Gallatin Valley Outlaws open postseason play Thursday

After a second place finish in conference play, the Gallatin Valley Outlaws American Legion baseball team will open the postseason Thursday in Helena.

The second-seeded Outlaws will open the Southern A District baseball tournament Thursday against at 4 p.m. against the Butte Muckers. The game is scheduled to take place at Kindrick Field Stadium.

Gallatin Valley will be looking to be one of the two teams who advance to the State Tournament scheduled for August 10 to 14 in Miles City.

The team who finished the season with a 34-23 (15-5 Conference) record features three Whitehall players, 2018 graduate Ryan Murphy, Beau Hays, and Connor Johnson.

Murphy said the team is super excited for districts and they have a lot of pitching depth this season.

With a win this season over perennial conference power Belgrade, Murphy feels the team has the ability to beat anybody they play in the postseason.

"Our goal is defiantly to make the state tournament then from there we're hoping to take top two at state. We have already played some of the other teams who will be at the state tournament and know we're capable of beating them so it's exciting! But we're going to take one game at a time and go out and hopefully first win a district championship! If we can put all three aspects of the game together we are a pretty good ball club and good things will happen I'm looking forward to the rest of my senior season and going out with a bang," he said.