Mariners lose in Alaska

Mission Valley could still follow same path it took to win state

The Daily Inter Lake

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Errors got to the Mission Valley Mariners Saturday.

After committing six errors in their opening-round victory over the Oregon state champs Friday at the American Legion Baseball Northwest Class A Regional Tournament, the Mariners had five errors in a 7-3 second-round loss to Box Elder, Utah.

Box Elder pitcher Daniel Smith pitched 8 2/3 innings, giving up just six hits and four walks with 13 strikeouts.

Mission Valley pitcher Eric Locke struck out 11 batters through seven innings, but he gave up eight walks in falling to 10-2 on the season.

The walks coupled with the errors proved too much as the teams equaled each other with six hits.

The Mariners (61-9), who also lost their second-round game at state before climbing out of the losers' bracket to win the title, will play a loser-out game today at 2 p.m. against Wheatland, Wyo. (39-19).

Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the second inning, John Rausch gave the Mariners the lead with a two-run double.

The Bees tied it in the fourth inning and then pulled ahead, 4-2, with two runs in sixth. The Bees added a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Mariner left fielder Will Gordon was 2-for-4 with the bat and shortstop Cubbie Pierre hit a homer in the ninth to lead the team offensively.

Box Elder 010 102 120 - 7 6 2

Mission 020 000 001 - 3 6 5

Daniel Smith, Tyler Webb (9) and Matt McArthur. Eric Locke, Kyle Bagnell (8) and John Rausch. W - Smith. L - Locke (10-2).

BOX ELDER - Derrick Leischman 0-5, Webb 0-2, Justin Crosbie 0-5, Smith 2-4, Tyson Thompson 1-2, Taylor Larson 1-2, Brandon Whitley 1-4, McArthur 0-4, Zach Lindley 1-3.

MISSION VALLEY - Kyle Brown 1-4, Locke 0-4, Tim Rausch 0-4, Brandon Thompson 0-4, Will Gordon 2-4, Tyler Linse 0-3, Beau Nordberg 1-2, Brandon Roy 0-1, Cubbie Pierre 1-4, John Rausch 1-3.

RBIs - BE 2 (Smith, Whitley), MV 3 (Pierre, J. Rausch 2). 2B - J. Rausch. HR - Pierre.-----

Northwest Class A Regional Tournament

in Anchorage, Alaska

Saturday

Ashland, Ore. 21, Fairbanks 3

Wheatland, Wyo. 16, South Anchorage 0

Box Elder, Utah 7, Mission Valley 2

Richland, Wash. vs. Bear Lake, Idaho, late

Today

2 p.m. - Mission Valley vs. Wheatland

5 p.m. - Ashland vs. late loser

8 p.m. - Box Elder vs. late winner