We look back on the biggest sport stories of 2009

February 14, 2009

Hot Springs girls wrap up their second consecutive undefeated season

Taking on Two Eagle River in their final regular season game the Hot Springs Savage Heat wrapped up their second consecutive undefeated season reported Jamie Doran. The final game held no drama for the girls from Hot Springs as they annhilated Two Eagle River 66-24 for the win. After the win they were 18-0 overall and 10-0 in conference. McKenzie Wood led all the scorers in the game with 20 points. At the time the Savage Heat were ranked sixth in state class C. The team would then go on to place second in the divisional tournamant losing their first game of the year to Twin Bridges. At the state tournament the girls placed fourth.

May 11, 2009

Plains golfer punches ticket to state tournament

Sometimes holding the trophy at the end of the day isn’t about winning all of the time, but bringing out your best performance when it’s most needed. At the Divisional Golf Tournament in Bozeman, Plains senior Daniel Tuhocek brought out his best game for the big stage reported Matt Unrau. Shooting a personal record, 81, Tuhocek tied for fourth place at the tournament and scored Plains’ only ticket to the golf tournament. He was only five strokes back of the leader. Tuhocek credited the good play to a great practice the weekend before where he shot 76 and 75 on the Plains course.

“That’s exactly what I needed before going to Divisonals. It’s all about confidence,” said Tuhocek.

May 20, 2009

Winning is a family tradition for Thompson brothers

Sometimes winning is all about your genes. At least, that’s the case for brothers Mitch and Trent Thompson reported Matt Unrau. The two brothers are separated by a year in age, but excel at the same level in track and basketball. Both were named to the all-state Class B basketball team. As for track, Trent is still chasing the school record in discus set by his oldest brother Brandon. Mitch excels at the javelin, causing Plains to hope for a potential state placing with help from the two heavy throwers.

The brotherly rivalry heated up the competitive edge in both athletes and extended well beyond track and basketball.

“We competed in pretty much everything. There was Nintendo, eating contests, who can drink the fastest and who can jump the highest,” says Mitch.

May 30, 2009

Fryxell dominates the state in high jump

Plains junior Dillon Fryxell can jump high, higher than anyone else in the state it turns out. Fryxell had to fend off a pesky Aaron Palmer of Troy to win the gold medal tying his personal best of 6’8”. After clearing his personal best easily, Fryxell then had to wait for track officials to come out to the high jump and officially measure the next height, which would have been a new state record. After suffering a 20 minute delay Fryxell couldn’t get back on track as he missed out on setting the high jump record at the state meet reported Matt Unrau.

“I thought for sure I was going to get it. I had it (6’8”) by a lot,” said Fryxell.

June 10, 2009

Plains Trotters win Mission Valley Championship

After winning three games in two days the Plains junior high Trotters became Mission Valley Champions reported Matt Unrau.

Aspen Rude proved to be tough for the opposition as she pitched a brilliant game in the campionship game winning 10-3. It was sweet redemption for Aspen as for the second year in a row she pitched in the championship game. Last year the Trotters lost to Polson.

“We were just excited when we won. We were all really happy,” said Aspen.

July 29, 2009

Trevor Paro stands tall on little league diamond

At 4 foot 8 inces tall ten-year-old Trevor Paro of Hot Springs is a giant on the little league baseball field. Although he is routinely the smallest and the youngest player on the field his baseball skills and instincts are that of a much older and bigger player. After leading last year’s Clark Fork Valley Minor’s All-Star team to a state championsip and snagging MVP honors in the championship game, Paro led Hot Springs to the Clark Fork championship this year and dabbled in the majors as well. This year in a switch from most county kids Paro played on a Missoula traveling team to sharpen his skills against the top talent from all around the Rocky Mountains. Being younger and smaller it’s all about attitude and confidence, according to Paro.

“I just say ‘I’m going to hit off this guy no matter where it(the pitch) goes, unless it’s way outside or inside,” said Paro.

October 2, 2009

Savage Horsemen have miraculous comeback win that paves the way to the playoffs

It was a historic season for the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen football team as they plowed to a one-loss regular season and made it to the postseason in over 40 years. There were plenty of memorable moments along the way to the playoffs, but the one moment that turned the tide for the team and ensured their playoff berth came on a chilly night in Hot Springs where 39 minutes of distrastrous football molded into nine minutes of pure magic for the Savage Horsemen in a game that is sure to be remembered for a long time.

After three turnovers inside the red zone the home team was down 12-0 to a Eureka squad they hadn’t beat in over 26 years. But in the fourth quarter the Savage Horsemen scored two touchdowns with the go-ahead run by Dillon Fryxell with three minutes left in the game after an interception by Brian Green. The high school players burst off the field after the win screaming in joy for the win that almost noone saw coming.

“That’s just crazy how they came back like that…I feel higher than air right now, I’ll tell you that much,” said Head Coach Seth Pettit.

October 31, 2009

Hot Springs girls volleyball wins district championship for third year in a row

The Hot Springs Savage Heat are used to winning, but sooner or later they might just forget how to lose altogether. For the third consecutive year the Savage Heat took home the District volleyball title, and to top it all off who better to beat in the championship game than their fierce rival Charlo. In a two-match marathon that lasted a complete 10 games Hot Springs finally outlasted their bitter rival 15-11 in the final game to seal the victory. The inspiring victory prompted Head Coach Bonnie Franklin to confidently pronounce that the girls “won’t lose.”

The team placed fourth in the Divisonal Tournamnet narrowly losing out on a chance to make it to the state tournament.