Belgrade Bandits 2024 - Belgrade News

BANDITS Belgrade 2024 SEASON PROGRAM

BELGRADE BASEBALL AND

LEGION

SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1889

True to our r oots, Kenyon Noble s trives to be a pillar of suppor t in our local communities. Our company is a pr oud suppor ter of all our local spor ts teams. We love to see our youth gr ow up thr ough the many local pr ogr ams, where they learn spor tsmanship, per sever ance, and all the skills they will need to face any c hallenge and hit their home run in life!

special keepsake program of the Belgrade Bandits American Legion Baseball Team is brought to you by the Belgrade News. Be sure to visit our local businesses who support our community and our team.

BELGRADE’S VERY OWN FIELD OF DREAMS...

With a dream in mind, hard work and incredible community support, Belgrade built its own field of dreams in the form of Medina Field that opened for play in the Spring of 1994. I’ve spoken to volunteers who drew up the plans, who gave their time, money, and a lot of elbow-grease to make the home of the Belgrade Bandits a reality. Building this field and establishing an American Legion Baseball program was a huge undertaking and generations of Belgrade players owe those first organizers a great amount of gratitude for allowing them to live out their dreams of playing baseball for their hometown throughout their high school years.

Over the past 30 years, a whole lot more community support, volunteer efforts, blood, sweat and duct-tape have kept Medina in working order to support Bandit season after Bandit season. The park still has the best view around, but no one would argue that Medina isn’t showing its age. The park needs constant repair, the seating is often busting

at the seams and the locker room, and office facilities are in a major need of upgrade. With the addition of High School Baseball in Belgrade, and the Panther baseball team playing their spring season at our facility, now is the time to begin upgrading the field and complex.

Our Belgrade Bandits organization has begun the process of kicking off a major field and facilities upgrade campaign. You can see our vision for Belgrade’s updated field of dreams in the concept drawings in this program. From start to finish, this will not be an easy process, nor will it be inexpensive. The results will be an incredible facility that will serve baseball in Belgrade for many, many years to come. And yes, it will still have best view of any baseball park in America.

Our field and facilities Capital Campaign is a restricted fund reserved for this initiative without an administrative fee being charged by Belgrade Baseball, Inc or funds being used

100% of donations to the campaign will result in investments in the Bandit facility in Belgrade.

Belgrade Baseball, Inc. is a 501c3, deductible.

To find out how you can help make this vision come true, scan this QR code.

Belgrade defeated Laurel, 4-2, in the Montana-Alberta Class A State Tournament championship game Sunday at Thompson Park in Laurel. It’s the program’s first-ever state title.

A LOOK BACK 2023

THIRD

TIME’S A CHARM FOR BANDITS

Belgrade rallies past Laurel to win first-ever state championship

Dan Chesnet Sports Editor

Editor’s note: This story appeared in the Belgrade News on Aug. 3, 2023.

LAUREL — After Cameron Ueland fielded a routine ground ball at short and threw to Wyatt Russell at second for a fielder’s choice to end the game Sunday, the long-awaited celebration began.

The Belgrade Bandits won their first-ever state championship, rallying from a two-run deficit to defeat Laurel, 4-2, at Thompson Park. It was the third time in program history the Bandits had reached the title game, but the first time players finally tasted victory.

“It’s huge, it’s the first in program history, so it’s

a crazy to be a part of,” senior Collin Delph, who picked up the win on the mound, said. “I mean senior year, last year out here, so crazy. Great group of guys, love all of them and just fun to make history, great moment.”

Delph threw a complete game 3-hitter and accepted the championship plaque during the awards ceremony. A short time later it was announced he had been named the tournament’s most valuable player after posting a pair of wins on the mound during the five-day event and allowing just seven hits in 13 innings of action.

Belgrade finished 4-1 during the tournament, including a 10-4 win against the Billings Blue Jays in Friday’s undefeated semifinal that clinched the

team’s berth in the championship game. While the Bandits lost a meaningless game to Glacier on Saturday, Delph knew the team would bounce back Sunday.

“Even after the loss last night I don’t think anyone had a doubt in their mind that we weren’t going to come out here and play the game like we should,” he said.

Belgrade’s players celebrate Sunday after defeating Laurel in the championship game of the Montana-Alberta Class A State Tournament.

Prior to Delph being announced as MVP, center fielder Aidan Kulbeck was named the tournament’s batting champion. He batted .429 with nine RBI’s during the weekend, including a grand slam in the team’s tournament-opening victory against Mission Valley.

