Kalispell sweeps Lethbridge
<p>Lakers short stop Michael O'Connell waits to tag out the Lethbridge Elks runner who is trying to steal second base in the stop of the second inning at Griffin Field Monday evening.</p>
<p>Michael O'Connell slides into second base on a steal early in the bottom of the second inning against the Lethbridge Elks at Griffin Field on Monday.</p>
The Kalispell Lakers persevered when they needed to, then rolled when they could as they swept visiting Lethbridge in a doubleheader on Monday at Griffin Field.
The Lakers (32-16) won the first game 13-12 and the second 14-0.
"We battled through the first game," said Lakers coach Ryan Malmin.
"Lethbridge is a great-hitting ballclub," he said.
Kalispell led 8-2 after three innings, but the Spitz Elks cut into that advantage twice before finally tying the game in the top of the seventh.
"We were fortunate enough to get a run across in the seventh. The kids showed some poise and perseverance and did a great job in all aspects of the game," the coach said.
Joe Pistorese got both wins. In the second game, he gave up one hit and struck out eight in five innings work.
"He pounded the zone with his fastball and curveball consistently and challenged hitters," Malmin said.
Offensively, he got support right away from Dillon Matteson and Michael O'Connell. Matteson hit a leadoff homer and O'Connell hit a 3-run shot in the third.
"We hit the ball well, one through nine in the lineup and defensively we played well with just one error (through both games)," Malmin said.
The Lakers play host Thursday to the Missoula Mavs.
Lakers 13, Lethbridge 12
Lethbridge 200 044 2 - 12 141
Lakers 332 040 1 - 1314 0
Braedon Heyland, Cody Lencucha (2), Dillon Houghton (7) and Ryan Aiken. Matt McLean, Michael O'Connell (5) Joe Pistorese (7) and Cody Dopps. W - Pistorese. L - Houghton.
Lethbridge - Derek Grubel 0-2, Aiken 1-4, Sean Maclean 2-4, Houghton 4-5, Heyland 3-4, Chris Stodolka 1-3, Jordan Shirakawa 0-3, Brock Groves 3-4, Cody Lencucha 0-4.
2B - Groves 2, Heyland 1. 3B -Houghton. RBI - Houghton 2, Heyland 4, Stodolka 1, Groves 5.
Lakers - Dillon Matteson 1-2, Cody Dopps 2-4, M. O'Connelll 2-4, Pistorese 2-5, Dillon Eaves 3-3, Sean O' Connell 2-4, Dominic Eickert 1-2, Nate Bengston 0-3, Matt McLean 0-1, Sid Schenck 1-2.
2B - Dopps1, Pistorese 1, Eaves 1, Schenck 1. RBI - Dopps 1, M.O'Connell 2, Pistorese 3, Eaves 2, S. O'Connell 1, Schenck 1.
Lethbridge 000 00 012
Lakers 103 (10) x - 149 1
Brock Groves, Maclean (5) and Mcclean. Joe Pistorese and Kendrick Lee.
Lethbridge - Grubel 1-2, Aiken 0-2, Maclean 0-2, Houghton 0-2, Heyland 0-2, Stodolka 0-2, Drew Herrauf 0-2, Renn Visser 0-2, Cody Lencucha 0-1.
2B - Grubel.
Lakers - Matteson 2-4, Dopps 1-2, M O'Connell 1-2, Joe Pistorese 1-3, Eaves 1-3, S O'Connell 1-2, Lee 0-1, Dominic Eickert 2-3, Bengston 0-1.
HR - M. O'Connell, Matteson. 2B - Dopps 1, Pistorese 1. RBI - Matteson 2, Dopps 1, M. O'Connell 3, Pistorese 1, Eaves 2, Eickert 2.