Kalispell tops Bozeman in 11

The Daily Inter Lake

MILES CITY - Joe Pistorese struck out 11 batters in the final five innings and the Kalispell Lakers outlasted the Bozeman Bucks 8-6 in an 11-inning thriller that lasted nearly five hours to advance in the American Legion baseball AA State Tournament.

The Lakers face the defending state champion Billings Scarlets today at 4 p.m. The winner of that game will face Bozeman in the title game at 7 because the final three teams have only one loss in the double-elimination tourney.

The Lakers and Scarlets met in the state opener and Billings came out ahead 6-0.

Against Bozeman, the Lakers scored in the top of the 11th after Toby Liechti hit a hard grounder up the middle and the Bucks shortstop couldn't come up with a play as two Lakers runners sprinted home, breaking 6-6 tie.

The Lakers led twice in the game, 4-0 and 6-4, and gave up the lead both times before jumping ahead a third and final time.

The game started at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday and ended four hours and 58 minutes later.

Billings 8, Missoula 5

MILES CITY - The defending champs are ready to defend.

The Billings Scarlets took care of business in their loser-out American Legion baseball semifinal and downed the Missoula Mavericks 8-5 on Tuesday. The Scarlets have won two of the last three AA state titles.

On Thursday, the Scarlets won thanks to a productive showing at the plate as they turned in 17 total hits.