Bigfork Baseball Makes History: State Champions Talk the Run Nobody Saw Coming

Bigfork Vikings baseball just made history and reporter Luke Schmit was on the field at O'Malley Park to capture every raw, emotional moment of it! In this episode of Keeping Score, Luke talks with the men behind Montana's newest Class A-B state baseball champions fresh off a 7-2 victory over previously undefeated Dillon.

Head coach Dave Romano breaks down a season built on chemistry, trust, and peaking at exactly the right moment. Coach Romano barely finishes his last answer before his boys make sure he gets the full championship treatment. Senior pitcher and MVP performer Hayden Mayer opens up about tossing a complete game, ripping a bases-loaded double, and what it means to be "the guy" when everything is on the line. Shortstop Grady Campbell talks family, his diving catch that shifted the momentum, and why this group is unlike any other. Third baseman Max Schara (in his first year with the program) describes what it feels like to be the ultimate underdog and win it all anyway. And assistant coach Hunter Johnson, a Dillon graduate himself, explains why beating "Title Town" made this championship even more special.

From upsetting defending champion Billings Central in the opener to knocking off Frenchtown and then the Beavers in the final, Bigfork's tournament run was as unexpected as it was unstoppable. These guys didn't just win a state title — they proved everyone wrong along the way.

Read Luke's recap and see some pictures from the game: Vikings conquer State A baseball 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

I'm here at the Class A and B state championship game as we saw Big Fork take down the undefeated Dillon Beavers. I caught up with multiple players and coaches to talk about their feelings and reactions after the huge first state championship for Big Fork and their baseball history. Let's not waste any time and get right to it. I'm here with Coach Romano as they are the state champions over the Dillon Beavers. Coach, you have to be so proud of your guys talk to me about this season and you know coming over the obstacles and being on top at the end.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

It was just I don't even know if I'm speechless. I'm just so excited and happy and proud of the kids. They worked their rear ends off all year. All year. And our goal was to come together and be playing our best baseball at the end of the year. And we had our ups and downs during the year, but we we peaked at the right time, and it was awesome.

SPEAKER_04 0:52

What will you remember about this team specifically besides a state championship?

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Honestly, just all the bus rides, the kids' personalities, the goofing off, the having fun, the hard work they put in, you know, that that's the part that will stick with you forever.

SPEAKER_04 1:04

Absolutely. And coach, talk to me about Hayden today. He was a unit on the mound. He gets up there, hits the triple RBI. Unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

All year long. All year long. One of our best and top players, way he took command on the mound and defense was behind him. It was it was a hell of an effort for him. Both at the play and on the mound. And that's you know you go into the games like this, you don't have expectations, you're rooting and hoping for the best. But that kid brings it every time. And I'm excited for him to be able to see what he can do on the next level going forward for him.

SPEAKER_04 1:34

Of course. And you guys just beat a very talented Dylan Beavers team, didn't lose, lose, excuse me, all year. Talk to me about what effort it took to beat them.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Yeah, it's just that it's a team effort. You know, there's times where in this game where you're gonna be on the at the plate and be able to be the guy and and and deliver there. There's times that you got to be that guy in the field. Sometimes you're both. Um, the beauty of this game is we've got nine nine guys on the field that are doing their thing, and and all 11 of us are are there busting their butts all day, every day. And just that family atmosphere has killed killed it for us.

SPEAKER_04 2:07

That's how I'll end it with this coach. Last question I'll ask you before. Hope you feel good on that one.

SPEAKER_02 2:16

You didn't even know. I didn't know, I didn't know.

SPEAKER_04 2:19

Talk to me about all the fans, all the people out here watching, how important are they?

SPEAKER_00 2:23

That that's that's the biggest part of it. I mean, if we look at Big Fork right now and baseball, we've got the most youth signups that we've ever had. The the future is very bright. The community support and love that we have gotten from this team or for this team has been awesome. Awesome. You know, it's not uh it's not a school-funded sport, so the the community coming together to help raise the funds, it's been awesome. It's been awesome.

SPEAKER_04 2:45

Congratulations. I know you got a handful. I give you congratulations, and we'll see you next season. Sounds good.

