Lakers put stop to Mavs' win streak

MISSOULA — Mario Venturini pitched eight solid inning and Marshall Boyland led the offense with three hits as the Kalispell Lakers cooled off the streaking Missoula Mavericks on Thursday 7-6 in Class AA American Legion baseball play.

Missoula (31-2 overall and 0-1 league) came into the contest with a 23-game winning streak.

Kalispell (18-5 and 5-0) exploded for seven runs in the second inning and held Missoula scoreless through the first three.

The Lakers outhit the Mavs 12-6. Dean Stimpson and Zach Brosten both went 2-for-4 for the Lakers.

Kalispell heads for Pullman, Wash., and the Summer Palouse Tournament, which begins today.

Kalispell 070 000 000 – 7 12 0

Missoula 000 210 102 – 6 6 7

Mario Venturini, Joe Pistorese (9) and Zach Brosten. Shawn Griffith, Brent Daugherty (2) and Steven DeYoung. W – Venturini. L – Griffith. S – Pistorese.

KALISPELL – Dean Stimpson 2-4, Dillon Matteson 1-4, Michael O’Connell 1-5, Brosten 2-4, Alex Stanley 1-5, Matt O’Brien 1-5, Marshall Boyland 3-5, Greg Seaman 0-4, Cody Dopps 1-5.

MISSOULA – Ben Roberts 0-4, Brody Miller 3-4, Kendal Maier 0-5, Sean Dwyer 0-3, DeYoung 0-5, Sam Sopko 0-3, Riley King 0-2, Robby King 0-3, Matt McMann 3-3, Collin LaPorte 0-0.

2B – Stanley, Miller 2. RBIs – Stimpson, Brosten, Stanley, Dopps, Roberts, Miller 2, Maier.