Lakers drill Eastside in semifinal

HELENA - Three tournaments, three championship games for the Kalispell Lakers.

The Lakers defeated Eastside (a combined team consisting of players from Kennewick and Kirkland, Wash.) 11-2 in five innings in Sunday's semifinal of the Keith Sell Tournament.

The Lakers led 2-0 after two innings and scored at least one run in each of the next three innings.

They'll face the Edmonton Cards at 8 p.m. tonight in the championship.

"Our side was 3-0 against the other pool," said Lakers coach Ryan Malmin.

Matt McLean gave up no runs, had two hits, walked one and struck out three Eastside batters to get the win. Michael O'Connell pitched two innings in relief for Kalispell.

"The kids again did a good job offensively," Malmin said.

"We've done a pretty good job of managing our pitchers. We've had some kids step up and go deep into some games," he added.

Kalispell 021 35 - 1191

Eastside 000 20 - 2 45

Matt McLean, Michael O'connell (4) and Cody Dopps. Rasor and Sullivan. W - McLean. L - Rasor.

Kalispell - Dillon Matteson 2-4, Dopps 3-4, Michael Connell 1-4, Joe Pistorese 0-3, Dillon Eaves 0-3, Sean O'Connell 1-1, Sid Schenck 1-1, Dominic Eickert 0-3, Nate Bengston 1-2, McLean 0-3.

3B - M. O'Connell. RBI: Dopps 1, M. O'Connell 2, Bengston 1.

Eastside - Wollebeil 0-3, Keieriebier 1-3, Sullivan 0-3, Porter 0-2, Shrout 0-1, McCormick 1-1, Parkhurst 0-2, Kavanaugh 1-2, Fanning 1-2.

RBI - Fanning 1, Kavanaugh 1.