches. Very exciting baseball.

A good crowd of maybe 1500-1800 was present. This was the 4th time the two teams met in conference play this year; I think all of these have gone the Scarlets' way though I'm not sure as I seem to remember a pummeling the Royals handed to the Scarlets, perhaps in a non-conference game. They may well play each other again in the state tournament this year being played in Medicine Hat, Alberta. How is that for global diversity?

Interestingly enough, the Scarlets only graduate two players from their squad this year which should be bad news for their opponents next year.