Belgrade blasts past Mission Valley at State A Legion

DILLON — Belgrade was too much for Mission Valley Wednesday.

Brayton VanDyken drove in five runs while Max Zimmer added four RBIs and the Bandits defeated the Mariners 17-5 in an opening round game at the State A Legion baseball tournament. 

The Dillon Cubs provided a shocker in the nightcap, knocking off the Bitterroot Red Sox 5-4.  

Also nabbing wins on Wednesday were Miles City — over Havre — and Glendive downing Great Falls. 

Bandits 17, Mariners 5 

The Bandits (34-9) raced out from the start as Andrew Hazen singled in a run to give Belgrade a 1-0 lead in the first inning. 

Next frame got a two-run single from Zimmer before VanDyken sent a three-run blast over the centerfield fence to make it 6-0. 

Liam Jackson put Mission Valley (24-16) on the board in the third with an RBI single, but Belgrade continued to pour it on. 

Trace Thomas brought in another run in the fourth with a double to left, then Zimmer hit an RBI single later in the frame that made it 9-1. 

The Mariners got three back in the fourth on a Caleb Gfroerer two run single to right followed by an error that allowed Gfroerer home. 

Liam Jackson cut the lead to 11-5 in the fifth with an RBI single, but that is all the offense Mission Valley could find. 

VanDyken singled home two more runs in the sixth and Zimmer doubled home a pair in the seventh to cap off the win. 

Paxton DuMont went three innings on the mound for Mission Valley, fanning two. 

Memphis Wagner tossed four frames for Belgrade, striking out 10 and allowing four runs on six hits. 

Belgrade advances to play Miles City Thursday at 2:30, while Mission Valley battles Havre in a loser out game at 9:30 a.m. 

Bandits    153    203    3    -    17    16    1 

Mariners    010    310    0    -    5    9    2

Cody Haggard, Caleb Gfroerer (3), Paxson DuMont (5) and Holden Emerson. Memphis Wagner, Kam Sando (5), Preston Hodges (6) and Andrew Hazen. 

BELGRADE BANDITS — Cade Thomas 0-1, Chance Stephens 1-2, Max Zimmer 3-5, Andrew Hazen 3-5, Brayton VanDyken 2-6, Hudson Trullinger 2-6, Law Preasmyer 2-4, Brentin Allgood 1-4, Mason Zimmer 0-1, Trace Thomas 2-4. 

MISSION VALLEY MARINERS — Cole Wadsworth 0-4, Holden Emerson 1-4, Paxton Dumont 0-3, Cody Haggard 1-3, Hunter Luedtke 2-3, Noah Agliano 2-4, Brayson DuMont 0-4, Liam Jackson 2-4, J Leishman 0-1, C Gfroerer 1-2. 

2B — Allgood, Preasmyer, Zimmer, T.Thomas. Haggard. HR — VanDyken. RBIs — VanDyken 5, Zimmer 4, Hazen 2, T.Thomas, Stephens, Trullinger, Allgood. Jackson 2, Gfroerer 2. 

Cubs 5, Red Sox 4

Trenton Moreni hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the fifth as the Cubs handed Bitterroot just its third loss of the season. 

Three runs came in during the sixth for Dillon (15-19), who received a 5 2-3 innings performance on the mound from Andrew Barthome. He allowed four runs on five hits and fanned seven. 

Sawyer Tackett closed out the final 1 1-3 innings without allowing a hit. 

Jude Widmer hit a three-run triple for the Red Sox (38-3). 

Mavericks 8, North Stars 1

Miles City hit three doubles and exploded for a six-run fourth inning to defeat Havre. 

Bryan Bidwell drove in two runs for the Mavericks (25-33), who scattered 12 hits on the day. Cade Erlenbusch went 3-for-3. 

Connor Essert had the lone RBI for the North Stars (34-17) in the fifth inning. 

Josh Trimble tossed a complete game for the Mavericks, allowing three hits and fanning four batters. 

Blue Devils 13, Chargers 2

Quinn Hoffer went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two doubles as Glendive (28-16) scored 12 runs over the final three innings to defeat Great Falls (19-19). 

Hoffer's first double tied the game at two in the fifth inning and sparked the outburst. His sixth inning double made it 6-2 after bringing in a pair and was the catalyst for a seven-run frame. 

Great Falls capitalized on an error and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. 

Glendive faces off with the Dillon Cubs Thursday 5:30 p.m., while Great Falls plays an elimination game against the Bitterroot Red Sox at noon.