Locke strikes out 12, Mariners win

| July 8, 2007 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

Eric Locke pitched a masterpiece and supported it with his bat.

Locke went the distance, striking out 12 and allowing just three singles, as the Mission Valley Mariners blanked the Havre Comets 5-0 Saturday afternoon at the John R. Harp Class A American Legion baseball tournament at Griffin Field.

Locke (7-1) earned the win and doubled to drive in two runs in the seventh inning as Mission Valley improved to 42-7 on the season.

Tim Rausch and catcher John Rausch had two hits apiece as Mission Valley out-hit Havre 8-3. Brandon Thompson, Joe McCarthy and Tim Rausch doubled for the Mariners.

The Mariners finished pool play 3-0, earning a berth in tonight's championship game at 6.

Mission Valley 000 210 2 - 5 8 0

Havre 000 000 0 - 0 3 0

Eric Locke and John Rausch. John Haas and Shane Kemmer. W - Locke (7-1). L - Haas (NA).

MISSION VALLEY (42-7) - J. Rausch 2-3, Locke 1-3, Tim Rausch 2-4, Brandon Thompson 1-3, Will Gordon 1-3, Beau Nordberg 0-2, Cubby Pierre 0-3, Craig Bagnell 0-2, Joe McCarthy 1-2.

HAVRE (NA) - Kyle Miller 0-3, Brett Normandy 0-3, Kemmer 0-2, Paul Jensen 1-3, Gavin Swietnicki 0-3, Nick Nault 0-3, Cam Schilling 1-3, Adam Briese 1-2, Nolen Holden 0-2.

RBIs - MV 4 (Locke 2, Thompson, McCarthy), Havre 0. 2B - MV 4 (Locke, T. Rausch, Thompson, McCarthy), Havre 0. SB - MV 2 (J. Rausch, Locke), Havre 0. SAC - MV 1 (Locke), Havre 0.