BELGRADE — The Butte Miners started the State A American Legion baseball tournament the same way they ended the South A District tournament.

With a lopsided win.

Butte pounded eight extra-base hits Wednesday as the Miners opened with a 15-5 win over the Havre Northstars at Medina Field. (Boxscore)

After falling 1-0, the Miners put up five runs in the bottom of the first inning. After another Northstars run in the top of the second, Butte took command with nine runs in the bottom of the inning.

Next up for the Miners (36-9) is a 4 p.m. game against the Billings Cardinals on Thursday. Billings opened with an 8-6 win over the Bitterroot Red Sox. (Bracket)

Leadoff hitter Kenley Leary went 3 for 4 with three doubles, three runs scored and four RBIs to lead the Miners in the win. Egan Lester went 3 for 3 with a double, while Eric “Chooch” Hart it two doubles.

Ethan “Easy” Cunningham added two singles, while Sean Ossello tripled and Aidan Lee doubled. Butte also got singles from Cayde Stajcar and Zach Tierney. Tierney drove in three runs, while Lester, Hart and Lee each drove in two.

Rye Doherty pitched three and a third innings to get the win. Butte coach Jim LeProwse pulled him after 59 pitches, meaning Doherty will be available to pitch again Saturday.

Trey Hansen pitched an inning and two thirds, fanning five, in relief.

Brody Nanini hit two doubles, and Theron Peterson drove in three runs on a double and a single to lead the Northstars, who will play Bitterroot in a 10 a.m. loser-out game on Thursday.