Briefs: Hellgate football, AA Legion baseball
Reports: Hellgate will play JV football this fall
Missoula Hellgate will not field a varsity football team this fall, according to published reports.
The Knights of new coach Mick Morris, who was hired in June after leading Conrad’s football and girls’ softball teams to considerable success, hope to field a varsity team in 2017, the Missoulian reported.
"There is a small chance that could change, but right now we're pushing forward with the idea that we're going to play a sub-varsity schedule," Morris told the Missoulian.
Hellgate forfeited two games last fall because of a diminished roster. The team finished 0-10 and currently has a 33-game losing streak. The Knights were not scheduled to play either Great Falls High or C.M. Russell High this fall.
Four Voyagers named to Pioneer All-Star team
Outfielder Aaron Schnurbusch, third baseman Brady Conlan, and pitchers Aron McRee and Jake Elliott have been named to the Pioneer League All-Star team, it was announced recently.
The Pioneer All-Stars will meet a team of stars representing the Northwest League on Tuesday at Lindquist Field in Ogden, Utah.
Schnurbusch was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 28th round in 2016 out of the University of Pittsburgh. He in hitting with a .395 average.
Conlan, a 24th-round pick in 2016 out of Cal State-Dominguez Hills, is batting .308 with 10 doubles, four homers and 22 RBIs. He had a 19-game hitting streak earlier this season.
McRee signed with the Chisox as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Montevallo and is 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA. Elliott, a 15th-round pick this June out of the University of Oklahoma, is 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA.
The Voyagers open the second half of the Pioneer League scheduled Friday night in Billings.
State Fair Race Meet continues Saturday
The State Fair Race Meet continues Saturday with 12 horses races slated at Montana ExpoPark.
Post time is 1 p.m.
The meet began last weekend, and back-to-back crowds of about 2,000 wagered a collective $215,000. Entry to the horse races this weekend is free once fans have paid their admission to the State Fair.
The race meet concludes Sunday afternoon, with post time again at 1 p.m.
Royals, Senators stay alive at State AA
MISSOULA – Payton Pappas drove in three runs with a pair of hits and Koby Griffin scattered six hits to lead the Helena Senators past Bozeman 7-2 in loser-out action at the State AA Legion Tournament at Lindborg-Cregg Field.
After tallying a single run in the fourth, the Senators exploded for five in the fifth. Danny Burton also had two hits and drove two runs across.
Also, the Billings Royals eliminated Medicine Hat 3-1, as Cameron Maciel gave up a run on five hits in eight innings. Morgan Dugi and Jaret Leinwand each went 2-for-5 for the Royals.
Thursday’s late games had the Billings Scarlets over Lethbridge 6-1 while Missoula unloaded on Kalispell 12-2. The Scarlets and Mavs will face each other in the undefeated semifinal Friday at 7.