Mission Valley held off a late rally, beating Glacier 12-8 to win the Western A District American Legion baseball championship on Saturday at Griffin Field.

The Mariners got off to a hot start, scoring once in the first and four times in the second, plating all five runs with two outs on the board. After flying and grounding out to start the second inning, Mission Valley reached the next six batters safely, batting around in the frame.

The defense was also superb, getting out of a jam in the fourth by turning a triple play. With the bases loaded, Glacier’s Tristin Steinwand hit a liner up the middle that Mariners shortstop Trevor Paro scooped off his shoe tops. Paro stepped on second base to force the second out and threw to first before the Twins could retreat.

That timely hitting and defense is what fed the Mariners throughout the game, and what saved the team during a late rally by Glacier.

With the Mariners leading 10-2 after the fifth inning, the Twins found their rhythm at the plate in the sixth. Glacier scored twice in the frame and reached the first five batters in the seventh, scoring three more. After Colton Gove scored on a throwing error in the eighth, Glacier trailed just 10-8 and was threatening.

“They don’t ever quit,” Glacier coach Bob Rupp said of his team.

“They just kept battling. We had to prove something to ourselves against the Mariners. They’re a good team. And we held with them. We’re comfortable going into the state tournament.”

Mission Valley would answer in the home half of the eighth. T.J. Olson led off with a double and Derek Peel scored him two batters later with a double of his own. Micah McClure knocked in Peel two batters after that, giving the Mariners a four-run cushion with three outs remaining.

McClure shut down the side in the ninth, fielding a grounder from the mound for the last out.

“I thought our two-strike approach all weekend was fabulous and our pitchers were outstanding,” Mission Valley coach Jami Hanson said.

“They threw a lot of strikes and did what they had to do to get the job done.”

Olson was 3 for 5 and Zeke Webster-Yaqui was 3 for 4 from the plate, each with a pair of RBIs to lead the Mariners. Bransen Krebs got the win on the mound.

Glacier’s Dakota Bridwell completed his fantastic day at the plate going 2 for 5 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Colten Parker and AJ Wetsch each went 2 for 4.

Both teams will play in the state championship beginning Tuesday in Lewistown.

“We’re peaking but we’re not there yet,” Webster-Yaqui said.

Glacier 010 012 310 — 8 9 4

Mission Valley 142 030 02x — 12 15 4

Tyler Murphy, Vinny Smith (3), Chris Joy (7), Colten Parker (8) and Dakota Bridwell. Bransen Krebs, Micah McClure (7) and Alex Killian. W- Krebs. L- Murphy.

GLACIER — Colton Gove 1-4, Jayce Fagerland 0-4, Colten Parker 2-4, Jesse Walburn 0-5, Kyler Howke 1-3, Tristin Steinwand 1-4, Dakota Bridwell 2-5, AJ Wetsch 2-4, Tyler Murphy 0-1, Vinny Smith 0-2.

MISSION VALLEY — Ryan Pablo 1-5, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 3-4, Alex Killian 1-5, TJ Olson 3-5, Bradley Pichler 1-5, Derek Peel 1-4, Bransen Krebs 1-1, Jacob Harrod 0-3, Micah McClure 3-5, Trevor Paro 1-3.

2B—Gove, Steinwand, Bridwell; Olson 2, Krebs, Paro, Webster-Yaqui, Peel, Pichler. 3B—Bridwell. RBIs—Parker, Walburn, Howke, Steinwand, Bridwell, Wetsch 2; Pablo, Webster-Yaqui 2, Killian 2, Olson 2, Krebs, McClure, Paro 2.

Consolation final

Twins 8, Bucs 1

Dakota Bridwell was 3 for 5 from the plate with a pair of RBIs, helping the Twins advance to the championship game and secure a spot at the state tournament.

Glacier scored twice in the third inning, all the runs it would need behind a solid pitching outing from Jonny Sapa. Sapa allowed one run in eight innings, striking out three batters.

Bitterroot 000 000 010 — 1 8 5

Glacier 002 101 301 — 8 11 1

Change Sage, Noah Baney (7) and Kadin Beller. Jonny Sapa, Colten Parker (9) and Dakota Bridwell.

BITTERROOT — Dylan Reed 1-5, Logan Lueck 1-5, Bo Zeiler 1-4, Kadin Beller 2-3, Rees LaSoine 1-4, Brad Schaff 0-3, Noah Baney 0-4, Jade Chimo 1-4, Shane Thorson 1-3.

GLACIER — Colton Gove 2-4, Jayce Fagerland 1-5, Colten Parker 0-5, Vinny Smith 1-4, Kyler Howke 1-4, Tristin Steinwand 1-4, Jesse Walburn 0-5, Dakota Bridwell 3-5, Austin Robins 2-3.

2B—Reed, Beller; Gove, Bridwell, Smith. 3B—Howke. RBIs—Gove 3, Howke, Walburn, Bridwell 2, Robins.