BILLINGS — The Heights National Little League team from Billings played its first game in the Northwest Regional Tournament on Sunday evening.
Even though the team was 1,000 miles away in San Bernardino, California, they still had some hometown support.
Fans of Heights National gathered at the Stadium Club in the Heights to root for the home team.
The crowd was mostly made up of the family and friends of the boys on the team.
Lorn Christianson was there to watch his son coach first base, and to see his grandson play ball.
He had some words of encouragement from back home.
"They're the same age and the same size as you are with the same abilities. Just focus on what you can do," Christianson said. "Focus on what you can affect. And don't worry about anything else. It will come together. They're a competitive group of kids, well schooled, well disciplined, focused. This has been on the horizon for them for a long time."
Montana will play the Oregon state champions next on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT. The winner of that game advances to Semifinal No. 1 on Thursday.
