Errors doom Lakers in loss to Bandits

WHITEFISH - Definitely not a day to remember for the Kalispell Lakers American Legion baseball team.

"I think we had more errors than hits. That's not a good sign," Lakers coach Mike McFarland said after Kalispell fell 11-3 Thursday to the Spokane Bandits at the 21st annual Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Tournament.

Actually, the hit/error ratio was 1-to-1. The Lakers had five hits and five errors, but the point is made.

"We haven't had one of those games in a long time," the coach said. "But I'm not worried about them."

The loss dropped Kalispell to 2-2 in American Pool play. That means in order to play Saturday, the Lakers will need to beat Redmond, Ore., today. Game time is 11:45 a.m. at Memorial Field in Whitefish.

"Hopefully, we can (win)," McFarland said.

Thursday's problems developed early - the first Spokane batter got aboard on an infield error and later scored on an error in the outfield. The second and third Bandit batters singled, the fourth flew out and the fifth hit a two-run homer to left.

When all was said and done in that first inning, Kalispell had given up four hits, had committed three errors and Spokane took advantage with a 4-0 lead.

"You don't want to give up big innings. Once we got started that way, we couldn't get back into it," McFarland said.

Kalispell's half of the first looked promising, though.

Leadoff batter Stefan Malkuch got hit with Spokane pitcher J.D. Peterson's second pitch of the day, stole second and got to third on a Bandit error. Shortstop Dan Conners' single brought him home.

But a double play ball and an unassisted put-out by Spokane first baseman A.J. Proszek ended the inning.

Kalispell added two more runs over the next two innings, but the Bandits had all the answers they needed.

"At 6-3 (in the third), I was amazed we were still in it. It felt like it was 10-0," the coach said.

By the time Spokane was done in the sixth inning, the Lakers weren't in it anymore.

The first six batters got aboard - five hits, another Kalispell error and a walk brought in five runs and put the game pretty much out of reach.

A fielder's choice to third base and a 1-5-3 double play got Kalispell out of the inning, but too much damage had been done.

BANDITS 11, LAKERS 3

Spokane 402 005 0 - 11 12 1

Kalispell 111 000 0 - 3 5 5

J.D. Peterson and Ken VanSickle. Geoff Hogan, Sam Fruedenberg (6) and Jake Fitzsimmons. WP - Peterson. LP - Hogan. HR - Proszek (S). 2B - Krustangel (S), Olson (K), Fitzsimmons (K).

Spokane - Branden Kelley 1-3, Andy Greenslitt 1-4, Chris Bozo 1-2, Ken VanSickle 1-3, A.J. Proszek 1-2, Pat Burke 2-4, Scott Ward 1-4, Himes Alexander 1-4, Jamie McNeill 2-4, Kyle Krustangel 1-2.

RBI: Bozo 2, Van Sickle 2, Burke 2, Ward 1, Burke 1, Krustangel 1.

Kalispell - Stefan Malkuch 0-3, Dan Conners 1-2, Geoff Hogan 0-3, Jake Fitzsimmons 1-4, Craig Olson 1-3, Michael Crail 0-2, Chris Hooley 0-2, Jeremy Chambers 1-3, Sam Fruedenberg 1-3.

RBI: Conners 1, Chambers 1, Olson 1.2005 Sapa-Johnsrud Tournament Schedule

Today

at Memorial Field, Whitefish

9 a.m. - Lethbridge vs. Calgary

11:45 a.m. - Redmond vs. Kalispell

2:30 p.m. - Helena vs. Chino, Cal.

4:15 p.m. - Glacier Twins vs. Spokane.

8 p.m. - All-Star game

at Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Field, Columbia Falls

Noon - Clackamas vs. Apple Valley

p.m. - Billings vs. Meridian.