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Go ahead and the man in the hour, Hayden Meyer, delivers Big Fork, the state championship they've been looking for.

SPEAKER_04 3:14

Hayden, talk to me. You've already been talking to everyone here. Yeah. What are you feeling? Uh I mean, this is just something special. We've carried so much momentum throughout the last couple days and just having fun, just doing our thing. People hate us because it looks like we're having they're just goofing off, but this is just our way of locking in. When you're pitching today, tell me about your mindset inning through inning. You know, you stay composed the whole time. Yeah, it was a little frustrating first sitting. There was a couple of airs behind me, but I just had to sit composed, those strikes, just do my job, do my part. Talking about the coaches this season, how have they helped you get better and even become a better leader? Um, leadership was definitely a big thing throughout the year. Um, I've been pulled aside by Dave and just say, hey, you're the dude this year. You need to um just support your friends and you get make everybody be their best. What makes you most proud about having being a state champion? Because obviously you guys get the glory, you get the trophy, but is there another side to it where you're just super excited to see these guys succeed? Yeah, we've been underestimated all year, I feel like. Like we've been facing some some dudes, but this this just this tournament, we've probably seen the best pitching that we've seen all year, but still people seem to underestimate it. It seems like like Billing Central, nobody expected us to win that game. This reigning state state champions, like and then going to Frenchtown, all of them were like cheering that we won because they didn't have to play Billing Central, but then we beat them. So it's really just on them. You guys played your best baseball at the end of the year. Why do you think so? Um, we were have we had nothing to lose. Like there was no pressure on us. We were just having fun, having the playing our game. Having our pitchers throw strikes and having our hitters do their thing. When you get up there, bases are loaded, bases are juiced. What's your mindset going into that? You're just trying to make contact, or did you know you're gonna rip a three RBI double? Oh, I knew. I was talking to my teammate Mason, and before when I saw him switch out, I was like, I'm about to hit this sort of wall right here. I mean, you're gonna score me. I did trip on the way to home, but but um this going up there with a lot of confidence and waiting for my pitch, but it really helps my mindset there. Last question I'll ask you. You had lots of moments this game, but which one sticks out to you the most? Um probably the falling at home plate. It was it was pretty fun and funny, but it was a crucial moment, and it's just momentum. I didn't take it as a joke or take it as a laugh, or I could take it personally, but I just like to have fun. Well, you're a huge huge reason you guys are state champions. Congrats, and you're a heck of a player.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

At shortstop, number three, Brady Campbell.

SPEAKER_04 5:42

I'm here with state champion Grady Campbell. Lots of emotions right now. What are you feeling?

SPEAKER_02 5:46

Lots of emotions. I mean, obviously, I'm stoked. It's a little bit of a surreal feeling. Um, it hasn't fully kicked in yet, but I mean, I'm I'm hyped out of my mind. I I wouldn't have wanted to do it with any other people. These guys are my family, dude. You know, we're our whole team, our our entire our entire thing all year has been team chemistry. You know, we do it for one another. When one person makes an error, the next person steps up and does their job. This isn't this isn't just a group of guys, man. This is family for sure.

SPEAKER_04 6:13

You guys just be a very impressive Dylan team. Didn't lose all year. Talk to me about what kind of a grind it took to beat them. And you guys beat them by five runs. So obviously you guys had it clicking, but talk to me about how good that team was and how well you guys played.

SPEAKER_02 6:25

That that is an unbelievable baseball team. They're so good and they they deserve to be here with us. We we have been grinding out wins since the beginning of the season by one run, by two runs, whatever it is. But you know, we wanted it so bad, so we we were able to deliver big in that one inning and and get it done.

SPEAKER_04 6:42

You had a heck of a catch, that diving catch. Talk to me about the play there, you dive, and right before that you guys throw out a runner. That was a huge momentum changer.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

Yeah, that was that was awesome. I mean, it's it's kind of hard not to be 100% focused in a game like this. And so that's all that was was I was just I was just seeing the ball, saw the ball, went and got the ball. That's all it was.

SPEAKER_04 7:01

Well, besides this championship, you're gonna remember that forever. I think we all know that. What about this season will you remember though?

