Carter County Greats Part IV

Editor's note: Following is the fourth and final article in our series about the top ten greatest Carter County athletes of all time, as voted on by our readers.

1) Robert "Bob" Lasater

2) B.J. Padden

3) Ivan Teigen

4) Karen (Markuson) Kreitel

5) TIE - John Ward

5) TIE - Pat Hansen

7) Jesse Barnes

8) Christian "Chris" Bentz

9) Helen (Frye) Blutt: Helen Blutt graduated from Carter County High School in 1939. During her time at CCHS, she was a member of 'C' Club for two years and participated in basketball for 3, lettering as a senior. However, she was primarily known for her success pitching horsehoes.

From the early 1970s to the late 1980s, Blutt dominated the sport, winning at the local, statewide and national levels.

Blutt won 12 National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) State Singles Championship Titles in Montana between 1974 and 1987.

In 1979 Blutt finished 6th in the NHPA Womens World Championship. That year, at the state horseshoe tournament, she defended her state title by winning all of her games and shooting a 73 percent average. One game she shot 83 percent.

Blutt finished 11th in the 1981 NHPA Womens World Championship. She was named to the Montana Horseshoe Hall of Fame in 1982.

Helen and her husband, Joe Blutt, also owned and operated The Ekalaka Locker for several years (continuously between 1951-1977, and multiple times between 1979 and 1987). Helen interacted with hundreds upon hundreds of local kids throughout the high school hangout's existence.

Blutt died in June of 1993 at the age of 71.

10) Tom McCamish: Like Bob Lasater, Tom McCamish was an integral piece of the undefeated 1954 CCHS football team. That year he played quarterback for the Bulldogs, but in 1955 McCamish made the switch to halfback.

McCamish wasn't just a football player for CCHS, he was a four sport standout. During his junior basketball season he averaged nearly 11 points per game as a guard, second on the team. That year CCHS had a 12-5 record in the regular season, beat Terry for the district championship, and went to the divisional tournament. As a senior in 1955, McCamish was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs averaging just over 12 points per game. He was also named to the all tournament team.

McCamish was an exceptional track athlete as well. He competing in dashes, relays, shotput and jumps during his time at CCHS.

According to many subscribers though, baseball was quite possibly his best sport. One reader wrote in a letter to the Eagle: "There is no doubt in my mind that Tom was an undiscovered Bob Feller."

McCamish was the pitcher for the undefeated 1954 CCHS baseball team that outscored opponents, 66-8. In 1955, he pitched the entire 34 innings that CCHS played, gave up 17 runs on 22 hits, walked only 2 batters and had an incredible 67 strikeouts. McCamish also led the team in hitting in 1955 with a .444 average. That year, CCHS outscored opponents, 55-17.

McCamish is a Carter County resident and has been a fine supporter of CCHS athletics since his graduation in 1955.

Honorable Mention

The following athletes, in no specific order, almost made the list of Carter County Greats: Mary Owen, Todd Ziettlow, Jeff Tauck, Harlen Wash, Hannah and Heather LaBree, Jeff Venhaus.

The Eagle welcomes all opinions and letters about the Carter County Greats series. The list of top ten athletes was created from the opinions and votes of our readers.