Lakers 10-run Rangers

Reichhoff pitches compete-game 6-hitter

Quick and easy.

That's the only way to describe Kalispell's Class AA American Legion baseball team's victory Thursday evening over Class A Kootenai Valley at Griffin Field.

Kalispell 16-year-old pitcher Tyler Reichhoff spread six hits over seven innings and 18-year-old shortstop Dan Conners was just a home run away from hitting for the cycle in the Lakers' 15-4 victory.

The game was shortened to seven innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. The date was scheduled as a doubleheader but was changed to one nine-inning game.

Both teams played well. They combined for only six walks and two errors. But the strength of the AA squad was apparent. It pounded 18 hits off three Ranger pitchers.

"I was real happy with our hitting," Kalispell coach Ryan Malmin said. "We consistently hit line drives or hit it on the ground and we got hits with runners on base. What did we leave on base (Wednesday) - 13 baserunners?"

Reichhoff improved to 3-2 on the mound by striking out six batters and walking two.

"He threw real well," Kalispell catcher Ryan Laughlin said. "He wasn't hitting his spots consistently but threw hard and located well. His inside fastball was the best."

Reichhoff got off to a tough start. After striking out the first two batters of the game, he gave up a walk and then a two-run home run to Jordan Lundberg.

"I did alright," Reichhoff said. "I could have done better. I wasn't hitting my spots good enough and when I missed, they crushed me."

Lundberg started on the mound for the Rangers and was the only player on the team with more than one hit. He was relieved by Kris Chupp in the second inning when the Lakers took the lead for good, 6-2.

The Lakers had four kids get three hits apiece. No. 9 hitter Tucker Hankinson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. John White and Dan Conners each went 3-for-4. White stopped short with a double on a for-sure triple and Conners had an RBI double and an RBI triple. Adam Olson went 3-for-5 with a double and led the team with three RBIs. Zac Ford and Chris Hooley each had two hits.

The Lakers improved to 13-10 on the season and have quietly won 10 of their last 15 games. They put their 2-0 Western AA record on the line Sunday when they host Missoula in a single nine-inning game. The game will be broadcast on 880 AM KJJR by Todd Dowen. Monday, the team travels to Missoula for another Western AA game.

The Rangers dropped to 12-14 on the season.

"We have a handful of kids going through graduation stuff this week so I let them kind of do what they want this week," Kootenai Valley coach Jim Henrie said. "They are all starting their summer jobs and are pretty tired. We are doing alright. But these guys sure hit the ball hard against us."

The Rangers will play Sanders County in a Western District North Sub-Division game Saturday on the road.

Kootenai Valley 200 011 0 - 4 6 1

Kalispell 240 420 x - 15 18 1

Jordan Lundberg, Kris Chupp (2), Kraig Chupp (5) and JD Belstad. Tyler Reichhoff and Ryan Laughlin. W - Reichoff (3-2). L - Lundberg (4-3).

KOOTENAI VALLEY (12-14) - Belstad 1-4, Kris Chupp 1-4, Zach Niewsma 0-2, Lundberg 2-3, Kraig Chupp 1-3, Justin Cummings 0-3, Gram Cook 0-2, Jeremy Peerson 0-1, Clete DeShazer 1-2, Pat Broom 0-3.

KALISPELL (13-10) - Chris Hooley 2-4, John White 3-4, Weston Chambers 0-1, Dan Conners 3-4, Zac Ford 2-3, Reichhoff 0-4, Adam Olson 3-5, Laughlin 1-3, Jeremy Chambers 1-2, Tucker Hankinson 3-3.

RBIs - KV 4 (Lundberg 2, Kraig Chupp, Belstad), Kal. 12 (Olson 3, Conners 2, Hankinson 2, J. Chambers, Laughlin, Hooley, White, Ford). HR - KV 1 (Lundberg), Kal. 0. 3B - KV 0, Kal. 1 (Conners). 2B - KV 1 (Belstad), Kal. 3 (White, Conners, Olson). SAC - KV 0, Kal. 1 (Hooley).