LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — The AA Legion State Tournament in Lethbridge handed Billings a pair of headlines Monday. One came from a familiar face in a Scarlets uniform; the other was a late, dramatic swing that saved a tournament run elsewhere in the bracket and reshuffled the afternoon slate.
Ballard’s two‑way day lifts Scarlets
The afternoon opened with an elimination game between host Lethbridge (No. 2 seed) and No. 5 Billings Scarlets. Billings never trailed, scoring in six of seven innings and turning a thunderbolt of offense into a workmanlike complete game on the mound.
Scarlets starter Kyren Ballard set the tone with a two‑run home run before he took the hill. Ballard finished 2‑for‑5 at the plate and completed the game in the circle as Billings rode that momentum to a 12‑5 victory over Lethbridge.
Center fielder Oliver Prill chipped in offensively as well, going 2‑for‑5 with 4 RBI. The combination of Ballard’s early slug and steady offense from the lineup left the Elks scrambling to keep pace.
Helena’s late dramatics keep the Senators alive
In the other elimination bracket, the game between the Bozeman Bucks and Helena Senators shaped up as a back‑and‑forth duel until Helena turned it in the final frame. Bozeman pulled ahead twice early and led 8‑4 through six innings.
Helena chipped away. With one out in the seventh, Keaton Troyer and James DeMers delivered one‑out doubles that launched the rally. The inning swelled into a five‑run uprising capped by Grant Bahnmiller, who roped a ball over Bucks center fielder Rolen Quezada to bring home the deciding runs and end the game.
“Finally got my chance to show who I am,” Bahnmiller said. “I think our team has a chance this year, so we got a good team, good squad and we just got to keep it rolling.”
The walk‑off swing completed Helena’s comeback and moved the Senators further into the tournament draw, setting up a high‑stakes meeting with the top seed later in the day.
Missoula remains stingy on the mound
Top‑seeded Missoula continued the other side of the ledger, pitching a shutout for the second time in three days against the Billings Royals. Missoula starter Dawson Rodoni left his start as part of that shutout effort. The Mavericks’ mound work has left opponents with little room to breathe and positioned Missoula as the team to beat.
What’s next for Billings
Results from Monday’s slate set up an all‑Billings afternoon in Lethbridge: the Scarlets will face the Billings Royals in a local clash at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. Later that day, Helena will draw the undefeated, top‑seeded Missoula at 4:00 p.m. Both games carry elimination stakes and local bragging rights.
- Scarlets — Kyren Ballard: two‑run homer, 2‑for‑5, complete game, 12‑5 win over Lethbridge.
- Helena — Five‑run seventh, Grant Bahnmiller walk‑off to advance over Bozeman.
- Missoula — Second shutout in three days; Dawson Rodoni part of the pitching effort.
| Game | Notable |
|---|---|
| Billings Scarlets vs. Lethbridge Elks | Billings won 12‑5; Ballard two‑run HR and complete game |
| Bozeman Bucks vs. Helena Senators | Helena rallied with five in the 7th; Bahnmiller walk‑off |
| Missoula Mavericks vs. Billings Royals | Missoula recorded a shutout (second in three days) |
Billings fans traveling to Lethbridge can expect a busy Tuesday. The Scarlets’ win on Monday put them in the driver’s seat for at least one more local showdown, and Missoula’s pitching surge threatens to make Helena’s upset quest a short one. For now, though, the day belonged to Ballard’s bat and arm — the kind of two‑way performance that headlines tournament reports and leaves opponents staring at both dugouts and scorebooks.
