The Montana AA state championship title game ended on a strikeout, but not the way you think.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the game tied 2-2, Billings West’s Kendyl Boltz struck out swinging but the ball got by Missoula Big Sky catcher Jaime Schafer. With no runner on first base, the dropped third strike gave Boltz the chance to take first and that’s just what she did — and then some.
After an error at first base allowed her to advance to and round second base, another error at third base allowed her to sprint home safely.
“I just thought, ‘keep going,’” Boltz told the Billings Gazette after the game. “This is the motto of our team: Don’t give up no matter how tough it is. Go your hardest and don’t give up on anything. And I think that’s what basically gave us this championship.”
The game was actually Game 2 of the championship series. Billings won the first game and Boltz’s walk-off, inside-the-park home run/strikeout sealed the deal.
