Glacier U13s heading to World Series

The Glacier All-Stars are headed to the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series after an unforgettable rally to win the Pacific Northwest Regional baseball tournament.

The All-Stars fell behind 4-0 against Lewiston, Idaho in Sunday’s championship game in Helena. The All-Stars scored three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to knot the score heading into the final frame.

In the bottom of the seventh with runners at the corners, Tanner Gove ripped a line drive to push Donnie Simms across home plate as the All-Stars snagged the 5-4 win.

The last time a Montana team made it to the 13-year-old World Series was in 1983.

“These boys are good,” said All-Stars coach Mike McPhee, who has coached some of the players since they were nine. “They deserve this — Montana deserves this.”

Simms started on the mound in the championship game, with relievers Coby Clark-Dickenson and Lee Walburn securing the win. The team is stacked with sluggers up and down the lineup.

“We’re very solid one through nine,” McPhee said. “We have some hard power hitters.”

The All-Stars advanced to the championship game by defeating Longview, Wash., 8-4 in the semifinals.

“Nobody hit their pitchers like we did,” McPhee said.

The All-Stars went 3-1 in pool play to earn the No. 1 seed. The have two weeks to prepare for the World Series in Glen Allen, Va. McPhee said they’ll prepare as if it were any other tournament.

The World Series runs Aug. 16-23, with the All-Stars opening pool play Aug. 17 against the Virginia state champions. They play the Pacific Southwest champs Aug. 18 and the New England champs Aug. 20.

The team needs to raise about $30,000 to fund the trip. To donate, contact McPhee at 309-1891. Several businesses from both communities have already pleadged thousands in donations to help.