C-Falls, Whitefish host State Babe Ruth Tournament

By DAVID ERICKSON / For the Hungry Horse News

There will be a ton of Babe Ruth baseball action in town this week, and the local boys are early favorites to make some serious noise.

The Montana State Babe Ruth baseball tournament takes place Wednesday through Sunday, July 16-20, in Columbia Falls and Whitefish, with about 20 teams from all across the state coming to participate.

Games will be played at the Sapa-Johnsrud Fields in Columbia Falls (on Talbott Road near the Veterans' Home) and Smith Fields in Whitefish.

Although games were played on Wednesday, the opening ceremonies will be on Thursday (today) at 6 p.m. at Sapa-Johnsrud Fields, with skydivers, a color guard, singers and a barbecue.

"We have some tough competition in this area, especially from Kalispell, but it's going to be a lot of fun," Glacier Babe Ruth League President Ray Queen said.

Glacier's 14-15 year-old team won the district tournament in Kalispell last weekend by beating Mission Valley, 3-1.

"They all contributed throughout the tournament," head coach Kurt Blades said. "They're playing extremely well."

The 14-15-year-olds started against Havre on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Columbia Falls. They play Have at 8 p.m. Thursday (today) in Columbia Falls and face Glendive at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Whitefish. Single-elimination bracket play begins Saturday.

Blades said he doesn't quite know what to expect from some of the teams around the state.

"I haven't seen a lot of the teams that are coming, so it's hard to guess," he said. "But in the Helena tournament, three of the top four teams were in our own district — including ourselves."

Blades said his defense steps up when it needs to, but he knows his kids can bring out the bats when needed also.

"They're playing well, and I'm excited for them," Blades said. "They are excited. They're pulling together and getting more cohesive at the right time. It's a great bunch of kids, and they're good ball players."

Glacier's Prep 13-year-olds took second place at the district tournament, losing to Kalispell after getting within one run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Glacier Prep was scheduled to face North Bitterroot at 1 p.m. and Helena at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Columbia Falls and Whitefish, respectively. Double-elimination play begins at 3:30 p.m. Thursday (today).

Glacier Babe Ruth League is a non-profit organization. For more information, contact Queen at 253-0857.