Rec-League-Softball on The Bozeman Daily Bee

Championship softball game pits ski bros against ranchers at former hay field

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:14:10 +0000

The Gallatin Valley Rec League championship took place Tuesday at the Four Corners complex, where the infield dirt still smells like alfalfa if you get low enough. The Belgrade Beef, a roster of ranch hands and feed store managers, faced the Bridger Bowl Bombers, who list their occupations as ‘ski patrol,’ ‘barista,’ and ‘gear rep’ on the lineup card.

Beef starting pitcher Dale Haskins threw 82 pitches in the first inning, three of them strikes. ‘He works the corners like he works the fence line,’ said third baseman Troy McAllister, wiping pine tar onto his jeans. ‘Slow and deliberate. The umpire’s zone is just a suggestion.’

Thursday night league decided by who remembered the snacks

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 12:58:28 +0000

The Bozeman Co-Ed Softball League championship came down to the bottom of the seventh at the Regional Park complex Thursday night, where the Bleacher Creatures held off the Free Agents 11-10 on a walk-off grounder that the shortstop decided not to charge.

“The line held,” said Randy Pflug from his usual spot behind the backstop, scorebook open on his knee. “That’s the game right there. The line held, and the other team’s line didn’t.”

Midnight oil changes lead to extra innings in co-ed softball title game

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:09:05 +0000

The Bozeman Brewing Company Fighting Fermenters edged the Belgrade Building Supply Two-by-Fours 11-10 in the Gallatin Valley Co-Ed Rec League championship Monday night at the Regional Park complex. The game lasted three hours and seventeen minutes, which league officials confirmed is the longest title contest since the 2019 mercy-rule debate extended a semifinal by forty-five minutes.

Starting pitcher Dave Haverstock of the Fermenters threw 142 pitches over six innings before leaving for a 5:30 a.m. shift at the concrete plant. “He told me his arm felt fine,” said Fermenters player-manager Clint Voss, 34, who also plays third base and sells industrial lubricants. “I told him his arm isn’t the one mixing batch tickets at midnight.”

Midvalley merchants hold line, win rec title in extra innings

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:22:10 +0000

The Midvalley Merchants won the Gallatin Valley Rec League championship Thursday night at the Four Corners Complex, beating the Belgrade Bandits 7-6 in eight innings on a walk-off single by third baseman Dale Henderer.

The game lasted two hours and forty minutes. Nobody complained about the length.

“The line held when it had to,” said Merchants player-coach Buck Pendleton, wiping infield dust from his forearms. “That’s the whole game right there. You hold the line, good things happen.”