Sitting 1-0 fastball, DeMers nailed the Billings Scarlets’ coffin shut Tuesday night in 8-1 and 10-2 Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion Baseball conference victories, pulling Adam Hust’s previously undefeated league club back to the pack.
“I just saw a pitch I could drive,” DeMers, a rising sophomore at Helena Capital, said. “Got a barrel to it. Got blessed with a home run right there…
“Felt really good. Just extra insurance runs for [Will] Lyng. He had a really good game. Felt good to turn on a ball.”
DeMers, promoted straight from the Class B Independents, passed an initial varsity test back in April. Then, the early-spring doldrums hit, a 13-for-57 (.228) month of May that produced just two extra-base hits and more strikeouts (11) than walks (8).
Since June 1, though, DeMers is 22-for-56 (.393) with an OPS north of 1.000 and a team-best 24 RBI. His Tuesday night long ball was extra-base knock No. 7, DeMers’ first-inning Game 1 walk No. 10 against just four punch outs.
#5 James DeMers. Photo by Gary Marshall, bmgphotos.com
#10 Tyler Beaver. Photo by Gary Marshall, bmgphotos.com
#15 Carter Perlinski. Gary Marshall, bmgphotos.com
