Bandits’ road games to be broadcast this season

 By Mike Brandt • Staff Writer

Belgrade Bandits’ baseball fans will be able to follow the team throughout American Legion season this summer without leaving home. Fans will get the chance to hear play-by-play whenever Belgrade hits the road this summer.

Chet Layman, who’s son plays for the Bandits, will be calling about 17 games – primarily conference road games. The games will be broadcast by the Reier Broadcasting Company, KBOZ 1230 on your radio dial.

The first broadcast will be May 23 when the Bandits visit the Bozeman Bucks for a 7 p.m. league battle.

Another new addition this season is a batting cage adjacent to Edward S. Medina Field. The building will be shared by Belgrade’s Babe Ruth program and the Bandits. Kenyon Noble, JTL, MVP Concrete and countless other businesses donated materials to build the structure.

The building, which will be functional year round, is still under construction, however. Schultz said there’s still some concrete work and insulation that needs to be installed.

The Bandits’ clubhouse, which has been slowly pieced together over the past two years, is nearly complete as well.

Donations and fundraising have paid for much of the new additions.

“We just want the people in the community to know that we’re always out there fundraising,” said parent/scorekeeper Marty Schultz. “We just want them to understand where the money is going.”

The Bandits will have several fundraisers this summer including a full service car wash on June 2. The players will then bag groceries at Lee & Dad’s IGA on June 9 and hold their Dinner on the Diamond that evening as well.

The Bandits will also be selling raffle tickets for a buffalo hunt, which will be drawn for during the annual Belgrade Bandits Firecracker Tournament on July 6-8.