Lockwood High Boasts Young Roster in Inaugural Baseball Season

New Montana high school team features mostly underclassmen, but coaches see plenty of talent and potential.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:50pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a high school baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conveying the energy and potential of Lockwood's young roster.A youthful Lockwood High baseball team embraces the challenge of building a new program from the ground up.Bozeman Today

Lockwood High School, one of the newest additions to Montana's high school baseball landscape, is fielding a roster dominated by underclassmen in its inaugural season. With just one senior on the team, the Lions are relying on a mix of experienced travel ball players and newcomers to the sport as they look to build a competitive program from the ground up.

Why it matters

The rapid growth of high school baseball in Montana has led to the creation of new programs like Lockwood, which is providing opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills and passion for the game. The Lions' youthful roster reflects the increasing participation in youth baseball across the state.

The details

Lockwood head coach Bryce Wright was pleasantly surprised by the strong turnout of 28 players at the team's first indoor practice in January. The roster features a blend of experienced travel ball players and newcomers to the sport, with many underclassmen expected to see significant playing time. Despite the lack of varsity experience, the Lions opened their inaugural season with a victory over Billings Senior, boosting the team's confidence and energy heading into the rest of the schedule.

  • Lockwood held its first indoor practice on the first Tuesday in January 2026.
  • The Lions opened their inaugural season with a victory over Billings Senior.
  • Lockwood currently holds a 1-2 record and will play their next game on Tuesday at Columbus.

The players

Bryce Wright

The head coach of the Lockwood High School baseball team, who was pleasantly surprised by the strong turnout of 28 players at the team's first indoor practice.

Tyler Lieneman

A Lockwood outfielder who has played travel ball for the Billings Expos 18U AA team and has been playing baseball since tee ball.

Macclain Thompson

A Lockwood freshman who said the team's opening-game victory over Billings Senior provided a big confidence and morale boost for the players.

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What they’re saying

“The first Tuesday in January we went to an indoor complex and had 28 kids show up that first day on the west end. I got to see real quick the talent and skill level our guys had.”

— Bryce Wright, Head Coach

“For some of our juniors and seniors it's been a couple years since they played, but our younger kids coming up — a lot of them played Little League or Club or Legion ball.”

— Bryce Wright, Head Coach

“I play travel ball for the Billings Expos, the 18U AA team. I've been playing baseball my entire life since tee ball. I just stuck with it. I love it.”

— Tyler Lieneman, Lockwood Outfielder

“It boosted our confidence a bunch. We come into every game with a lot of energy now. High energy, lot of confidence and just believe in ourselves.”

— Macclain Thompson, Lockwood Freshman

“A big confidence and morale boost for our kids. All of us coaches have talked, and we have a very talented team. Now it's how talented are we compared to everyone else.”

— Bryce Wright, Head Coach

What’s next

Lockwood will play their next game on Tuesday at Columbus as they continue to build momentum in their inaugural season.

The takeaway

Lockwood High School's new baseball program is embracing the challenge of developing a competitive team with a roster dominated by underclassmen. The Lions' early success and strong team morale suggest the program is well-positioned to grow and become a force in Montana high school baseball in the years to come.