The Richland Major League All-Stars took third at districts in Miles City to advance to the state tournament in Lewistown July 16-19.

Richland 12, Miles City 4

Richland scored 10 big runs in the bottom of the first inning. Richland was led in hitting by Hunter Severson who was 2-4 with two home runs including a grand slam and solo shot. Kory Halvorson added three hits while Tanner Hagler and Nathan Anderson had two apiece. Gresh Jones, Chase Hagler, Kyle Mueller and Lake Taylor each added hits. Jones scattered four runs on five hits to get the win pitching. Glasgow 10, Richland 0

Richland ran into a buzz saw the second game in facing a talented and deep Glasgow squad. Glasgow pitchers threw a two hitter and struck out 10 in the affair. Halvorson and T. Hagler were the only players to get base hits. Tanner and C. Hagler pitched in the loss.

Richland 8, Big Muddy 5

Richland rebounded from a tough loss with a gritty 8-5 win over a much improved Big Muddy squad whom the local team defeated 25-0 in Williston. Wyatt Van Buren pitched well for two innings while giving up four runs on only two hits and struck out four. Halvorson effectively closed the door pitching the last four innings of the game.

He gave up one run on two hits while striking out eight. Offensively, T. Hagler and Halvorson pounded out three hits including a double each. Mueller and C. Hagler added two apiece while Jamison Lee and Severson had one hit each in the contest.

Glendive 6, Richland 0

The bats were silent again as the Richland squad struggled at the plate. Glendive’s pitchers kept the team off balance by changing speeds a lot. Meanwhile Glendive scraped out six runs on only four hits. Again walks and costly errors loomed over the Richland County team. Richland managed only four hits, two by Halvorson and one each by Chase and T. Hagler. C. Hagler, Ryder Rice and Lee combined to pitch in the loss.

Bracket Play:

Richland entered as the third seed with a record of 2-2.

Glendive 9, Richland 1

Glendive’s Skeeter Johnson hit two homers to highlight Glendive’s win. Jones and Anderson each had two hits to lead Richland while Halvorson and T. Hagler added on each. Jones pitched five innings in the game.

Richland 10, Miles City 9

The consolation final was a roller coaster ride for Richland. After two scoreless innings, Miles City used a five-run rally to open up the game on five hits and a walk. Richland stormed back in the bottom of the inning.

Van Buren led off with a hit and later scored. Severson and Halvorson singled and scored on a hit by T. Hagler. Anderson came up big with a two-run homer to tie the game. Miles City scored two in the top of the fourth.

Richland tied things up at seven. Jones and Severson singled and then scored on a Halvorson double. Neither team scored in the fifth, but Miles City added two in the sixth. Lee walked and was replaced by pinch runner Louie Reyna to start the inning.

Jones singled and both runners advanced on a passed ball. After an out, Halvorson knocked both runners in with a single followed by a C. Hagler double.

Both runners were stranded, however, forcing extra innings. C. Hagler pitched a scoreless top of seventh to give Richland another opportunity for the win. This time Richland took advantage. Taylor singled to start the inning.

Jones hit a single and Severson drew a walk, battling back from an 0-2 count. That brought up Halvorson who worked the count to 3-1 and then watched as ball four sailed outside earning a walk and a Richland win.

C. and T. Hagler, Halvorson and Jones pitched with C. Hagler earning the win. Jones, Severson, Halvorson and Anderson had three hits while T. Hagler added two. C. Hagler, Mueller, Taylor and Van Buren each added one hit.