Junior League softballers advance to championship
SLAM DUNK contestant, and Polson resident Deon McLaughlin, former University of Oregon track athlete, slam dunks a basketball in the Flathead Lake 3-on-3 basketball tournament. (Jason Blasco/Lake County Leader)
The Garden City Junior League softball team has thus far swept their competition at the West Regional in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend. Three convincing wins advanced them into the championship to await who will emerge from a clash between Utah and Alaska. Irregardless of which team emerges, the victor will have to prevail over the Missoula-based Garden City squad twice in order to earn the regional title. Local Mission Valley affliations among the team include Josie Caye (Polson), Destiny Manuel (Charlo), Morgan Holmes (2nd generation Ronan grad) and Grace Hardy (2nd generation Charlo grad). Josie Caye of Polson has been especially productive at the plate with nine hits over the course of the three games thus far.
Results from the championship were not available at press time. The winner advances to the Junior League Softball World Series
Junior League Softball West Regional Tournament
July 21-27, 2017
Tucson, AZ
Montana 7, Alaska 0
The Garden City squad put up a big sixth inning to dispatch their northernmost opponent.
Nunaka Valley 000 000 0 – 0 4 4
Missoula (MT) 011 005 x – 7 12 2
Lexie Davis and Chloe White. Shelby Dunwell (9K) and Kenzie Moore, Emily Hermes (7).
GARDEN CITY – Josie Caye 3H(RBI), Morgan Holmes (RBI), Grace Hardy (2qab).
(M24Jul17gm1C)
Montana 15, Northern Cal 2
Garden City ran through their entire lineup in the top of the third during which all four players with Mission Valley area affiliations hit safely.
Missoula 208 05 – 15 18 1
Modoc County 010 01 – 2 7 4
Shelby Dunwell (11K) and Emily Hermes. Lexee Larrinaga (4K) and Alicia Chavez.
GARDEN CITY – Josie Caye 2H(2B,2RBI), Destiny Manuel 3H(2B,2RBI), Grace Hardy 2H, Morgan Holmes 1H(RBI)
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Montana 19, Arizona (host) 0
Missoula 034 1(11) – 19 14 0
Thornydale 000 0( 0 ) – 0 1 4
Shelby Dunwell (9K) and Emily Hermes. Taylor Bourguet, Brooke Galvan (5) and catcher
GARDEN CITY – Josie Caye 4-5(2RBI,2R), Morgan Holmes 1-1(2RBI,3BB,2R), Destiny Manuel 1-3(BB,R), Grace Hardy 1-4(RBI,BB,2R).
(Fr21Jul17gm2A)