Valley Babe Ruth All-Stars miss state

POLSON — Despite being the No. 1 seed out of pool play, Mission Valley didn’t qualify for the state tournament.

The Mariners lost 11-6 to Glacier on Sunday in the District 1 Tournament.

Mission Valley went 2-1 in pool play, beating Kootenai Valley 15-5 and Kalispell 11-4.

The team’s only loss in pool play was a 12-2 game against Glacier, which scored nine runs in the first inning. The Mariners had clinched the top seed and Glacier was declared the fourth seed before the last game of pool played even started.

Coach Bob Gauthier said the game was a “throw-away” game.

“We looked at some pitchers that needed some more time and they fought through it,” he said. “Our second pitcher pitched a spark game. From the time he came in, we would have won 6-2.”

This meant Mission Valley and Glacier would meet Sunday morning in the first round of the single-elimination portion of the tournament. The winner would qualify for state and go onto the championship while the loser would go home. 

Mission Valley opened the scoring when Robbie Gauthier hit a solo home run. In the fourth, Glacier pulled ahead after two doubles in a row contributed to a four-run inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Gauthier hit his second home run of the night, this time a two-run shot to center field but the Mariners were unable to score any more runs, leaving the score at 11-6.

Coach Gauthier said Glacier was just a better team that game.

“They hit the ball,” he said. “They had one or two errors, we had six or eight. In a championship baseball match, you can’t do that. So, the kids had their own destiny and Glacier earned it.”

Up until the games against Glacier, the Mariners outscored their opponents 26-9.

“That’s the other thing. You have to hit up and down the order at this point in the tournament,” Gauthier said. “You don’t hit the ball, you don’t win games.”

In one of the toughest Districts, the format still leaves something left to be desired.

 “With this format, pool play format, all you have to do is win one game to go to state,” he said.

The only win Glacier had was against Mission Valley on Saturday night but the Mariners knew they had clinched the top seed.

“They only have to win one, rather than a double-elimination tournament,” Gauthier said. “I’m going to make a strong argument. I’m not going to make excuses, but I don’t like the format.”

The dislike won’t let Gauthier diminish the season this team had. The team won a tournament in Helena last weekend, overcoming a five-run deficit against Glacier.

“They’re learning,” Gauthier said. “That’s what it’s all about; their friendships and the memories they have, the good and the bad. Part of baseball is learning about disappointment and how to deal with it.”

Many of the players could have played Legion baseball this year but wanted to bring a championship to Mission Valley, especially after losing in the state championship last year to Glendive.

One positive influence over the team was volunteer coach Michael Graham, who gave five or six nights every week to the team he doesn’t have a player on.

“He taught a lot of things to the players that they wouldn’t have learned had they not been on this team,” Gauthier said. “We are so grateful Coach Graham volunteered his time. He was a positive influence and I can’t say enough about what he did for our team. They basically gave up five or six nights this summer. Not a kid on the team, his kids are little. Just a great guy, great coach. He taught a lot of things to the players that they wouldn’t have learned had they not been on this team.”