MAC 12U takes first

Malta was represented by a couple of teams in the Havre Cal Ripken Little League this season and the Malta Athletic Club (MAC) 12 and Under team won the 12U Title defeating the Havre Lions 8-7 last Friday, June 9 following a 11-2 season.

The Malta Athletic Club team was represented by Malta, Dodson and Harlem.

"These guys don't give up," Malta Athletic Club 12U Head Coach Frank Benson said. "It was fun."

The league followed all of the rules of baseball in a five inning setting. The league tournament was last week where Malta defeated BearPaw 9-3 on Tuesday, June 6, another team from Havre in the second round of the playoffs.

"We were the number one seed so we didn't have to play the first day," Coach Benson said.

The team then went to face the Havre Lions in semi-final action on Thursday, June 8 and won 6-5.

"We were down 5-3 going into the last inning and won 6-5," Coach Benson said.

After fighting back out of the elimination bracket, the Havre Lions earned the right to face Malta in the championship game. Things did not look good for MAC, falling behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning. It would take until the middle of the game for Malta to bring the game close.

"Jon Siewing knocked in Juliun Benson, making it 4-1 in the bottom of the first," Coach Benson said. "At the top of the second inning they scored two more runs to make it 6-1."

Malta would fail to score in the bottom of the second, but would also shut out Havre in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third Wyatt Judd singled setting up a Clay Adams two-run homer to bring MAC closer to closing the gap. The score was 6-3.

"Clay goes to school in Harlem but he lives in Dodson," Coach Benson said. "He hit a two run home run right over the fence."

Juliun Benson would strike again hitting a double, setting up an RBI opportunity for Siewing. Siewing capitalized on the chance bringing Malta to within two.

Malta's defense would again stop Havre at the top of the fourth, giving them a chance to close the gap.

"Seth Siewing got on and Kaden Bishop hit in Seth," Coach Benson said.

Bishop's RBI brought Malta closer making the score 6-5, but Malta would tie the game up as Carson Ottinger would score on an errant throw to third in the same inning. The game was tied up.

Adams would bat Judd in again in the fourth, giving Malta the lead 7-6.

Havre would score a run in the fifth inning, tying the game.

In danger of giving up a run in the fifth, Malta's defense dug deep.

"We made a good play in the top of the fifth," Coach Benson said. "There was a runner on third, with one out and the ball was hit back to Carson, our pitcher at the end. He threw it to first and got the guy out at first and Jon Siewing our first-baseman threw it home and got the guy out at home on a double play."

Seth, twin of Jon Siewing had highlights of his own, singling and then stealing second base.

"Kaden Bishop hit in Seth to win the game," Coach Benson said.

The 15U team will be playing this week in Havre.