Pistorese, Venturini hurl Lakers to sweep of Stallions
The Daily Inter Lake
GREAT FALLS - The Kalispell Lakers rode the strong arms of Joe Pistorese and Mario Venturini to a doubleheader sweep of the Great Falls Stallions on Wednesday.
Pistorese held the Stallions to 3 hits, while walking nine and fanning nine in a 4-1 victory in the opener.
Venturini (6-0) struck out 12 and walked only two as the Lakers cruised in the second game, 8-4.
The wins give Kalispell a 5-2 mark in Western AA American Legion baseball play. Overall, the Lakers are now 16-7.
The Stallions drop to 3-4 in league, 21-10 overall.
The Lakers, who have won four straight, play Edmonton, Alberta, in the Summer Palouse Tournament in Pullman, Wash., on Friday. That game will be played at 9 p.m. at Washington State University.
Kalispell had nine hits in the opener, led by Ben Sansaver, Mike O'Connell and Pistorese. All three went 2-for-4.
Toby Liechti, 1-for-3, had two RBIs in that game.
Kalispell did all of its scoring in the first and seventh innings.
Kalispell and Great Falls were locked up at 3-all after the first inning in the second game. The Lakers held a 5-4 advantage after three innings.
Liechti then clubbed a 2 RBI single in the fourth to give the Lakers a 7-4 edge.
Pat Hergesheimer and Brosten both went 2-for-4 in the finale. Hergesheimer, Brosten and Pistorese all had two RBIs.
Game 1
Kalispell 200 000 2 - 4 9 1
GF Stallions 000 000 1 - 1 3 2
Joe Pistorese and Zach Brosten; Tyler Stanich and Mike McPherson. WP-Pistorese. LP-Stanich.
KALISPELL LAKERS - Matt O'Brien 0-3, Ben Sansaver 2-4, Mike O'Connell 2-4 (RBI), Pat Hergesheimer 1-4, Toby Liechti 1-3 (2 RBI), Joe Pistorese 2-4, Zach Brosten 0-4, Greg Seaman 0-2, Bryant Eckart 1-3.
GREAT FALLS STALLIONS - Alex Waltari 1-2, Dan Olinger 0-3, Cole McPherson 1-4, Bryce Thompson 0-2, Jake Bleskin 0-2, Jake Mansch 1-4, Tanner Watson 0-3, Tyler Stanich 0-2, AJ Griffith 0-1.
2B-Waltari.
Game 2
Kalispell 302 200 1 - 8 9 0
GF Stallions 301 000 0 - 4 6 2
Mario Venturini and Zach Brosten. Bryce Thompson and Cole McPherson. WP-Venturini. LP-Thompson.
KALISPELL LAKERS - Matt O'Brien 1-5, Ben Sansaver 0-4, Mike O'Connell 1-3, Pat Hergesheimer 2-4 (2 RBI), Toby Liechti 1-3 (2 RBI), Joe Pistorese 1-4 (2 RBI), Zach Brosten 2-4 (2 RBI), Mario Venturini 0-3, Bryant Eckart 1-2.
GREAT FALLS STALLIONS - Alex Waltari 0-4, Dan Olinger 2-4, Cole McPherson 0-3, Bryce Thompson 1-2, Jake Bleskin 1-3 (RBI), Jake Mansch 1-3 (2 RBI), Tyler STanich 1-3 (RBI), Tanner Watson 0-3, Trevor Wilke 0-2.
2B-O'Brien, Brosten, Olsinger, Thompson. 3B-Hergesheimer, Mansch.