“It feels amazing. I’ve never felt this in my life,” Kulbeck said of winning state. “We came close a couple times, took third a lot, but this team was different. Me and four other super seniors, we came back knowing that this was the team, and this team was special.”

The Bandits came up one victory shy of playing in the state championship game year ago after being knocked out of the tournament by the Billings Cardinals. Kulbeck and his fellow seniors — Cale Livergood, Gavin Waters, and Russell — quickly decided after that loss they’d return as super seniors.

“We lost a tough game at state last year and immediately all the super seniors came together and we knew that the team next year was going to be extra special,” Kulbeck explained. “We all put a pact that we were coming back and we were going to get it done next year.”

Sunday’s victory didn’t come easy, however.

After the Dodgers beat Glacier 3-2 in the consolation game, they nearly rode the arm of Beau Mares to the title.

Mares kept the Bandits off balance for much of the game, allowing just three hits before being relieved in the sixth, and Belgrade trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth. Laurel scored a run in the third on a sacrifice fly and then another in the fifth on a throwing error by third baseman Josh Arrants on what should have been a routine ground out.

Jace Buchanan had reached base on a two-out single and then scored from first when Arrants threw low to first on a ground ball by Reece Dolechek. But Arrants redeemed himself in the bottom half of the frame.

After Ryas Olson reached base on an error and then Keenan Kraft was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on base, Arrants singled to left drive them in after they had advanced on a double steal.

“Josh didn’t come through with the play in the field,” said Delph. “I told him he’s going to have an at-bat and he came through and made a huge hit for the team and scored two runs. From there it just steamrolled and kept the momentum for the rest of the game.”

Belgrade loaded the bases in the sixth and took the lead, 3-2, when Gavin Waters scored on a squeeze bunt from third with Olson at the plate. Then Kraft flew out to center on the next at-bat and Brayton VanDyken scored from third to make it a two-run game.

Although the Bandits struggled to get a run across the plate early, Delph had no doubt the team would come through in the end.

“I feel like everyone says it, Belgrade never quits, they’ve always got fight,” he said. “Coaches notice it, other teams notice it, fans notice it.”

Second-year Bandits manager Ryan Johnerson noted the significance of what his players had just accomplished.

“No one can ever take away a state championship,” he said. “They can put it on their resume the rest of their lives. We talk about it all the time, but until you get it and obtain — they don’t realize yet how important it is to say, ‘Hey, future boss, I was on a state championship team.’”

Belgrade advances the to the Northwest Class A Regional Tournament for the first time, which begins Wednesday in Havre. Johnerson said team would have a light practice Monday, work on a few things, and then approach the tournament like any other.

“To us it will be just another tournament,” he said. “Game 1’s important, you got to win it, like, there’s a systematic way we approach tournaments and I don’t think it’s going to change.”

Belgrade capped its historic season the following week, finishing with a 1-2 record at the Northwest Class A Regional Tournament in Havre.

Despite a tough finish it was a memorable season for the Bandits, who finished with a 33-12

Belgrade third baseman Josh Arrants throws the ball to first for a putout Sunday against Laurel during the championship game of the Montana-Alberta Class A State Tournament.

record, won the program’s firstever state title and advanced to the regional tournament for the first time.

“It’s our goal every year to be state champs and I know in the past we never have been, but I really feel, obviously, that there’s been a mindset change and the kids accomplished something that has never been done,” said Johnerson. “It propelled us into the regional tournament and even though we went 1-2 they know that they can compete at this level. For the younger guys to get some experience, their growing pains might be difficult in the moment, but I know they’re going to look back and see how much they did grow and it’s just going to make them better baseball players.”

Senior Collin Delph holds up championship plaque after Belgrade defeated Laurel, 4-2, Sunday at the Montana-Alberta Class A State Tournament.

Belgrade’s Gavin Waters dives back to the bag as the ball gets away from Laurel first baseman Landen Bauer on a pickoff attempt Sunday during the championship game of the Montana-Alberta Class A State Tournament. Waters advanced to second on the error.

Student athletes compete with pride in their hometown and state. We share the same pride, because our promise is simple: only local, only Montana. Discover the difference of M ontana’s Brand of Banking

Purpose and Scope of American Legion Baseball

1. To inculcate in youth a better understanding of the American way of life and to promote the principles of 100 percent Americanism.

