SHELBY, N.C. — Heavy rain Saturday night cleared up Sunday, allowing for a fresh start at Keeter Stadium but ending the Billings Scarlets' stay in the American Legion World Series.
The Scarlets lost 1-0 to Bossier City, Louisiana, and in their second game of the day, they lost 4-3 to Midland, Mich. The Scarlets lost 6-1 to Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday night.
Chet Strange / American Legion
Kyler Northrop of the Billings Scarlets comes to bat during an American Legion World Series game against Midland, Michigan, at Keeter Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Shelby, North Carolina.
The loss eliminated the Scarlets, Montana's first World Series appearance in 62 years, from the semifinals and championship race and they needed to finish in the top two of their group to advance beyond Sunday.
Bossier City, Louisiana 1, Billings Scarlets 0
The Scarlets' opener on Sunday was decided with one out in the top of the third inning in a scoreless draw in a game that was suspended Saturday night because of rain.
Both teams were removed from the field after Cade Vatnsdal got the first out of the third inning on a pop fly to shortstop. Nolan Berkrum was scheduled to face Bossier City pitcher Brody Bauer when the game was stopped.
Play resumed at 9 a.m. Mountain time on Sunday, with Bossier City taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after Hudson Brignac hit a timely single to center field.
With two outs, Jackson Jones singled for Bossier City's first hit of the game, then Drew McDowell got Tucker McCabe out on a 2-2 pitch, before Brignac hit McDowell's next pitch to center field to send Jones home for the winning run.
The Northwest Division champion Scarlets loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning but got nowhere. Brady Randall, Chase Wise and Jaron Pinter all walked before the inning ended on a grounder by Vatnsdal.
Chet Strange / American Legion
The Billings Scarlets line up on first base during the American Legion World Series at Keeter Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 in Shelby, North Carolina.
Cody Collis singled as the leadoff batter of the inning, but was tagged out at first base for the first out of the fourth inning.
McDowell was the Scarlets' starting pitcher at the start of Saturday's game and returned to the mound on Sunday.
McDowell, a right-handed pitcher who will play college baseball at South Dakota State University, was the losing pitcher despite pitching well, allowing two hits, striking out three, walking three and hitting two batters with pitches.
When play resumed on Sunday, Jones took the mound for Bossier City, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings and surviving a bases-loaded fourth inning.
Cade Moore pitched 2 1/3 innings and got the win by getting a Nolan Barkrum pop out in the seventh to end the game.
Midland, Michigan 4 vs. Billings Scarlets 3
In the second game of the day, the Scarlets found themselves trailing by two goals early on.
Midland got two runs early in the bottom of the first against Billings left-hander Zach Stewart, as Kaden Smith hit an RBI single and Nathan Ball hit a sacrifice fly.
Chet Strange / American Legion
Zach Stewart of the Billings Scarlets pitches during the American Legion World Series against Midland, Michigan, at Keeter Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Shelby, North Carolina.
Just as they did earlier Sunday against Bossier City, the Scarlets found themselves with the bases loaded in the second inning against Midland. Chase Wise walked, Colter Wilson singled and Michael Belew was hit by a pitch, but Billings couldn't add to the score.
Midland extended its lead in the second inning when Smith hit a two-out RBI double down the right field line to send Jack Sequin home to make the score 3-0.
Billings scored in the top of the fourth when Wise scored from third base with two outs on an infield single by Michael Belew, but Midland got one back in the bottom of the fourth when Sequin scored on a grounder by Aidan Robinson.
The Scarlets closed the gap to 4-3 in the sixth inning when Wise scored on an error and Wilson scored on a wild pitch by Sequin, who was pinch-hitting for Midland starter Sam Briggs.
Kyler Northrop singled to drive in the tying run in the seventh inning, but he was left on third base with the game over.
The Scarlets went 0-3 in the World Series but finished the season with an impressive record of 63-16.
2024 American Legion World Series
Score
Thursday, August 15
League City, Texas, 7; Fargo, North Dakota, 3
Midland, Michigan, 3; Bossier City, Louisiana, 0
Troy, Alabama, 10; Hudson, Massachusetts, 1
Delaware Wilmington 6, Billings Scarlets 1
Friday, August 16
League City, Texas, 4; Hudson, Massachusetts, 2
Fargo, North Dakota, 5; Troy, Alabama, 4
Saturday, August 17
Fargo, North Dakota, 12; Hudson, Massachusetts, 2
Midland, Michigan, 9th place; Wilmington, Delaware, 2nd place
Sunday, August 18
Bossier City, Louisiana 1, Billings Scarlets 0
Midland, Michigan 4, Billings Scarlets 3
Wilmington, Delaware vs. Bossier City, Louisiana, 2 p.m.
Troy, Alabama vs. League City, Texas, 5 p.m.
