Lakers drop 2 games to Lethbridge; Mariners, Loggers roll

The Daily Inter Lake

The Kalispell Lakers finished a two-day road trip to Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, dropping an American Legion baseball doubleheader to the Lethbridge Spitz Elks, 10-8 and 10-5.

Kalispell swept a doubleheader on Saturday at Medicine Hat Monarchs, winning 6-5 and 9-2. The Monarchs are winless in conference play.

Kalispell owns a 3-6 mark in Western AA action and is 16-15 overall.

Lethbridge is 7-0 in league play.

The Lakers had 21 hits in Lethbridge to 20 for the Spitz Elks.

Brock Fulkerth had the big blow for the Spitz Elks in the first game, a grand slam home run in the fourth inning.

Spencer Farrell homered for the hosts in both games.

No other details were available.

The Lakers entertain the Great Falls Stallions on Thursday. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 4 p.m.

Mission Valley 6, Helena 3

DEER LODGE - Mission Valley scored three runs in the fourth inning and came back with two more in the sixth en route to a victory over Helena on Sunday in the championship game of the Deer Lodge Wood Bat Tournament.

Helena scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to close within one run, down 4-3, but the Mariners quickly answered.

Kyle Bagnell went the distance on the mound for Mission Valley. He gave up six singles, struck out five and walked two. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Pitcher.

Nick Fell went 2-for-3 for the Mariners, who had eight hits in the contest. John Rausch and Beau Nordberg both doubled for Mission Valley.

Tim Rausch and Nick Fell had RBIs for the victors.

Mission Valley started the day with a 10-9 victory over Deer Lodge while Helena topped Dillon 4-1.

Dillon defeated Missoula 6-5 for the consolation title.

The Mariners finished the tournament with a 5-0 mark. For the season, they are 25-9 overall.

Mission Valley hosts Missoula on Tuesday. Doubleheader action begins at 3 p.m.

Championship Game

Helena 000 003 0 - 3 6 4

Mission Valley 100 302 x - 6 8 1

Pat Morgan, Matt Cline and Cline, Hunter Day. Kyle Bagnell and John Rausch.

HELENA - Brad Rook 2-4, Kyle McLean 1-3, Tony Robert 0-1, Colter Sternhagen 1-4, Corey Scevers 1-2, Jake Harris 0-2, Bob Daughty 0-1, Pat Morgan 0-2, Hunter Day 1-2, Matt Cline 0-3, Grady Stinchfield 0-3.

MISSION VALLEY - John Rausch 1-1, Eric Locke 1-4, Tim Rausch 0-2, Tyler Linse 1-3, Craig Bagnell 0-3, Nick Fell 2-3, Beau Nordberg 1-2, Brandon Roy 0-3, Kyle Brown 1-3.

2B - John Rausch, Nordberg. RBI - Tim Rausch, Fell.

Pool Play

Mission Valley 121 402 - 10 8 0

Deer Lodge 220 401 - 9 6 2

Jay Sorrell, Chris Alfreo, Josh Reed and Tim Rausch. Blake Niederklein and Joe Stefalo, Jordan Jennings, Paul Vasquez.

MISSION VALLEY - John Rausch 0-4, Eric Locke 3-3, Tim Rausch 1-3, Tyler Linse 1-2, Craig Bagnell 1-3, Nick Fell 0-3, Beau Nordberg 1-2, Brandon Roy 0-0, Kyle Brown 1-3.

DEER LODGE - Trent Thomas 0-2, Andy Stefalo 2-3, Blake Niederklein 1-2, Dean Despain 1-2, Joe Stefalo 1-1, Cody Jennings 0-1, Will Anderson 0-1, Ed Korang 0-1, Jordan Jenings 1-3, Drew Doiron 0-3, Paul Vasquez 0-3.

2B - Locke, Tim Rausch. RBI - John Rausch, Locke 2, Brown 2, Linse 3; Despain, Joe Stefalo, Jordan Jennings.

Libby 4, Graham Kapousin 2

Rory Hendrickson, 2-for-3, doubled twice and drove in one run and Nate Peltier pitched no-hit ball for four innings as the Loggers finished their Big Bucks Tournament with a victory over the Graham Kapousin Eagles from Seattle in the third/fourth place game on Sunday.

Hendrickson doubled in the fifth and doubled in a run in the seventh.

Peltier gave up three hits during his six-inning stint. He had four strikeouts and walked two batters.

"It was nice to end the tournament on a high note," Libby coach Kelley Morford said.

"We had a strong defensive effort and good pitching."

Also on championship Sunday, South Hills defeated Kent, Wash., 3-1 in the title game.

Calgary, Alberta, downed Post Falls, Idaho, 14-3 in the fifth/sixth place game. And Tri-County beat St. Maries, Idaho, 10-5 in the battle for seventh/eighth.

Libby (10-16 overall) plays the Mission Valley B team on Thursday in Polson. The American Legion doubleheader starts at 3 p.m.

Libby 100 010 2 - 4 6 1

G K 000 001 1 - 2 4 3

Nate Peltier, Colt Cannon (7) and Matt Schad; Steven Eubank, Gavin Simcoe (6) and Simcoe, Greg Bariager. W - Peltier (2-0). L - Eubank.

Libby (10-16) - Cannon 0-4, Steve Bertelsen 0-2, Rory Hendrickson 2-3, Schad 1-2, Ryan Stapley 1-3, Peltier 1-4, Derek Benefield 0-4, Dustin Moringstar 0-3, Eric Grotjohn 1-3.

G K - Tyler Jadin 0-4, Eubank 0-2, Simcoe 1-3, Donavan Snow 1-3, Jeff Logan 0-3, Greg Bariater 1-3, Don Rodgers 0-1, Cole Munson 1-2, Ryan Peterson 0-3, Cortland Quarles 0-2.

2B-Hendrickson (2); Munson; RBIs-Hendrickson, Stapley, Peltier; Simcoe.