Great Falls Public Schools is moving forward with fielding high school baseball teams in 2026.

The community-led fundraising committee met their second goal of $95,050 by Jan. 31 for the first year’s operational costs.

The group met the initial milestone of $101,000 by July 31 to cover startup costs.

Startup costs include uniforms, batting helmets, equipment and basic field maintenance equipment.

GFPS moving forward with high school baseball as fundraising group meets first goal [2025]

The ongoing costs include coaching, Montana High School Association dues, umpire fees, field rentals and field maintenance.

Lance Boyd, assistant superintendent, told the school board on Jan. 26 that means the district can field teams in the spring, but the fundraising group still has to raise the $95,050 of operating costs by Jan. 31 for the next two seasons to sustain high school baseball.

The district hired the two baseball coaches in the fall and Boyd said that they met with prospective players before the holiday break so he expects they won’t have a problem having enough players for varsity and junior varsity teams in the spring.

Community group beginning fundraising for GFPS baseball [2025]

The district named the inaugural head baseball coaches as Ed McNamee for Great Falls High and Tony Forster for C.M. Russell High.

McNamee is a GFH alum and long-time GFPS teacher and coach. He’s coached for the last 18 years with the local American Legion program, according to GFPS, as the Class A manager, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. He’s also been on staff for the Big Sky Baseball fall program for the last 9 years, according to GFPS.

McNamee has been the GFPS swimming coach for the last 23 years and periodically served as an assistant football coach at both high schools.

Forster is a CMR alum and played Legion Baseball for the Stallions in high school. He played collegiately at Arizona Western Community College and Valley City State University, according to GFPS.

He’s also coached for the local American Legion program for the past 15 years, serving as head coach of the Chargers the past eight seasons. He served as an assistant football coach at CMR for the past 18 seasons.

The district opened head baseball coach positions for both high schools in May, contingent on the community fundraising effort.

GFPS working to add high school baseball [2025]

Playing and coaching experience is desired for the position that runs March 16-May 30 for $5,530.

Boyd told The Electric in the fall that the district had received more than 20 applicants for the two coaching positions.

Since coaching contracts go out around the end of January, baseball coaches can be named, but if the fundraising committee doesn’t meet the next goal, Boyd said those positions won’t be locked in until those funds are committed.

About two thirds of that annual operating cost is transportation, Boyd said.

During the Aug. 25 school board meeting, Boyd said that the initial goal “was very lofty.”

Boyd said he sent a lot of emails over the summer asking the fundraising committee’s progress and saying he wasn’t sure they’d make it, but “we made it.”

He said Mike Henneberg, the district’s athletic director, was ready to pay the MHSA dues to field baseball in the spring.

Zac Griffin, a member of the fundraising committee, said “we knew it was going to be tough,” but was confident that baseball would start in the spring.

Kali Tuckerman, a member of the fundraising committee, said in August that she thinks this second phase of fundraising would go quicker since they met their first goal though some may wait till November for end of year giving.

“I’m proud of this community for stepping up for these kids,” she said.

GFPS appoints three to baseball advisory committee [2024]

In January 2025, the school board voted unanimously to authorize the community-led fundraising effort to field high school baseball teams in 2026 after hearing a report from Boyd and Henneberg on the feasibility of baseball.

In August 2024, the school board voted to approve adding baseball in the spring of 2026, contingent on a committee being formed under the guidance of GFPS administration; consideration of four factors of betterment of students and baseball in Great Falls, interest and support, financial viability and sustainability, and feasibility; a report being submitted to the board for review by June 1, 2025; and that the startup and operating costs for the first three years would be privately funded. The plan must also outline how Title 9 requirements will be met.

“Yes this is ambitious, but this is the only way we can have baseball start in 2026,” Boyd told the board during their Jan. 13 meeting. “We want baseball to happen,” but if those fundraising thresholds aren’t met, staff will recommend delaying baseball for another fiscal year.

GFPS board votes to add high school baseball, with contingencies [2024]

Boyd said in January 2025 that he’s continuing to monitor the Title 9 implications in terms of equality between girls and boys sports in terms of facilities and field access.

The district is not using Centene Stadium for high school baseball and has agreements with Electric City Baseball for use of Don Olson and Cash Warren fields.

Under the board’s approval to start high school baseball, the program will be community funded for the first three years, which is an estimated $386,150.