Sports
by Jacob Schwarz
It was senior night for the 2026 Park High Rangers varsity baseball squad. Facing the Butte Central Maroons, a victory by five or more runs was needed to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Central A Division—and their first playoff appearance since baseball became a Montana High School Association sanctioned varsity sport in 2023.
Five seniors were honored for Park High: Ben Cipriani, preparing for a career in carpentry; Carson Dailey, planning to work at A-1 Muffler in Livingston; Lliam Edwards, recently signed with Carroll College in Helena to play football for the Fighting Saints; Sam Jones, attending Oregon State with plans to study Forestry; and Weston Vincent, attending flight school at the Mission Field Airport.
Senior Ben Cipriani led the way on the mound for the Rangers. He kept the Maroons in check through three innings, until the fourth, when they broke through with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to center field. They followed it up with two more runs on a combination of base hits and fielding errors by the Rangers. The Rangers eventually got in on the scoring during the bottom of the fifth inning on a one-out triple to make the score 1-5. The top of seventh brought an explosion of offense from the Maroons with four runs to make the deficit eight.
If the Rangers were going to clinch the No. 3 seed, they would need to score 13 runs in the bottom of the seventh. The scene was set for a storybook ending—but could they pull it off? They scored three runs on sloppy pitching and errant throws before Butte’s pitcher, Gunnar O’Brien, shut the door on the Rangers playoff hopes. The right-hander pitched a complete game on 107 pitches, only surrendering four runs (three earned) on just four hits, while striking out four batters—an impressive performance to deny the Rangers a comeback.
On the Ranger’s season, Manager Bruce Lay said, “Park High Baseball. What a great season! It didn’t end the storybook way we wanted, but overall, this was a successful and memorable season. We won more games than previous years and we have a good crop of players coming back, including our impressive coaching staff. I’ve coached the senior players since they were 10 years old and that made this season even more special.”
“My main goal in coaching, whatever sport, is to help develop the athletes into respectful, kind, fun, and competitive young men. My second goal is to have a successful program and that happens when the primary goal is obtained. I’m super proud of this year's Varsity and JV teams. The Livingston community can hold its head high with the way these players and coaches won and lost games—we did it with class.”
Lay and the Park High baseball staff would like to thank those who came out to support the boys throughout the season, including donors. Further donations are welcomed and can be made out to Park High Baseball and sent to 515 W. Park Street, Livingston, MT 59047. Donations are tax deductible.