BILLINGS — On a night dedicated to the fight against cancer, the Billings Scarlets struck for five runs in the first inning, which were more than enough in a 5-1 American Legion Baseball conference win over the crosstown Royals.
The squads teamed up for the ninth year to raise money for pediatric cancer patients through Billings Clinic. In nearly a decade Billings American Legion Baseball is said to have raised more than $70,000 for Kelker’s Kids.
Koby Kroft opened the Scarlets’ rally with an RBI grounder to second for a 1-0 lead. Andy Larsen and Logan Meyer followed for a three-run lead. Ben Egan capped the onslaught with a two-RBI single to center with two out.
The Royals scored their only run with two down in the bottom of the seventh.
Larsen struck out nine and gave up only one hit in five innings of work for the win. The Royals were held to just three hits.
The Scarlets connected for 10 hits led by Croft, Egan and Jaren Wilcox each with two.
