DJ Bauer
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MMJ/sports reporter: @ABCFOXMT & @SWXMontana | Creator: @Bauertology | Proud alum '21: @PSUBellisario | Hopeless fan: @Pirates
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Articles by DJ Bauer
Sentinel sweeps State AA soccer as boys beat Bozeman 2-0 for first title in 26 years
MISSOULA, Mont. -- In both boys and girls soccer, the Sentinel Spartans are the kings and queens of the Class AA world. After the Sentinel girls defeated Gallatin 1-0 on Saturday afternoon to claim their first ever soccer state championship, the Spartan boys followed suit, pushing past Bozeman 2-0 to take the gold for the first time since 2000. "The girls put the pressure on, so there was only one outcome that we could do," said Sentinel head coach Justin Mikkola. "They deserved it.
Braylee Smith lifts Sentinel to 1-0 win, first ever Class AA girls' state soccer title
The Sentinel Spartans are Class AA girls' soccer champions for the first time ever, with Braylee Smith's goal in the 65th minute lifting Sentinel to a 1-0 championship game win over Gallatin. MISSOULA, Mont. -- The Sentinel Spartans are Class AA girls' soccer champions for the first time in school history. Braylee Smith's goal in the 65th minute of Saturday's championship game in Missoula lifted Sentinel to a 1-0 win over Gallatin. "It feels amazing," said Smith. "It was well-deserved.
Reichman, Three Forks run over Anaconda 46-14 to reach Class B quarterfinals
In just his second game back from injury, Montana State commit Kanon Reichman ran for two 25+ yard touchdowns in the first half of Three Forks' Class B playoff opener, as the Wolves eased past Anaconda 46-14. THREE FORKS, Mont. -- In just his second game back from injury, Three Forks quarterback Kanon Reichman used his arm and legs to power the South division's No. 2 seeded Wolves to a 46-14 triumph over West No. 3 Anaconda in the Class B postseason's first round on Friday night.
Defending champion Manhattan rolls Eureka 55-16 in Class B playoff opener
The defending Class B state champions made easy work of their first-round playoff opponent on Friday night, as Manhattan dominated Eureka 55-16 to advance to the quarterfinals. MANHATTAN, Mont. -- The defending Class B state champions will hold on to their title for another week, as South division No. 1 seed Manhattan roared to a big 55-16 victory over West division No. 4 seed Eureka 55-16 on Friday night.
Butte one of five cities to address senior affordable housing through MBOH funds
BUTTE, Mont. -- Affordable housing remains a challenge across Montana, especially for seniors. But a number of projects looking to create more than a hundred new affordable homes are on the horizon.
Butte one of five cities to address senior affordable housing through MBOH funds Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- Affordable housing remains a challenge across Montana, especially for seniors. But a number of projects looking to create more than a hundred new affordable homes are on the horizon. Last week, the Montana Board of Housing (MBOH) awarded a total of over $40 million in federal housing tax credits to address affordable housing for seniors in five different cities: Missoula, Columbia Falls, Havre, Billings, and Butte.
Butte one of five cities to address senior affordable housing through MBOH funds
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Montana Tech beats Bellevue 3-1 in battle of top Frontier teams
Montana Tech handed No. 12 Bellevue just its second conference defeat of the season on Saturday, as the Orediggers won in four sets (25-22, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16) to strengthen their grip on second place in the Frontier Conference standings. BUTTE, Mont.
Christiansen rushes for 5 TDs, Dillon clinches playoff spot in 51-12 victory over Butte Central
After missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2004, the Dillon Beavers are set to return after defeating Butte Central 51-12, clinching the third and final playoff spot out of the Southwest A division. DILLON, Mont. -- The third and final playoff spot in the Class A Southwest division belongs to Dillon (4-4, 3-2), as the Beavers defeated Butte Central (2-6, 1-4) 51-12 at Vigilante Field on Friday night to claim their postseason bid.
Butte-Silver Bow residents to vote on potential changes to local government structure
BUTTE, Mont. -- In November's elections, Butte-Silver Bow voters will get to decide if they want to see some major changes to the way that their local government is run.
