Dillon Cubs' State Tournament Run Ends in Heartbreaking 11-10 Loss to Havre (Photo Gallery)

The Dillon Cubs saw their State A American Legion Tournament run come to a heartbreaking end Friday afternoon, falling 11-10 to the Havre Northstars A 18U in an elimination game.

Despite outhitting Havre 10-9 and battling back multiple times throughout the contest, the Cubs were unable to hold onto a late lead as Havre scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to complete the comeback.

Havre jumped out to an early advantage in the opening inning when Connor Essert singled to center field and Kody Standiford ripped a double down the right-field line, each driving in two runs to give the Northstars a quick lead.

The Cubs chipped away before finally pulling even in the bottom of the fourth. Kanin Engelhardt drew a bases-loaded walk, and Sawyer Tackett followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Dillon grabbed its first lead of the afternoon in the fifth inning when an error allowed the go-ahead run to score, putting the Cubs in front 7-6.

Havre answered immediately in the sixth as Quinn Elliot blasted a game-tying triple. The Cubs responded in the bottom half of the inning, reclaiming the lead after Cooper Clarke lined an RBI single down the left-field line and Ben Peacock drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-7.

With their season on the line, the Northstars mounted one final rally in the seventh. Elliot delivered the decisive blow with a three-run triple before Brayden McLain added an RBI walk, giving Havre an 11-9 advantage.

Dillon mounted one last comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh, scoring once, but the rally came up just short as Havre escaped with the 11-10 victory.

Teegan Solomon earned the win for Havre, allowing one unearned run on one hit over the final 1⅓ innings while striking out two. Kanin Engelhardt was charged with the loss in relief. Parker Mills started for the Cubs, allowing six runs—five earned—over 4⅓ innings while striking out three.

The Cubs finished with 10 hits, led by Sawyer Tackett, who went a perfect 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and three stolen bases. Andrew Bartlome also drove in two runs, while Trenton Moreni and Parker Mills each collected multiple hits. Dillon was aggressive on the bases all afternoon, stealing six bases.

Quinn Elliot powered the Havre offense, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including the game-changing triple in the seventh inning. Maddox Keller added two hits, while the Northstars showed patience at the plate by drawing nine walks.

The loss ends the Dillon Cubs' run at the State A Tournament after an impressive season that saw them battle their way into the state field and compete until the final out. Although their championship hopes came to an end, the Cubs demonstrated resilience throughout the tournament, nearly completing another comeback before falling by a single run in one of the tournament's most exciting elimination games.