The Daily Inter Lake

Lakers take 2 from Senators

HELENA - The Kalispell Lakers completed a successful weekend road trip Sunday by sweeping the Helena Senators 6-4 and 4-3.

On Saturday, Kalispell split at Bozeman.

The Lakers are now 8-4 on the Class AA American Legion baseball season and host the Mission Valley Mariners on Wednesday, 6 p.m.

Lakers 6, Senators 4

Kalispell jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then needed two runs in the top of the seventh to break a tie and notch the victory.

"We took advantage of their starting pitcher (in the first inning)," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. "He struggled a little bit."

Kalispell had just one hit in the first inning, but scored four times.

A Helena error led to Kalispell's final two scores.

"We played fairly good defense (no errors)," Malmin said. "Tyler Reichhoff did a nice job on the mound. He had good command of his pitches."

Greg Neils pitched the final inning and picked up the victory.

Adam Olson and Austin Zapata both went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs for Kalispell.

Kalispell 400 000 2 - 6 3 0

Helena 020 011 0 - 4 8 3

Tyler Reichhoff, Greg Neils (7) and Tony Lawrence; Matt Williams, Joe Andriolo and Adam Eckhart, Mike Bartlett. W - Neils. L - Andriolo.

Kalispell - Jacob Scott 0-3 (R), Derek Keller 0-4, T. Reichhoff 0-2 (R), Adam Olson 1-4 (2 R), Zac Ford 1-2 (2 R), Pat Hergesheimer 0-2, Austin Zapata 1-4 (2 RBI), Zach Davis 0-2 (SB), Tony Lawrence 0-3.

Helena - Derek Carley 2-4 (SB), Nick Retz 1-4 (SB, RBI), Travis Capps 1-3, Buddy Burnett 1-3 (R), Mike Bartlett 0-2 (2 R), Anthony Hogan 0-2, Chris Wheat 1-2 (2 RBI), Nick Trapp 2-2 (RBI), Wade Heverly 0-1, Jake Vulk 0-1.

Lakers 4, Senators 3

Kalispell jumped on Helena early in this game as well, scoring three times in the second inning.

Helena scored once in the bottom of the seventh, but left two runners stranded to end the game.

Neil earned the save while John White picked up the victory.

"Both of those kids pitched really well today," Malmin said.

Kalispell had four errors in this contest and eight hits. Pat Hergesheimer and Tony Lawrence, hitless in the first game, both went 2-2. Hergesheimer scored twice and Lawrence had two RBIs.

Kalispell 030 010 0 - 4 8 4

Helena 002 000 1 - 3 8 1

John White, G. Neils (7) and T. Lawrence; Buddy Burnett, A. Hogan (7) and M. Bartlett. W - White. L - Burnett.

Kalispell - Zapata 0-1 (RBI), Keller 0-4, J. White 0-4, Olson 1-4, Ford 0-3, Hergesheimer 2-2 (2 R), Davis 2-4 (R, RBI), Tucker Hankinson 1-2 (R), Lawrence 2-2 (2 RBI).

Helena - D. Carley 2-3 (R), N. Retz 0-3, T. Capps 2-4 (2 RBI), J. Vulk 1-3 (2B), J. Andriolo 0-1, M. Bartlett 1-3, A. Hogan 0-3, M. Williams 1-3 (R), N. Trapp 0-2, C. Wheat 1-3 (R).