Babe Ruth All-Star teams ready for action

Havre's Tyrell Pierce throws a pitch during the Havre Youth Baseball Association Babe Ruth city tournament last month at Legion Field. Pierce is part of the 2011 Havre 14-15 year-old all-star team which will be competing in a district tournament this weekend in Helena. Havre has a pair of Babe Ruth all-star teams this summer. The 13-year-old all-star team heads to the state tournament next week in Columbia Falls.

The Havre Youth Baseball Association seasons have come to an end, but the best of the best have come together to form two local Babe Ruth all-star teams. One team consists of some of the best 13-year-old baseball players, while the other was formed by a solid group of 14 and 15 year olds.

Doug Denny is the head coach of the 13-year-old team, which is made up of Dylan Carpenter, Jake Sedahl, Isaac Warp, Jerod Boles, Dane Warp, TC Fleshe, Parker Filius, Jake Norby, Jeff Miller, Charlie Christianson, Mike Stump and Ian Mcintosh. Scott Norby will also take on coaching duties.

And making up the 14 and 15 year old team will be Nick Rhines, Ryne Antley, Kyle Gooch, Travis Roth, Ned Malone, Tyrell Pierce, Deion Hammett, Gavin Gunderson, Jake Williams, Dane Linquist and Jase Kato. Coaching the all-stars will be Matt Jensen, Cam Schilling and Randy Granner.

The 14-15 team is very young and inexperienced this season. Eight of the 11 players are only 14, and this is their first year even playing in a state tournament. The three returning individuals include Rhines, Malone and Lindquist. Malone will really step up as a leader having been a standout player all season in the infield and wielding a very consistent bat as well.

Antley will also be a key component as the catcher, while Pierce and Lindquist should shine on the mound. Gunderson, Roth and Hammett also add much needed depth, coming west to join the team from Chinook.

But before this young team can make an appearance at the state tournament, they have to make it through a tough field in the district tournament in Helena this Friday-Sunday. On Friday Havre will face North Bitterroot Valley, while on Saturday Havre will face Northern and on Sunday Havre will face Helena.

The top three teams from districts will move on to the state tournament in Miles City on July 21.

It's a different story for the 13-year-old all-stars. Denny's team is made up of a group that has mostly played together already, with the majority of the team returning from playing in regionals together last year.

Carpenter should be a definite key on the mound, and Warp should be as well. And Miller has been leader from the shortstop position, while Boles has been nothing short of strong at second base. Warp has also been strong at first base when not pitching, while Filius has been solid at third base.

Christianson has also been an anchor in the outfield as the centerfielder, while Mcintosh and Norby were welcomed talent from Chinook. Micintosh should be a major contributor from the catcher position, while Norby can play a role in the outfield. Christenson will also be key on offense, as he is coming off a good season swinging the bat.

Overall, the entire 13-year-old team has swung the bats well this season, but it is going to take solid defense if they hope to compete. The state tournament already has two favorites in the Glacier and Kalispell squads, and Havre will be tested early as they face Glacier in first round action.

The 13-year-old Babe Ruth state tournament gets underway on July 20 in Columbia Falls.