SPEAKER_02 7:06

Uh just like I said earlier, man, family, dude. I wouldn't have wanted to be here with anyone else. These are my boys, and I'm so happy that we were able to go and get it done.

SPEAKER_04 7:15

Last chance, I know you've got a very supportive family. Talk to me about the care they've given you and all the support through the years there at every one of your games, every single time.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

My my family has been unbelievable. Um, whether it's supporting me, whether it's supporting the whole baseball team, they've put countless hours on the brand new baseball field we have that is gorgeous. Um, and and just like I said, they support me till I die. Like they they are my number one supporters and they mean everything to me.

SPEAKER_04 7:41

You're gonna get a state championship ring. How does that feel?

SPEAKER_02 7:43

Man, I'm so excited. I'm so excited. Thank you so much. Take care.

SPEAKER_04 7:48

Peace out, way to go, buddy. I'm here with Max Sparr after their state championship win. Max, you were dealing at third base. You had some great throws today. Yesterday you pitched. Talk to me about how you're feeling.

SPEAKER_03 8:01

Uh, well, I'm definitely nervous. Um, every ball that's hit to me. It's kind of like you can't have it be an oh crap moment. You just gotta be expecting it and be ready for it. And I think I controlled myself pretty well. Uh had a lot of adrenaline and I was nervous, but I think just I powered through that and just played baseball.

SPEAKER_04 8:20

How are the nerves? I know you're kind of uh you you kind of like the nerves, you're you're fine with it, but when that last seventh inning was there, did you start getting nervous or are you still calm and collected?

SPEAKER_03 8:28

Um, seventh inning I was probably the most confident. We had a five-run lead. Uh, so we got to just kind of play our game and just have some fun and enjoy that inning. That wasn't really the most nervous I've been, not as much as the earlier innings. So talk to me.

SPEAKER_04 8:42

You played Lakers baseball, obviously in Cal Spell. This is your first year with Big Fork, correct? Talk to me the difference of the seasons. How fun this season compared to that summer ball?

SPEAKER_03 8:51

Uh, it's a lot different. Lakers is, I think, a lot more well-known. It's a bigger program, so everyone kind of knows what's gonna happen. I don't think many people know what's gonna happen for Big Fork. Um, so I think everyone was expecting Big Fork to be just some underdog team that ain't gonna get the job done, but we did. Um different mentalities. This is definitely like we got 11 guys on the team, we don't have much to work with, but uh we're just scrappy and find a way to win.

SPEAKER_04 9:17

Last question I'll ask you, Max. If you had one word to describe this team throughout the season, what would it be?

SPEAKER_03 9:22

Probably resilient. Super scrappy.

SPEAKER_04 9:32

Yeah. I'm here with Hunter Johnson, state champion coach for the Big Fork Vikings as I defeat Dylan. Coach, talk to me about this team and how excited you are.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

As I said, they're just they're resilient, man. We've been saying it all year. Going into the tournament before Hamilton, there's a lot of people that were just saying that we're getting lucky and doubted us, but our boys knew the whole time. And this group of boys, the most resilient group of kids I've ever coached, and it showed tonight. I mean, it showed. We all believed in ourselves. We didn't even let the noise affect us one bit, and they just they knew that they had it in them all tournament long and showed up tonight.

SPEAKER_04 10:05

Talk to me about this game specifically. You like you said, they always battled back, but what were you feeling in the first couple innings as it was tight?

SPEAKER_01 10:11

I figured it's gonna be a pitcher's duel. I mean, they had their senior on the mounds, we had our senior on the mounds. We trusted Hayden the whole time. This was his moment. He's been a senior captain two years now, I believe, and this was his moment, and he pulled through pretty dang well today.

SPEAKER_04 10:24

He did. Yep. For you, this is even special because you went to Dylan. Coach, talk to me. You know all the parents, the players over there, how good of a team that was you guys just beat.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

They're legit. I mean, they're they call themselves Tidal Town for a reason. Um, I grew up in that place. Those coaches over there, they've coached me before high school coach, Babe Ruth coach. Um, it's so it's pretty special. It's fun. This is what we wanted, and we wanted to play them in the in the state tournament and the in the championship, and we got it done, and it's pretty special.