2. To instill in the nation’s youth a sincere desire to develop within themselves a feeling of citizenship, sportsmanship, loyalty and team spirit.

3. To aid in the improvement and development of the physical fitness of our country’s youth.

4. To build for the nation’s future through our youth.

Coach Ryan Johnerson

American Legion Baseball Code of Sportsmanship

I Will:

• Keep the rules

• Keep faith with my teammates

• Keep my temper

• Keep myself fit

• Keep a stout heart in defeat

• Keep my pride under in victory

• Keep a sound soul, a clean mind, and a healthy body

Brayton VanDyken

BANDITS TEAM

GAGE BANKS

JOSH ARRANTS

CALVIN COUNTS

KEEGAN COOK

TREY BONELLO

GIBSON DAOUGHERTY

TRENT NEILL

CHASE KINNAMAN

LAWSEN PREASMYER

ANDREW HAZEN

RYAS OLSON

SAWYER OLSON

MAX DUNNING

KEENAN KRAFT AVERY PENA

MASON ZIMMER

HUDSON TRULLINGER

CADE THOMAS

GARRY WELLS

CHANCE STEPHENS

BRAYTON VANDYKEN

BRADLEY WELCH III

EYYN SHUMWAY

TYLER RITTER

Not Pictured: Justin Garcia, Memphis Wagner and Logan Zwagerman

Know when and where to go when you need care.

PRIMARY CARE

Your first stop should always be your primary care provider. If your provider is unable to see you, they will help guide you when and where to go to get the care you need.

B2 CARES

Life is unpredictable. When you are unable to be seen by your primary care provider, or if you don't have a primary care provider, see one of our B2 Care locations.

EMERGENCY CARE

For any injuries or illnesses that are serious or life threatening, head straight to the emergency room.

Open 24/7, 365 days a year.

2024 A TEAM SCHEDULE

BELGRADE BANDITS - Post 30 Baseball

2024 B TEAM SCHEDULE

BELGRADE BANDITS - Post 30 Baseball

Manager RYAN JOHNERSON

Coach Johnerson grew up in Bozeman and played multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. In football Ryan was an All-State wide-receiver. He played American Legion Baseball for the Bucks from ‘91 to ‘95. Ryan went on to play for Trinidad State Junior College, being a part o( two Region IX titles. There he earned Academic All-American status and the Elite Academic All-American honor as a student athlete. From there, he went on to play at the University of Utah, where he earned his BS. In 1999, Ryan was a finalist for WAC Player o( the Year. In June o( the same year,

Ryan signed with the Cincinnati Reds Organization. He also had a stint in the Seattle Mariners Scout League in Southern California. Ryan has played and coached internationally, throughout Central America, on two different occasions. He also coached collegiality in Texas at Midland Community College and has enjoyed many years coaching at the American Legion level in Montana.

Ryan is married to Julia Johnerson and has three kids, Autumn, Brayden and Chaya.

Head Coach DAVE EVANS

Coach Evans grew up in Japan, Hawaii, and Las Vegas playing baseball and soccer. The son of an Airforce Colonel, Dave was a 4 year letterman for his high school baseball teams in Hawaii a nd Las Vegas. He was awarded a full athletic scholarship and played college baseball at Cochise Junior College in Arizona where he was a sophomore all-star centerfielder. Dave has coached legion baseball for 5 years now, including 3 years with the Bitterroot Red Sox a nd l year at Centennial High School in Las Vegas.

Shortty after 9/11/2001 Dave enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Scout where he deployed to Iraq for Ope ration Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Dave is married to MSU Assistant Professor Dr. Alyssa Evans and now resides in Bozeman, MT.

RYAN JOHNERSON

DAVE EVANS

Assistant Coach TRISTEN DELANEY

Coach Delaney grew up in New Jersey, playing baseball al Saint John Vianney High School. Tristen is the treasurer for the Montana State Club Baseball team where he pitches and plays 3rd base. Tristen will graduate in the Spring of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in History.

Assistant Coach

ERIC KINNAMAN

Coach Eric is formally from Sutherland, Nebraska. He moved lo Montana in 1996 to play football al Montana Stale University. Upon graduation he look a job with the Belgrade School District as an Industrial Education Teacher and Assistant Football Coach. He continues lo leach Welding and Woodworking al Belgrade High School, but retired from coaching football in 2021 after spending 6 years as an assistant from 2001-2006 and 15 years as the head coach from 2007-2021.

