The Northwest/Mile High Juniors All-Stars are one win away from returning a Montana state title to Butte after consecutive dominant performances at the state tournament over the weekend.
Butte secured commanding victories on both Friday and Saturday to extend its winning streak to four games, outscoring opponents a combined 30-4 in those two contests and earning a berth in Sunday’s championship round.
Friday: Mercy-rule romp
On Friday the Juniors opened the weekend with a rout, producing a 17-1 win. The offense came from throughout the lineup, while pitching stifled the opposition.
- Colt Horsley started on the mound and was highly effective, allowing just one hit and one unearned run across four innings and recording three strikeouts.
- Several hitters finished with multi-hit days, fueling the big run total and triggering the mercy-rule finish.
Defensively, the team closed out the game cleanly. Left fielder Brysen Fosness made two late catches to secure the final outs and cap the victory.
Saturday: Complete-game pitching, long ball highlight
The Juniors kept their momentum in Saturday’s 13-3 victory, punching their ticket to Sunday’s championship with another all-around outing.
- Nash Sorrell went the distance on the mound, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out seven.
- JJ Hardy delivered a marquee moment with a long home run to left-center, energizing the lineup.
Butte’s defense continued to make routine plays behind Sorrell, and the offense again produced contributions from several spots in the order.
| Game | Final | Notable pitching | Top hitters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 17-1 | Colt Horsley: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 unearned run, 3 K | Horsley, Andrew Osterman, Tayten Lester, Trevin Berger |
| Saturday | 13-3 | Nash Sorrell: complete game, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K | Benny Donaldson, Nash Sorrell, JJ Hardy |
Players who led the charge
Stat lines from the two games underline the team’s balance. Offensive standouts included Colt Horsley (2-for-3 Friday), Andrew Osterman (multi-hit contributions), Tayten Lester and Trevin Berger; Saturday’s leaders included Benny Donaldson (2-for-4), Nash Sorrell (2-for-2 with multiple RBIs) and JJ Hardy.
- Butte’s bats showed depth, with multiple players recording multi-hit games across the two contests.
- Pitching was a decisive factor: Horsley’s outing on Friday and Sorrell’s complete game on Saturday limited opponents’ opportunities.
The championship game is set for Sunday, where the Northwest/Mile High Juniors will need one more victory to claim the Montana State Tournament title for Butte. The team’s recent performances — strong pitching, timely hitting and consistent defense — have positioned it well heading into the final.
Local supporters and families will be watching as Butte seeks to close out the tournament and bring a state championship back to the city.
Coverage of the championship and any postgame developments will follow as results become available.
