Lakers earn soggy sweep

About the only thing capable of stopping the Kalispell Lakers these days is Mother Nature.

Or so it seems.

Kalispell won its fourth and fifth straight Western AA American Legion baseball games Tuesday night, sweeping the Great Falls Electrics 4-1 and 3-0 at Lake Griffin. Oops, make that Griffin Field.

The second game was called after five innings because of rain and lightning. A 20-minute downpour flooded the field and dampened any chance the Electrics had of mounting a comeback.

Lakers players celebrated their latest triumphs by diving on the waterlogged infield and outfield.

Kalispell moves to two games above .500 in the league standings, 8-6, and improves to 21-15 overall. The Lakers have won seven of their last nine games.

Great Falls, which last Friday handed league leader Missoula its first league loss, falls to 3-5, 12-28.

"We're doing a much better job of producing runs," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said of the team's current streak.

"Getting that clutch hit when guys are in scoring position."

The Lakers also received strong efforts from Tyler Reichhoff and Adam Olson on the hill. Both went the distance in their outings.

"Both Tyler and Adam had great command of their pitches," Malmin said.

"That allows our defense to make plays. We feel our strength is our defense."

The Lakers had just one error Tuesday; that came in the first game.

Kalispell will now hit the road for back-to-back tournament action. They open the Spokane/Couer d'Alene Wood Bat Tournament on Thursday at 8 a.m. versus Trail, British Columbia, in Spokane.

On Friday, the Lakers play the Chugiak Mustangs at 10:30 a.m. and the Twin City Titans at 3 p.m.

Spokane pool play continues Saturday with two more games - the Spokane Cannons at 3:30 p.m. and the Boise Bears at 6.

The top two teams in both pools - Spokane and Coeur d'Alene - advance to Sunday's championship round. There are 20 teams in the tournament.

Kalispell follows that with the Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Tournament in Whitefish and Columbia Falls from July 8-12.

The Lakers resume league play with a doubleheader July 15 at the Great Falls Stallions.

Lakers 4, Electrics 1

Olson doubled in Ben Sansaver in the first inning to get the Lakers off to a fast start.

Sansaver, who doubled in the third, scored along with Olson to put the Lakers up 3-0.

Sansaver, 2-for-2, had an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Lakers first baseman Toby Leichti had the catch of the game, running down a foul ball for an over-the-shoulder grab to end the sixth inning.

Leichti also had another big game at the plate, going 3-for-3, as the Lakers finished with seven hits.

Reichhoff gave up five hits and struck out five.

Great Falls 000 100 0 - 1 5 0

Kalispell 102 100 x - 4 7 1

Casey Johnson, Reed Tramelli (3), Tyler Shanahan (4) and Tyler Brinka; Tyler Reichhoff and Zach Brosten. W - Reichhoff. L - Johnson.

Great Falls - John Reilly 1-3, Ethan Hortick 0-3, Johnson 0-3, Hunter Carlyon 2-3, Brinka 1-3, Tucker Cook 0-3, Joel LaRance 0-3, Shanahan 1-3, Jake Olson 0-2.

Kalispell - Derek Keller 1-2, Ben Sansaver 2-2, Reichhoff 0-4, Adam Olson 1-2, Pat Hergesheimer 0-2, Brian Sneck 0-3, Zach Brosten 0-3, Toby Liechti 3-3, Austin Roehl 0-2.

2B-Brinka; Leichti, Olson, Sansaver; RBIs-Cook; Sansaver, Olson.

Lakers 3, Electrics 0

Olson allowed just two hits in five innings of work. He had one strikeout and did not issue a walk.

The Electrics were retired in order in every inning but the fifth.

The Lakers turned two double plays - a routine infield one and another by center fielder Jacob Scott in the fourth inning. Scott gloved a liner by the Electrics' Ethan Hortick and then fired to first to get John Reilly, who led off the inning with a single.

"It's those type of plays," Malmin said of killing rallies.

"Our outfielders are getting to the ball quickly, throwing the ball on target."

Reichhoff also made a spectacular play in the third inning. He made a diving catch at third, got back up and threw the ball to first to nail the runner.

The Lakers did all of their scoring in the third inning. Olson delivered an RBI single, and Pat Hergesheimer followed with an RBI triple.

Derek Keller, who led off the inning with a single, also scored.

Great Falls 000 00 - 0 2 0

Kalispell 003 00 - 3 7 0

Hortick and Brinka; Olson and Brosten. W - Olson. L - Hortick.

Great Falls (3-5, 12-28) - Reilly 1-2, Hortick 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Carlyon 0-2, Brinka 1-2, Cook 1-2, LaRance 0-2, Shanahan 0-1, Olson 0-1.

Kalispell (8-6, 21-15) - Keller 2-3, Sansaver 2-2, Reichhoff 1-3, Olson 1-3, Hergesheimer 1-1, Roehl 0-2, Brosten 0-2, Liechti 0-2, Scott 0-2.

2B-Cook; 3B-Hergesheimer; RBIs-Olson, Hergesheimer.

Western AA

Standings

League Overall

W L W L

Missoula Mavericks 9 1 35 13

Lethbridge 8 2 17 12

Great Falls Stallions 10 4 28 18

Kalispell Lakers 8 6 21 15

Great Falls Electrics 3 5 12 28

Medicine Hat 0 8 NA NA

Glacier 0 12 11 19

NOTE: Top three teams qualify for state in Great Falls Aug. 2-6. The Great Falls Electrics are hosting the tournament and receive an automatic berth to state.