Eric played American Legion baseball in North Platte, Nebraska and had the opportunity lo play baseball in college but ultimately chose lo play football for Montana State. He has been involved with many different avenues of coaching that include High School Football, American Legion Baseball, High School Track and Field, and Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth baseball.

Eric is married to Tanya Kinnaman and they have 2 boys, Dyson and Chase.

TRISTEN DELANEY

ERIC KINNAMAN

Assistant Coach HUNTER TRIPPLE

Coach Tripple grew up near Seattle, Washington playing football, basketball, and baseball. Dedicated to the baseball, he pitched and played corner infield for Bothell High School in the spring and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Baseball Club during the summer. Hunter moved to Bozeman in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Graduating in Spring 2022, he is back at MSU pursuing his Master’s in Structural Engineering. This is Hunter’s second year serving as a coach for legion baseball and is excited to help players reach their full potential on and off the field.

Good luck this season, BelGrade Bandits!

• ChildCare • Smoothie Bar • PerSonal trainerS

• BaSketBall Court • hydromaSSage

MEDINA FIELD: IF YOU

BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME...

Early in 1993, William (Bill) Auger, his wife Shellie, Bob Retterath, his wife Linda, Merv Gunderson, Dr. David McLaughlin and Eddie Medina decided to construct a baseball field in the city of Belgrade, Montana. During the winter of 1993 they founded Belgrade Baseball, Inc. for that purpose. The field and team would give Senior League baseball players a place to move up to after they finished their little League efforts. The team would attract players in the fifteen to eighteen year range as there was no other place for them to continue playing baseball in Belgrade. The project was started with a $100,000 loan from the Eddie Medina Trust Fund. Eddie Medina is a paraplegic after being injured in a motorcycle accident and is an avid sports fan. The board held fundraisers which contributed another $200,000 to purchase the land and start the baseball complex design and construction.

Bill Auger headed the building project and built the field in the fall of 1993 with the assistance of various Belgrade residents as well as local construction workers who donated their time, effort and materials. Montana Power Company set the poles for the lighting system and provided some of the electrical materials at reduced costs or as outright donations. The charter for Belgrade Baseball Inc. came to pass in February 1994 and was to be called The Belgrade Bandits. The project was completed and ready for play on the opening day of the 1994 American Legion baseball season. After one year of operation, under the auspices of Belgrade Baseball, Inc. the Belgrade Bandits were notified by the National Headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis, that any team not specifically associated with an American Legion Post could not participate in American Legion baseball and could not use the name “American Legion.”

After serious consideration of this directive, Bill Auger was left with two choices; form a new American Legion Post; or, disband the Belgrade

Baseball Inc. Belgrade Bandit’s. Post 30 of The American Legion was permanently charted on April 17, 1995, just in time to start the 1995 American Legion baseball season officially under The American Legion sponsorship. Bill Auger, at the direction of The American Legion, Department of Montana, held the position of both Commander and Post Adjutant for the year 1995 and Post Adjutant for the year 1996.

Post 30 has done many things in support of the Belgrade Bandit’s baseball since its charter in 1995. For instance, during the first four years of existence Post 30 sold Christmas trees and fireworks to support the Belgrade Bandit’s as well as to pay for the lights at the field for night games and regional tournaments. The post also hired and paid the salaries of coaches, game officials, and trainers for the Belgrade Bandit’s. Post 30 members manned the ball field, sold tickets, ran the concession stand and did whatever was necessary to maintain the facility. Post 30 also purchased a bus and provided a driver to take the coaches and the team to “away” games to other Montana cities.

March 1999, Bill Auger needed to pay the Eddie Medina Trust back for money borrowed to put up field lights and finish field construction. He had three options. 1) lease the field out for $10,000 per year. 2) sell the field to a new not for profit company or 3) tear the field down and build homes to pay off the trust. The parents at the time came to Belgrade Baseball Inc Board of Directors to ask if they could borrow money to pay for the field. The Board authorized to borrow money from First Security Bank. First Security Bank approved the loan with a USDA Rural Development 80% loan guarantee. A loan was set up for 20 years. The loan paid off two years early in 2017. The name of the baseball field can never be changed and will always remain the Eddie Medina American Legion Ball Field as part of the sales agreement. The original board members of the Belgrade Baseball, Inc. were all issued lifetime passes to the complex as permanent thank you for their work.

Belgrade Bandits 2023 District Champs.