Butte-Silver Bow residents to vote on potential changes to local government structure Original
In the upcoming November election, Butte Silver-Bow voters face pivotal decisions on restructuring their local government, including potential reducing the Council of Commissioners from 12 part-time to 4 full-time members, as recommended by a government study commission. BUTTE, Mont. -- In November's elections, Butte-Silver Bow voters will get to decide if they want to see some major changes to the way that their local government is run.
Butte-Silver Bow residents to vote on potential changes to local government structure
In the upcoming November election, Butte Silver-Bow voters face pivotal decisions on restructuring their local government, including potential reducing the Council of Commissioners from 12 part-time to 4 full-time members, as recommended by a government study commission. kAmq&%%t[ |@?E] \\ x?
No. 1 College of Idaho rolls in 52-7 victory at Montana Western
Relive the highlights from College of Idaho's dominant 52-7 win over Montana Western, a game broadcasted live on SWX. DILLON, Mont. -- The College of Idaho Yotes (6-0, 2-0) lived up to their No. 1 ranking on Saturday, dismantling Montana Western (2-5, 0-3) 52-7 at Bulldog Stadium in Dillon. Senior quarterback Caden Young proved particularly impressive as a dual threat, passing for 237 yards and a touchdown, while providing 139 yards and three additional scores on the ground.
Hamilton secures Southwest A's No. 1 seed after 42-7 win at Butte Central
The Hamilton Broncs have clinched the Southwest A's No. 1 seed after besting Butte Central 42-7 on Friday night. BUTTE, Mont. -- The Hamilton Broncs (6-1, 4-0) will head to the Class A postseason as the Southwest division's No. 1 seed after knocking off Butte Central (2-4, 1-3) 42-7 at Bob Green Field on Friday night. The game got to a slow start offensively, as the teams traded turnovers on their opening possessions, followed by a Hamilton turnover on downs and a Butte Central punt.
Bulldogs playoff-bound following 45-8 thrashing of Hellgate
The Butte High Bulldogs will be headed to the Class AA playoffs for the ninth consecutive season after besting Hellgate 45-8 on Friday night. BUTTE, Mont. -- For the ninth straight season, the Butte High Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3) will be headed to the Class AA postseason. They officially clinched their spot on Friday night in the final regular season game at Naranche Stadium, besting Hellgate (0-8, 0-6) 45-8.
Toys for Tots kicks off campaign for 2026 Original
In Montana, Toys for Tots gathered nearly 100,000 new toys for 25,000 children in 2025. BUTTE, Mont. -- We're just two months away from Christmas, and while that may be too early for some to start hanging lights and stockings, it's just the right time for Toys for Tots to get underway.
Toys for Tots kicks off campaign for 2026
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Seven different Orediggers score touchdowns in 62-point shutout of MSU Northern
Seven different Orediggers scored touchdowns as Montana Tech trounced MSU Northern in their annual homecoming game 62-0. BUTTE, Mont. -- Saturday's contest at Bob Green Field resulted in a happy homecoming game for the home team, as Montana Tech (6-1, 2-0) erupted for a 62-0 win over MSU Northern (0-6, 0-1). With the victory, the Orediggers have now won 18 straight regular-season home games and 15 straight over the Lights.
Butte flattens Flathead 35-7 in pivotal battle for playoff positioning
Butte's offense roared for five touchdowns, while the defense forced four turnovers, in a big 35-7 win over Flathead on Friday in an important game for the Class AA playoff race. BUTTE, Mont. -- In a battle between two teams tied for the sixth playoff spot out of the Western AA conference entering Friday night, Butte High (3-4, 2-3) bullied Flathead (3-4, 1-4) 35-7 at Naranche Stadium to place themselves ahead of the Braves in the postseason race.
Butte Rescue Mission holds 'Conversations on a Bench' for homelessness awareness Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- The Butte Rescue Mission homeless shelter has helped to combat homelessness in the Mining City since 1976. And they're taking community awareness of the issue one step further this week through 'Conversations on a Bench.' From 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, Butte Rescue Mission director Brayton Erickson is sitting on a park bench for 24 hours straight, having chats with anyone who decides to stop by.
