State AA softball and the 2-day tournament question
The State AA softball tournament in Great Falls chopped off a day from its traditional three-day format and wrapped up on Friday in an experimental schedule change for 2014.
The MHSA shortened the length of the eight-team tournament to see if 15 games of softball could squeeze into two days without any trouble, said Mark Beckman, executive director of the Montana High Schools Association. ASA tournaments do it all the time, he pointed out.
But should Montana’s state tournaments?
Brie Clifford's 440 pitches to victory
How many pitches is too many for a high schooler?
Well in baseball the un-written rule is 100. Much higher than that and the performance can attract some negative attention and criticism.
For softball players, though, pitch counts aren’t nearly as enforced because of the much less strain placed on the arm during an underhand toss.
That’s lucky for the Hamilton Broncs and senior hurler Brie Clifford.
Montana's 2014 state softball brackets set
With the conclusion of Saturday’s championships in the Southwestern and Central A’s and Western B-C divisional softball tournaments, the state tournament brackets for Montana’s three high school sports classifications for spring 2014 are set.
Here are the first-round pairings for each, with tournament play beginning next Thursday in Great Falls and Polson:
Makena Morley gets creative to fund trip to track nationals
Ever wanted an autographed photo of one of Montana’s all-time record-breaking prep runners?
Now’s your chance.
Bigfork High School junior and State B champion of champions Makena Morley is raising money through technology and grass roots to help her reach the New Balance Outdoor High School Track & Field Nationals meet in Greensboro, North Carolina in mid June. And any donors of $25 or more through the fundraising website IndieGoGo.com receive a Morley original complete with signature.
With Wayne Tinkle headed to Oregon St, what's next for Tres?
By this point everybody has heard the news of Montana men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle’s recent hire by Oregon State.
Tinkle takes a winning history to a Beavers program hoping to do much more of that in the not-so distant future. But will he also take his son, current Missoula Hellgate junior and big-time prospect Tres, with him?
Great Falls teams show AA softball power still in East
Great Falls High and Great Falls CMR were part of the East-West Class AA softball exchange that blew through Missoula on Friday. Each stopped off at the respective Garden City schools for one matchup each in a tripleheader.
And boy did things go well for the Bison and Rustlers.
The Great Falls schools swept all three and again look like the favorites for the State AA title coming up in two weeks with the tournament held in, of course, Great Falls of all places.
Hellgate's Herrick making up for lost time to injury
Missoula Hellgate senior Chris Herrick took his lead, a few stride’s worth already, before the group of runners had even exited the first turn in the 1,600-meter run Thursday at Missoula’s Greg Rice track and field city meet. Four minutes and change later, he finish a full 100 meters ahead of the nearest competitor.
It’s safe to say the University of Colorado-bound distance runner is experiencing no ill effects from the injury that took away the most meaningful section of his final high school cross country season.
This Knight is all healed up and hoping to make up for lost time.
Qualifying standards and how to reach state track meets
The Montana state track meets are only three weeks away, so let’s refresh our memories on how those top athletes find their ways to the entrants table.
Along with qualifying through divisional meets pre-state, athletes from Class AA and A can book their trip by hitting certain qualifying standards at a regular season meet or even at their respective divisional.
Here’s a look at the qualifying standards per MHSA.com: