Gallatin High School baseball team embarks on inaugural season

The Raptors reeled off seven unanswered runs in the final two innings to earn an 11-4 victory in their debut game against Butte High School.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:11pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a high school baseball game, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in the team colors of Gallatin and Butte, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the new program's debut.The inaugural season of Gallatin High School's baseball program begins with a hard-fought victory over Butte High, showcasing the sport's continued growth across Montana.Butte Today

Gallatin High School in Montana has launched its first-ever baseball program, with the Raptors playing their inaugural game on Friday against Butte High School. The team, led by head coach Johnny Graham, overcame a slow start to rally for an 11-4 victory in their debut. The Raptors are part of the new standalone Class AA division as high school baseball continues to grow in the state.

Why it matters

The addition of Gallatin High School's baseball team represents the continued expansion of the sport at the high school level in Montana. After three seasons of all teams playing under one classification, the state has now created a standalone Class AA division, providing more opportunities for student-athletes to compete.

The details

Gallatin High School's baseball team, known as the Raptors, played their first-ever game on Friday against Butte High School. Despite falling behind early, the Raptors rallied with seven unanswered runs in the final two innings to secure an 11-4 victory in their debut. Head coach Johnny Graham, who previously led the Belgrade Bandits, has been working tirelessly with his coaching staff to build the program from the ground up.

  • Gallatin High School's baseball team played their inaugural game on Friday, March 28, 2026.
  • The first State AA tournament is set to take place in Butte at the end of May 2026.

The players

Johnny Graham

The head coach of the Gallatin High School baseball team, who previously led the Belgrade Bandits.

Luis Musial

A senior on the Gallatin High School baseball team who scored the Raptors' first-ever run in the first inning against Butte.

Sam Talbot

A senior on the Gallatin High School baseball team who emphasized the team's one-inning-at-a-time mentality.

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What they’re saying

“Excited for these guys, they've been working, they've been excited for a long time. To come out and get the win in that first game is fantastic.”

— Johnny Graham, Gallatin High School head coach

“It's great to finally wear GHS across our chest.”

— Luis Musial, Gallatin High School senior

“We're more so just playing the game. It doesn't really matter what opponent we're facing. We're just ready to play the game of baseball.”

— Sam Talbot, Gallatin High School senior

What’s next

Four of the Eastern AA teams will qualify for the state tournament, which is set to take place in Butte at the end of May 2026. The Raptors will now begin the journey of trying to lock up a return trip to the Mining City.

The takeaway

The launch of Gallatin High School's baseball program represents the continued growth and expansion of high school baseball in Montana. With the creation of a standalone Class AA division, more student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete at the varsity level, further strengthening the sport's presence across the state.