Montana Western falls to Southern Oregon 28-27 in Frontier West opener
The Southern Oregon Raiders put up over 500 yards of offense on the road, scoring the winning touchdown with 51 seconds remaining to beat Montana Western 28-27 on Saturday. DILLON, Mont. -- The Southern Oregon (2-3, 1-0) offense soared in Dillon on Saturday, accumulating over 500 yards and four touchdowns, as the Raiders upset the Montana Western Bulldogs (2-3, 0-1) 28-27 in the Frontier Conference West Division opener.
Zody's 6-TD day pushes Jefferson to 5-0 in 42-39 shootout victory over Townsend
Twelve total touchdowns were scored in an offensive battle between South B rivals Jefferson and Townsend, with the Panthers pulling out the 42-39 victory. BOULDER, Mont. -- Star senior QB Tyzer Zody scored all six of Jefferson's (5-0, 3-0) touchdowns (five on the ground, one in the air) in a thrilling offensive battle between Class B South division rivals, the Panthers outlasting Townsend (3-2, 1-2) 42-39 to stay undefeated.
Bozeman completes reverse sweep of Gallatin in thrilling crosstown clash
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Bozeman (11-1, 6-1) converted a thrilling reverse sweep (23-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10) of crosstown rival Gallatin (10-2, 6-2) in Thursday's meeting, a game broadcasted live on SWX. The two entered the matchup in a virtual tie atop the Eastern AA standings, with the winner given an inside track to be the East's eventual No. 1 seed for the upcoming Class AA state volleyball tournament.
Soil cleanup begins at Butte's Diggings East site Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- New Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards are in effect for the Superfund site in Butte-Silver Bow, and projects to clean up contaminated soil after years of mining waste and transform these areas into clean, inhabitable spaces are in the works. As of Tuesday, soil cleanup at the Diggings East site (south of George Street and east of Kaw Avenue) has begun.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library hands out one millionth book in Montana Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- Though county music icon Dolly Parton sadly passed away in August, her legacy will live on for generation across the country and in Montana--and not just because of her music. Monday marked a special occasion for statewide youth literacy, as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program responsible for providing free books to children under the age of 5, officially handed out its one-millionth book in Montana.
No. 24 Montana Tech rolls to 3-0 sweep of MSU Northern
No. 24 Montana Tech put on a clinical performance in Saturday's sweep of MSU Northern, recording 25-11, 25-14, and 25-20 set victories. BUTTE, Mont. -- No. 24 Montana Tech volleyball (12-3, 6-2) remains one of the top teams in the Frontier Conference standings after knocking off MSU Northern (7-7, 3-5) in three sets at the HPER Complex on Saturday. The Orediggers, who began the 2026 campaign winning 10 of their first 11 games, entered the NAIA top 25 for the first time this season last week.
Flint Creek dominates in battle of unbeatens, thumps Twin Bridges 68-13
A battle of undefeated 8-man football teams on Friday turned into a lopsided affair, as Flint Creek dominated Twin Bridges 68-13 to move to 5-0. TWIN BRIDGES, Mont. -- Friday night's battle of unbeaten 8-man teams at Twin Bridges' (4-1) Carroll Field proved to be a lopsided affair, as Flint Creek (5-0) rolled to a 68-13 victory over the Falcons.
Anaconda's Washoe Theatre lights up for 90th anniversary Original
ANACONDA, Mont. -- The city of Anaconda will be glowing on Thursday night, as its iconic movie theater celebrates an important milestone. As of Sept. 24, 2026, it's been exactly 90 years to the day since the Washoe Theatre, a prominent attraction on Main Street, first opened its doors to the public.
Montana Supreme Court grants injunction to put Butte data center initiative on November ballot Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- A ballot initiative looking to make the prospect of building data centers in Butte a votable issue, which was shot down in district court due to a signature collection deadline dispute, appears to be heading to the ballot after all. This comes after an injunction granted by the Montana Supreme Court, as they wait to rule on an appeal submitted by 406 People First, the group behind the initiative.
Butte honors military veterans with memorial stars Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- Butte, America remains as patriotic as ever during the nation's 250th birthday, with the installation of a new memorial honoring the city's military veterans. As of Tuesday, Butte's Stodden Park is now the home of Blue Star, Gold Star, and Green Star Memorial By-Way markers. Etched in the granite obelisk near the park's entrance, each star signifies the sacrifices made by military veterans and their families.
