Monarchs stymie Lakers

MEDICINE HAT, Alberta - The injuries are piling up for the Kalispell Lakers and the losses are too.

The Lakers dropped a pair of Western AA American Legion conference baseball games on Friday to the Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs.

Medicine Hat won 7-5 and 6-3. Kalispell's losing streak hit five games overall, seven in conference and the Lakers dropped to 22-12 overall, 5-7 in conference. Since snapping Missoula's 23-game win streak on June 10, the Lakers have been been plagued by injuries and their worst losing streak this season. The Lakers have been outscored 56-14 in their last seven conference games.

"We haven't been full strength in awhile, but you can't make excuses. We have to have kids step up and take on some roles," Lakers head coach Ryan Malmin said.

On Friday, the Lakers left the tying run stranded on first base in the 7th inning of the first game and left the bases loaded twice in the nightcap, Malmin said.

"We just haven't gotten the timely hits we've needed," he said.

Pitcher Joe Pistorese struck out eight in his return from an injury.

Kalispell heads to Lethbridge on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader with the Spitz Elks.

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