Bandits take two from Miles City

 By Mike Brandt • Staff Writer

The Belgrade Bandits earned a sweep Saturday with identical 7-6 victories over Miles City in American Legion baseball action at Edward S. Medina Field. The Mavericks came back to win Sunday’s first game 10-3 before the second game was rained out.

The three-game weekend series was played with wood bats, and Belgrade is the only team in the Eastern AA Conference that has agreed to play the Mavericks with wood bats.

“I found that out the last time we played them in Billings,” Bandits manager Brian Ayers said. “That’s a shame. They have a great program. You hate to see what happened to them. They made a decision in the community to go to wood bats. And with that choice they were banned from the American Legion. I can’t speak for the rest of the teams, but we will play them any time.”

Miles City switched from metal to wooden bats several years ago after a player (a pitcher) was struck in the head by a ball. The player died as a result of the hit, and the Mavericks have used wooden bats ever since.

A good sign over the weekend was that the Bandits have begun to cut down on their errors and did not allow a big inning by the opposition. That was the case in both games Saturday, but Sunday the Bandits briefly reverted back to their old ways after giving up a five-run fifth inning, blowing a 3-0 lead in the process.

Overall, the Bandits had only eight errors on the weekend.

“Our defense was a little cleaner,” said Ayers. “We had our little miscues here and there. Last week we talked about focusing on staying in the game, so late in the game we have a chance to win. Our kids did that. Our kids came through.”

Belgrade had a big inning in the second game Saturday night, plating five runs in the sixth for a 7-2 lead. The defense turned two double plays in game two, one coming in the second inning and the other in the third. Both times the Mavericks had a pair of runners in scoring position.

Belgrade’s pitchers have performed well, including over the weekend, with each starter providing at least five solid innings. “We had quality starts from both starters,” said Ayers. “Any time our starters can give us five innings or more that’s a quality start.”

Kole Mickolio went six and two-thirds innings in the first game, while Kevin Peters worked six innings in the second game. Rookie Keldon Graff picked up the win after taking over for Mickolio and also got the save in the second game.

“He’s (Graff) improving every day,” said Ayers. “He’s getting better and better. It’s nice to know we have him to go to, especially when we get into those nine inning conference games.”

Andy Freund went 3-for-4 from the plate with a double to lead Belgrade in game one. CJ Berberet was 1-for-3 in game two with a double that cleared the bases in the fifth inning.

Mickolio was 2-for-3 on Sunday with a double in a losing effort, while Andy Freund was 1-for-3 with a double.

Belgrade will host Jackson Hole, Wyo. in a non-conference four-game series this weekend. Start time for Saturday is at 5 p.m. and Sunday action begins at 11 a.m.



Miles City 10, Belgrade 3

Miles City 000 052 3 - 10 12 1

Belgrade 021 000 0 - 3 5 2

Seth Crawford, Kacey Tharp (7), and Jimmy Harding. Andy Freund, Justin Halvorson (5), LD Severson (7), and CJ Berberet.

MILES CITY (5-6) - Colton Cornwell 2-4, Tanner Crevier 4-5 (2B), Crawford 2-4, Tharp 0-0, Ryan Harris 1-3, Chris Bogner 0-3, Isiah Bergman 0-3, Jordan Morris 2-4, Harding 0-3, Cody Danielson 1-3 (2B).

BELGRADE (5-12) - Kevin Peters 0-3, Lane Berberet 0-0, Jeff Hoffman 0-3, Kole Mickolio 2-3 (2B), CJ Berberet 1-2 (2B), Joel Barnett 0-3, Freund 1-2 (2B), Matt Thibault 0-1, Phil Prickett 0-1, Halvorson 0-1, Severson 0-0, Bryn Harris 1-2, CJ Layman 0-1, Pat Freund 0-2, Daniel Kristensen 0-1.



Belgrade 7, Miles City 6

Miles City 110 000 4 - 6 6 0

Belgrade 000 025 x - 7 4 3

Nate Dunning, Tharp (5), Harding (6), and Harding, Chance Weight (6). Peters, Halvorson (7), Keldon Graff (7), and CJ Berberet.

MILES CITY (4-6) - Cornwell 1-4, Crevier 1-3, Crawford 1-3, Harris 1-3 (2B), Bogner 0-4, Bergman 1-2, Harding 0-2, Morris 1-4, Dunning 0-2, Tharp 0-1, Weight 0-0.

BELGRADE (5-11) - Peters 0-1, Halvorson 0-0, Graff 0-0, Hoffman 1-2, Thibault 0-0, Mickolio 0-0, CJ Berberet 1-3 (2B), Barnett 1-4, Andy Freund 0-3, Harris 0-3, Pat Freund 0-0, Kristensen 0-1, Prickett 1-2.



Belgrade 7, Miles City 6

Miles City 001 110 3 - 6 7 2

Belgrade 210 001 3 - 7 10 3

Crevier and Crawford. Mickolio, Graff (7), and CJ Berberet.

MILES CITY (4-5) - Cornwell 2-4 (2B), Crevier 1-4, Crawford 1-3, Harris 0-3, Bogner 1-2, Bergman 0-4, Harding 1-1 (2B), Morris 1-3, Dunning 0-4.

BELGRADE (4-11) - Peters 2-4, Hoffman 0-3, Connor Schultz 0-1, Mickolio 2-5 (2B), CJ Berberet 0-3, Barnett 1-3, Andy Freund 3-4 (2B), Prickett 0-2, Graff 0-1, Pat Freund 0-2, Jordan Prester 1-1, Harris 1-2.