Oredigger offense explodes for 600 yards, 8 TDs in 58-10 stomping of SOU
Montana Tech scored eight touchdowns and posted over 600 yards of offense in a 58-10 beatdown of Southern Oregon in Butte on Saturday. BUTTE, Mont. -- No. 3 Montana Tech (4-0) scored touchdowns on each of its first eight possessions in a 58-10 thrashing of Southern Oregon at Bob Green Field on Saturday. Ranked third in all of NAIA, the highest such placement in school history, the Orediggers entered Saturday's Hall of Fame game coming off back-to-back ranked wins over Carroll and Montana Western.
Big Sky wins nail-biter in Butte 22-21 to remain unbeaten
Montana commit Eli Kasberg accounted for three total touchdowns in Big Sky's nail-biting 22-21 victory at Butte on Friday to remain unbeaten. BUTTE, Mont. -- The Big Sky Eagles (4-0, 2-0) remain unbeaten following a down-to-the-wire 22-21 victory at Butte (1-3, 0-2) on Friday night, in which Montana Grizzlies commit Eli Kasberg accounted for three total touchdowns.
U.S. officials tour mining technologies, innovations at Montana Tech Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- A national initiative to reinvigorate America's mining workforce brought government officials to the Mining City. Friday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson and the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation toured the Underground Mine Education Center at Montana Tech, the only on-campus educational mine in the country.
Oredigger defense, running game shows out in 34-7 triumph over Bulldogs
A dominant defensive performance and 200-yard rushing game by transfer senior Jamal Cariglia helped carry No. 5 Montana Tech to a big 34-7 win over rival Montana Western on Saturday. DILLON, Mont. -- The No. 5 Montana Tech (3-0) defense came to play on Saturday, largely stopping the typically explosive No. 18 Montana Western (1-1) offense in a 34-7 rivalry game victory at Bulldog Stadium.
Butte Central rolls Ronan 54-0 on homecoming, Sutton tosses school-record 6 TDs
BUTTE, Mont. -- It was a happy homecoming for Butte Central (1-2) at Bob Green Field on Friday night, as the Marooned trounced Ronan (1-2) 54-0 behind a record-breaking performance by quarterback Noah Sutton. The sophomore threw 6 total touchdowns in the victory, eclipsing the prior single-game high of 5 held by various other Butte Central QBs. The first came on a 67-yard connection to older brother Joshua Sutton early in the first quarter, setting the tone for a dominant Maroons victory.
Community looks to rebuild ski resort impacted by wildfire Original
POLARIS, Mont. -- Fundraising efforts are underway to help rebuild a beloved ski resort ravaged by wildfire this summer. Maverick Mountain has been one of the Southwest Montana's most popular skiing spots since opening in 1946. But the outbreak of the multi-thousand-acre Sand Creek Fire in August took its tool on the resort, as the fire destroyed both the chair lift and patrol shack completely. Thankfully, the ski lodge remains standing due to the work of firefighters.
Butte commissioners discuss possibility of data center moratorium Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- While the group behind a recently rejected ballot initiative waits for their case to be heard at the Montana Supreme Court, other resolutions are potentially being worked out at the local level. As of last Wednesday, the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners are considering a proposal that would impose a moratorium, preventing the construction of any new data centers until further discussion is had.
Montana Tech forces four Carroll turnovers, Orediggers defeat Saints for sixth straight time
For the sixth consecutive time, Montana's most-played college football rivalry game went the way of Montana Tech, as the Orediggers forced four second-half turnovers to topple Carroll College 24-14. BUTTE, Mont. -- No. 5 Montana Tech's regular-season winning streak has reached 18, as the Orediggers (2-0) bested No. 11 Carroll College (1-1) 24-14, marking Tech's sixth consecutive victory over their rivals an hour north.
Lee's trio of first-half TDs powers Butte to 38-15 win over Skyview
Senior running back Miner Lee notched three touchdowns in the first half of Butte's convincing win over Billings Skyview 38-15 on Friday night. BUTTE, Mont. -- Senior running back Miner Lee played a major role in collecting Butte High (1-1) its first victory of the season, as he tallied three first-half touchdowns in Friday's 38-15 victory over Billings Skyview (0-2) at Naranche Stadium.
