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BASEBALL Professional baseball history in Great Falls dates back 80 years when its esteemed ballpark, Centene Stadium at Legion Park, was constructed in 1940. Renovations over the years have given the stadium a more updated and modern look than its 1940 birthday would indicate while keeping the essence of the old ballpark. The renovations included a new office wing in 2003, expanded concourse in 2010, a new outfield in 2014, and many more upgrades with spacious bathrooms and concession areas. The Centene Stadium is where the home games of the advanced rookie league team, the Great Falls Voyagers, are played. The Voyagers and the team's intergalactic mascot, Orbit, got their name from a famous UFO sighting in 1950. Orbit is popular with fans of all ages. In 2013, he was named the top mascot in the Pioneer League in a competition to name the greatest mascot in Minor League Baseball. The independent professional Major League Baseball Partner League team plays in the Pioneer League with teams in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah. The Northern Division is made up of teams in Great Falls, Billings, Missoula, and Idaho Falls. The Voyager's season plays 96 games, split equally between home and away. Great Falls also has a single American Legion baseball organization. It is under the umbrella of the Electric City Baseball Academy. They field teams at the AA level (Chargers), A level (Lightning), and B level (Lightning). In addition to this, there are three Little Leagues in Great Falls. Players are placed according to which part of town they live. Registration starts in December for T-ball, baseball, and softball for kids ages 5 and up. For more information: Great Falls Voyagers Centene Stadium 1015 25th St N (406) 452-5311 • gfvoyagers.com American Legion: gfchargers.org Riverside: leagues.bluesombrero.com/riversidell Westside: clubs.bluesombrero.com/westsidellmt Americans: gfall.org COLLEGIATE SPORTS The University of Providence and its 1,800-seat McLaughlin Center gymnasium is the home of the Argos, which compete in both the Frontier Conference and the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The sports in the Frontier Conference include: men's and women's basketball, golf, rodeo, cross country, track and field, men's ice hockey, and women's volleyball. The sports in the Cascade Collegiate Conference include: men's and women's soccer, wrestling, and softball. The Frontier Conference falls under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) which also includes MSU- Northern, UM-Western, Rocky Mountain College, and Carroll College in Montana, along with schools from Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Competition runs from late August through early March. For more information: (406) 791-5926 • upargos.com HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS The city's two public high schools – C.M. Russell and Great Falls High – have boys' and girls' teams in cross country, golf, soccer, basketball, swimming, softball, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. Boys also compete in football, and girls participate in volleyball. Both schools compete in Class AA, the largest of Montana's four prep sports classifications. Central Catholic High School sports include: football, wrestling, tennis, boys' and girls' cross country, golf, basketball, track and field, girls' volleyball, and softball. Foothills Community Christian School fields high school girls' volleyball, boys' soccer, and girls' and boys' basketball and golf as well as several middle school and upper elementary level teams. For more information: Great Falls Public Schools (406) 268-6082 • gfps.k12.mt.us Great Falls Central Catholic High School (406) 216-3344 • greatfallscentral.org Foothills Community Christian School (406) 452-5276 • foothillschristian.org 72 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org Sports Scene Draws Crowds S P O RT S S C E N E Photo by Photo Solutions * Businesses listed in blue are Chamber Members.