1975 Chargers honored at Sunday's Voyagers game

The Great Falls Tribune and Great Falls Voyagers teamed up Sunday for another installment of the Championship First Pitch promotion, this time honoring the 1975 Great Falls Chargers.

The Chargers of that year won the Class American Legion Baseball state championship with a 44-15 record, taking down the crosstown rival Electrics for the title. It was just the second year of the Chargers program.

The State AA tournament was played in Billings at Cobb Field, but players from the Electric City dominated. Of the 10 players ultimately named to the all-tournament team in a balloting of sportswriters and sportscasters that covered the event, eight were from Great Falls.

The team was managed by Clarence Kropp. Ken Kelly was the coach.

The squad included Gene Ulmer, Brad Bauman, Jimmy Flannery, Joe Shupe, Gary Anderson, Dale Taylor, Rick Vancleeve, Jerry McKinley, Mike Schultz, Bill Preston, Jerry Olson, Steve Owings, Glen Carter, Steve Vukasin, Ken Duffy, Ernie Fulp and Lee Cline.

The Tribune's"Championship First Pitch" promotions in conjunction with the Voyagers will continue this month at Centene Stadium.

We're also offering a fan to throw out the ceremonial first pitch one night at the ballpark in a contest that runs until the last week of the season. To enter, describe in 250 words or less why you're the best fan of the Voyagers. Fans can also nominate others for the honor by emailing sports columnist Scott Mansch at smansch@greatfallstribune.com.