Butte group behind data center initiative to appeal to Montana Supreme Court
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Butte group behind data center initiative to appeal to Montana Supreme Court Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- An ongoing lawsuit in Butte-Silver Bow district court regarding one group's efforts to make the idea of building a data center in Butte a votable issue is prepared to take the next step via appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.
Kelvin Sampson revisits Butte roots at Montana Tech youth camp
Kelvin Sampson helped host a youth camp at Montana Tech this weekend, allowing the legendary college basketball coach a chance to reconnect with his roots in Butte from over 40 years ago. BUTTE, Mont. -- Few names in the history of Montana Tech athletics command the same sort of respect as Kelvin Sampson: the man largely responsible for putting Oredigger basketball on the map.
Three Forks outlasts Florence 34-28 in season-opening thriller
A top-tier matchup to start the Class B football season lived up to the hype, as Three Forks outlasted Florence 34-28 on Friday to start the 2026 season 1-0. THREE FORKS, Mont. -- Three Forks (1-0) needed all 48 minutes of Friday's season opener to come out victorious against Florence-Carlton (0-1), as the Wolves outlasted the Falcons 34-28 in a back-and-forth fight to the finish.
Butte family collects 7.5 tons of donations for Spokane fire victims Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- Tens of thousands of people have been impacted by the destructive wildfires in Spokane this summer, and support has come flooding in from everywhere, including from over 300 miles away in Butte, America. In early August, Butte resident Crystal Mjelde and her family started up the "Butte Supports Spokane" campaign, working to collect donations of clothing, food, water, diapers, hygiene items, cleaning items, and much more to take to Spokane.
Montana Tech's Jarrett Wilson notches four total TDs in season-opening stomping of OUAZ
The fifth-ranked Montana Tech Orediggers lived up to the hype in their season-opening Copper Game, crushing Ottawa (Arizona) 48-0 behind Jarrett Wilson's four total touchdowns. BUTTE, Mont. -- No. 5 Montana Tech's season opened with a bang on Thursday night, as the Orediggers blasted past Ottawa (Arizona) 48-0 in the annual Copper Game at Bob Green Field.
Dillon ready to return to winning ways after letdown 2025 season
SWX goes 3-and-Out with the Dillon Beavers, who are looking for a rebound season following a letdown campaign in 2025. DILLON, Mont. -- The 2025 season was a historic one for the Dillon Beavers--just not in a good way. In losing the regular season finale at Butte Central, last season's Dillon team became the first to miss the Class A playoffs in 21 years. While the sting of that shortcoming served as a teaching moment, this year's Beavers aren't lingering on it any longer.
Playoff experience, larger roster makes for confidence in 2026 at Butte Central fall camp
SWX goes 3-and-Out with the Butte Central Maroons, who are hoping to build off a playoff appearance in 2025--their first in six years. BUTTE, Mont. -- Coming off their most successful season in the past decade, Butte Central returns the right mix of experience, roster size, and hunger to feel confident in their chances for 2026. The Maroons finished the 2025 regular season at 5-3, winning in the final week of the regular season against Dillon to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2019.
Our Lady of the Rockies fundraises to build gondola Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- It's been over 40 years since Our Lady of the Rockies first made her home atop Butte's East Ridge. In all the time that has passed since, it's never been very easy to visit her up close and personal--but that could be changing soon. As it stands, the only way to visit the 90-foot-tall statue of Mother Mary is a 45-minute bus tour up the East Ridge's rocky terrain. As a result, tours only take place in summer when weather permits.
Butte district court judge to make ruling on data center initiative lawsuit Original
BUTTE, Mont. -- A ballot initiative to put the idea of building a data center in Butte up to a vote, which had collected the necessary signatures to appear in the November elections, may not appear on the ballot after all. The coalition behind the initiative, 406 People First, filed suit against the city-county of Butte-Silver Bow, after the County Clerk & Recorder nullified their petition over a discrepancy in the signature collection deadline.
QB competition highlights fall camp as Montana Western readies for new Frontier season
The start of Frontier Conference football season is nearly here, and Montana Western is hoping to reclaim its spot among NAIA royalty with its typical high-octane offense. DILLON, Mont. -- Fall camp is in full swing in Dillon for Montana Western, one of the most consistently excellent NAIA football programs of recent. The Bulldogs expect 2026 to be no different, even as fresh faces prepare to step into prime positions.
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