BILLINGS – Under normal circumstances, Kyler Northrop would have attended freshman orientation at Washington State University, preparing for his start as a student-athlete in the Cougars baseball program.
But these are not normal circumstances. Neither for the Scarlets nor for the American Legion baseball team in Montana.
RELATED: Class A American Legion Baseball Northwest Regional Results and Fixtures
Northrop and the Scarlets ended the state’s 62-year drought by defeating Eugene, Oregon, twice on Sunday at Dehler Park to win the Class AA Northwest Regional championship and earn a spot in the Legion World Series later this week in Shelby, North Carolina.
PHOTOS: Billings Scarlets celebrate participation in the American Legion World Series
They did this by winning five consecutive elimination matches in four days after losing zero in the tournament’s opening match on Wednesday.
Greg Rachac / MTN Sports
“If you had told me after the first game that this was going to happen, I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” Northrop, the Scarlets’ standout shortstop, said afterward. “But I think the thought that stuck with us the rest of the week was that this might be the last time we wear this jersey and the last time we play with this group.”
“And I think we all just had the mindset that we were going to go out there, have fun, play loose and just enjoy those last moments. That really got us going and we just carried the momentum the whole time.”
Greg Rachac / MTN Sports
The last Montana Legion team to win the Region 7 title and go to the World Series was Post #4 of Billings in 1962. This was the program’s last of four trips to national championships beginning in 1958. Post #4 lost in the championship game of the Series in 1960.
But now the Scarlets can be said to have ended the drought after beating Eugene 5-4 in nine innings in Sunday’s early game and then winning the tournament title with a 7-0 clean sheet in the second game.
Starting Thursday, they will represent Montana on the Legion’s biggest stage at Keeter Stadium in Shelby.
For Adam Hust – head coach of the Scarlets for 18 seasons and a member of the program for 27 seasons – Sunday’s regional championship was an emotional step up the ladder of all the years he has spent coaching and developing players from this special group.
“When we got that (regional) offer, you know, many months ago, I had a feeling something big was going to happen,” Hust said. “I’ve known these guys, some of them, since they were 8, 9 years old. And now that they’re 17, 18, 19, I knew it was coming and I had a great feeling.”
Greg Rachac / MTN Sports
“But it’s a tough game. It’s a tough game and thankfully we played better than anyone this weekend. We’re going to soak it up, we’re going to enjoy every single second of it. My goodness, I can’t wait. I can’t wait.”
When Hust says his team played its best game of the tournament, it’s no exaggeration. The Scarlets may have lost their first game – a 1-0 loss to Fort Collins, Colorado – but they were rock solid throughout, especially on the field.
Defensively, the Scarlets didn’t make a single error in six games and 44 innings. Their team ERA was a meager 1.64. Jakob Wilcox was particularly outstanding on Sunday, throwing a total of 7 2/3 shutout innings in both games.
Third baseman Nate McDonald was named tournament MVP after posting a batting average above .400, but he wasn’t alone. On Sunday, timely hits from Cody Collis, Nolan Berkram, Chase Wise and Wilcox proved crucial in key moments.
“I’m so happy for these kids,” Hust said. “I’m just thrilled. It’s all about them. It’s always been about them and all the guys that have played in this program. Everyone has been a part of it. This is absolutely incredible.”
Northrop, meanwhile, was grateful to have Washington state’s blessing to participate in the regional tournament. Now, with the Legion World Series about to start on Thursday, Northrop is looking forward to another conversation with his people in the Palouse.
“I have to call them and tell them I’m gone for another week,” he said with a laugh. “But my attitude all week has been that every win is another day I don’t have to do my own laundry.”
2024 Class AA Northwest Regional Tournament
at Pirtz Field and Dehler Park, Billings
Wednesday, August 7
Game 1: Eugene, Oregon, 3, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 2
Game 2: Anchorage, Alaska, 8, Pocatello, Idaho, 5
Game 3: Bellevue, Washington 3, Missoula 0
Game 4: Fort Collins, Colo. 1, Billings Scarlets 0
Thursday, August 8
Game 5: Cheyenne, Wyoming, 8, Missoula 2, losers out
Game 6: Billings Scarlets 8, Pocatello, Idaho, 0, Loser eliminated
Game 7: Eugene, Oregon, 9, Bellevue, Washington, 4, second round
Game 8: Anchorage, Alaska, 6, Fort Collins, Colorado, 3, second round
Friday, August 9
Game 9: Billings Scarlets 7, Bellevue, Washington, 2, Losers eliminated
Game 10: Fort Collins, Colorado, 8, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 5, Loser eliminated
Game 11: Eugene, Oregon, 17, Anchorage, Alaska, 7, undefeated semifinal
Saturday, August 10
Game 12: Billings Scarlets 12, Anchorage, Alaska, 1, Loser eliminated
Game 13: Eugene, Oregon, 2, Fort Collins, Colorado, 1 (8 innings), loser eliminated
Sunday, August 11
Game 14: Billings Scarlets 5, Eugene, Oregon, 4 (9 innings), first championship
Game 15: Billings Scarlets 7, Eugene, Oregon, 0, second championship
