Med Hat sweeps Lakers

Although it seems like its rained just twice this summer in the Flathead Valley, it's been pouring on the Kalispell Lakers Class AA American Legion baseball team.

The Lakers were swept by Medicine Hat in a Western AA doubleheader on Saturday, a day after being swept by Lethbridge, at Griffin Field.

The four conference losses dropped Kalispell to 6-15 and into last place. There will be no state tournament trip for the Lakers, who are now 26-30 overall on the season.

They play again Tuesday night in Whitefish in another Western AA game against the Glacier Twins. A victory there would give the Lakers the four-game season sweep of the Twins, who are in contention for a state tournament berth.

The Moose Monarchs improved to 6-10 in conference and 15-21 overall. They will play a doubleheader today against Glacier.

Medicine Hat 12, Kalispell 7

Trailing 5-3 going into the fifth inning, the Monarchs scored seven runs to put the game out of reach.

Austin Fruson's bases-loaded, two-run single up the middle highlighted the inning. But of the Monarchs' seven runs, only four were earned after a throwing error sailed into right field on a one-out, bases-loaded bunt.

The Lakers took their first lead in the third inning after RBI hits by Zach Ford and Brian Sneck. Prior to that, the Lakers and Monarchs equally traded runs each inning.

Sneck started on the mound and pitched four solid innings. But he wasn't able to pitch himself out of the fateful fifth inning as the Lakers pitching staff played on fumes with everyone's arms hurting.

Dustin Thompson went 3-for-5 while Travis Ozdan, Fruson and Cullen Bradshaw each had two hits in the victory. Fruson finished with three RBIs.

The Monarchs out-hit the Lakers just 12-11.

Ford went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. He's had six hits in the last six games. Tyler Reichoff went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Derek Keller added two hits.

Medicine Hat 120 070 2 - 12 12 2

Kalispell 122 000 2 - 7 11 3

Brendon Anhorn, Kyle Telke (4) and Austin Fruson. Brian Sneck, Tyler Reichoff (5) and Derek Keller (6) and Pat Hergesheimer. W - Telke (3-2). L - Sneck (3-3).

MEDICINE HAT (5-10,14-21) - Travis Ozdan 2-5, Dustin Thompson 3-5, Lee Fruson 0-2, A. Fruson 2-3, Mitchell Frey 0-4, Kyle Telke 0-2, Katlin Numwiler 1-3, Cullen Bradshaw 2-4, Brendyn Lanz 1-2, Braeden Anhorn 1-2.

KALISPELL (6-14, 26-29) - Derek Keller 2-4, Zach Davis 0-3, Reichoff 2-4, Adam Olson 1-4, Geoff Hogan 1-3, Zach Ford 3-4, John White 1-3, Hergesheimer 0-1, Sneck 1-4.

RBIs - MH 6 (A. Fruson 3, Lanz, Bradshaw, Anhorn), Kal. 6 (Reichoff 3, Ford 2, Sneck). 2B - MH 1 (A. Fruson), Kal. 2 (Reichoff, Ford). SB - MH 6 (Telke 3, Numwiler 2, Thompson), Kal. 2 (Hergesheimer, Olson). SAC - MH 0, Kal. 1 (Sneck).

Medicine Hat 12, Kalispell 2 (5)

The Monarchs score three, five and four runs in the first through third innings, respectively, and pitcher Mitchell Frey held the Lakers at bay.

Frey allowed six hits and three walks while striking out eight in five innings for his first victory of the season. Four of his strikeouts were called.

Medicine Hat's first two batters in each of the first three innings scored and the Monarchs finished with a 14-6 hitting advantage.

Fruson had three hits, two stolen bases and four RBIs. He went 5-for-6 on the day with two doubles, two stolen bases and seven RBIs. Thompson had three hits again, giving him a 6-for-8 day, with three RBIs.

Zach Davis went 2-for-2 with a double and a hit-by-pitch for the Lakers. He has six hits in the last five games. Adam Olson also had two hits, giving him six in the last four games.

Medicine Hat 354 01 - 12 14 0

Kalispell 000 20 - 2 6 2

Frey and A. Fruson. Greg Neils, Reichoff (2), Keller (4) and Hergesheimer. W - Frey (1-2). L - Neils (5-3).

MEDICINE HAT (6-10, 15-21) - Ozdan 2-3, Thompson 3-3, Bryan Friesen 0-1, L. Fruson 2-4, Anhorn 3-2, Lanz 1-3, Tyson Ford 1-4, Riley Arnott 1-3, Cullen Bradshaw 1-2, Telke 0-1.

KALISPELL (6-15, 26-30) - Keller 0-3, Davis 2-2, Reichoff 0-3, Olson 2-3, Hogan 1-2, Ford 0-2, White 1-3, Hergesheimer 0-2, Neils 0-1.

RBIs - MH 9 (Thompson 3, A. Fruson 2, Lanz, Anhorn), Kal. 1 (Hergesheimer). 2B - MH 4 (Thompson, Ozdan Anhorn, A. Fruson), Kal. 1 (Davis). SB - MH 3 (A. Fruson 2, Thompson). SAC - none.