Rough waters could be ahead for Bandits

 By Mike Brandt • Staff Writer

Belgrade could be in for a rude awakening Wednesday night when the Bandits open their Eastern AA conference schedule at the Bozeman Bucks. The Bandits are fresh off of a pair of wins over Jackson, Wyo. over the weekend. Jackson won the first of three games on Saturday, 6-0, then the Bandits came back to with the night cap 3-2. Sunday the Bandits won a nine inning game 6-4.

“If we play Wednesday night like we played today we’re going to be in trouble,” Bandits manager Brian Ayers said. “What we’ve been all season is going to catch up to us on Wednesday. We have to cut down on our mistakes. They will make us pay for them. I hope I’m wrong.”

The Bandits continue to make mistakes and are lacking discipline through 20 games this season. Ayers noted that they have simply been going through the motions.

“Our offense at the plate is horrible. And our base running is worse than our play at the plate,” said Ayers. “Right now we’re just a team going through the motions. We’re making the same mistakes we made the opening weekend. And that just comes down to a team that lacks discipline and lacks pride. Hopefully our kids will figure it out and they will make the change.”

Sometimes weird things happen in baseball, from balls bouncing off second base to getting lost in the outfield. That was the case Saturday night when the Bandits began the three-game series.

Belgrade came away with a pair of wins on the weekend, but the Giants won the first game Saturday at Edward S. Medina Field.

But the Bandits scored two runs in the first inning of the late game when the Giants’ right fielder, Taylor Richards, lost sight of the ball. That allowed Kole Mickolio to score on CJ Berberet’s base hit to right field.

Berberet advanced to second when Richards lost sight of the ball. Then Andy Freund had a single that turned into a double when the ball hit second base and bounced into the outfield, scoring Berberet for the 2-0 lead.

In the fifth inning Jeff Hoffman attempted a sacrifice bunt, but it turned into a single when the ball bounced over Tim Sheboyer’s head, the Giants’ pitcher. Lane Berberet began the bottom of the inning with a slow roller for an infield hit, then scored on a balk.

“It’s one of those games that the only thing that made sense for us to win was pitching,” said Ayers. “(Kevin) Peters threw well enough to give us a chance. Then (Joel) Barnett came in at the end and threw well. Other than that we really didn’t deserve to win that game.”

Wednesday’s game in Bozeman begins at 7 p.m.



Belgrade 6, Jackson 4

Jackson 100 000 003 - 4 8 2

Belgrade 220 002 00x - 6 7 3

Luke Moulder, Charlie Wild (5), and Mitchell Clarch. Andy Freund, Joel Barnett (6), Keldon Graff (9), and CJ Berberet, CJ Layman (6).

JACKSON - Wild 2-5 (2B), Grant Smith 1-3, Tim Shebuyer 0-2, Garrett Stoker 0-3, Bryan Windle 0-2, Chance Marshall 2-5, Jake Frazer 1-4, Clarch 0-3, Steve Garnich 1-2 (2B), Cam Odonahue 0-2, Moulder 0-0.

BELGRADE (7-13) - Kevin Peters 1-3, Lane Berberet 0-0, Daniel Kristensen 0-2, Kole Mickolio 1-4, CJ Berberet 1-4 (2B), LD Severson 0-0, Freund 1-4, Graff 1-3, Phil Prickett 0-2, Jeff Hoffman 0-0, Barnett 0-1, Brynn Harris 1-2, Layman 1-2, Matt Thibault 0-2.



Belgrade 3, Jackson 2

Jackson 000 020 0 - 2 5 1

Belgrade 200 010 x - 3 6 2

Shebuyer and Wild. Peters, Barnett (5), and Connor Schultz.

JACKSON - Wild 0-2, Smith 1-3, Shebuyer 3-4 (2 2B), Stoker 1-3, Marshall 0-2, Richards 0-3, Windle 0-2, Frazer 0-1, Moulder 0-2, Garnich 0-3.

BELGRADE (6-13) - Hoffman 1-3, Jordan Prester 1-2, Mickolio 0-2, CJ Berberet 1-3, Freund 2-3 (2B), Justin Halvorson 0-3, Schultz 0-3, Severson 0-3, Harris 0-0, Lane Berberet 1-2, Peters 0-0, Barnett 0-0.



Jackson 6, Belgrade 0

Jackson 011 003 1 - 6 11 2

Belgrade 000 000 0 - 0 3 3

Marshall and Wild. Mickolio, Thibault (7), and CJ Berberet.

JACKSON - Wild 0-5, Smith 4-4 (2B), Shebuyer 2-3 (3B), Stoker 0-3, Marshall 0-4, Frazer 3-4 (2B), Clarch 0-4, Odonahue 2-3, Garnich 0-3.

BELGRADE (5-13) - Peters 0-2, Thibault 0-1, Hoffman 0-2, Mickolio 0-2, Lane Berberet 0-0, CJ Berberet 1-3, Freund 1-3 (2B), Barnett 0-2, Graff 0-0, Prickett 0-3, Harris 0-2, Halvorson 0-1, Pat Freund 1-1, Prester 0-1.