Errors spoil the day as Lakers split

WHITEFISH - Kalispell's pitching was top-notch, but errors spoiled the day for the Lakers during pool play Friday at the 24th Annual Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Baseball Tournament.

Mario Venturini went the distance in the finale against Lethbridge, holding the Spitz Elks to five hits while striking out three. Normally, that would have been enough.

But the Lakers had six errors in that contest and Lethbridge capitalized for a 4-0 victory.

Tyler Reichhoff checked the Pullman Patriots on three hits as the Lakers opened the day with a 9-1 victory. Reichhoff threw 65 strikes in 91 pitches.

"He's had about three of those," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said of Reichhoff's gem.

"He was locating and had a good break on his curve ball."

On Venturini …

"Too bad for Mario," Malmin said.

"He pitched a heckuva game."

The split left Kalispell with a 2-2 mark in pool play. Lethbridge improves to 3-0.

The Spitz Elks have one pool game left - today at 11:45 a.m. versus the Estevan KPC Blazers - while Kalispell is finished.

The Lakers and Spitz Elks will both play on Saturday, but game times and opponents will not be decided until today's final four pool play games are completed.

Spitz Elks 4, Lakers 0

Kalispell stranded runners in the first three innings of a quick moving game.

Venturini was also crusing right along until back-to-back errors in the fourth inning led to one Lethbridge run.

Kalispell turned two more errors in the fifth, and Lethbridge scored three times.

"We knew it would be a tough game," Lethbridge coach Scott Oikawa said.

"We got some timely hits in the fifth inning and capitalized."

Kyle Rokosh had an RBI single and Tanner Granberg a sacrifice fly.

"It's been somebody different every game, which is kind of nice," Oikawa said of key hits.

Mitch Maxwell, after a shaky start, settled down and turned in a strong mound effort for Lethbridge. It was three-up and three-down for the Lakers in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. He improves to 2-0.

"He settled in (as the game went along)," Oikawa said.

"It was nice to see."

Lethbridge threatened in the third inning, with runners at first and second. Kalispell second baseman Austin Roehl ended the threat and the inning with a diving stab for the third out.

Toby Leichti continued his hot hitting for Kalispell, going 2-for-3. He doubled in the seventh inning with a crisp liner into a stiff breeze that rolled to the fence in left field.

Kalispell 000 000 0 - 0 7 6

Lethbridge 000 130 x - 4 5 2

Mitch Maxwell and Braeden Horon; Mario Venturini Venturini and Zach Brosten. W - Maxwell (2-0). L - Venturini.

Kalispell (25-20) - Jacob Scott 1-4, Ben Sansaver 1-3, Tyler Reichhoff 1-3, Adam Olson 1-2, Pat Hergesheimer 0-2, Brian Sneck 0-3, Zach Brosten 0-3, Toby Liechti 2-3, Austin Roehl 1-3.

Lethbridge, Alberta (20-7) - Mark Clauson 1-4, Brock Fulkerth 1-2, Spencer Farrell 0-3, Kyle Rokosh 1-3, Tanner Granberg 1-2, Horon 0-2, Chad Northcott 0-3, Jamin Heller 1-3, Tyson Hudson 0-2.

2B-Liechti; Fulkerth; RBIs-Rokosh, Granberg, Horon, Heller.

Lakers 9, Patriots 1

Kalispell blew the game wide open with a pair of four-run innings.

The Lakers had 12 hits, led by Pat Hergesheimer's 3-for-4 effort. He doubled and drove in two runs.

Ben Sansaver, 2-for-3, clubbed a pair of doubles.

Roehl and Liechti also went 2-for-3. Roehl had the team's other double.

Kalispell 000 441 - 9 12 0

Pullman 000 100 - 1 3 2

Reichhoff and Brosten; AJ Therrien, Nick Heitstuman (5), Zach Young (6) and Alec Scourey. W - Reichhoff. L - Heitstuman.

Kalispell - Derek Keller 1-4, Sansaver 2-3, Reichhoff 0-3, Olson 1-3, Hergesheimer 3-4, Roehl 2-3, Brosten 0-2, Liechti 2-3, Scott 1-3.

Pullman, Wash. - Cody Weber 2-3, Nathan Johnson 1-2, Marty Guettinger 0-3, Tyler Druffel 0-3, Jaime Fertakis 0-2, AJ Therrien 0-1, Heitstuman 0-1, Scourey 0-2, Nick Jacob 0-2, Young 0-2.

2B-Sansaver (2), Hergesheimer, Roehl; Johnson; RBIs-Olson, Hergesheimer (2), Roehl (2), Leichti (2); Johnson.