Big hits at right times for Mavericks versus Lakers

The Lakers out-hit the Mavericks. They just couldn't out-score them.

Kalispell dropped an American Legion Class AA conference matchup 6-4 to Missoula Thursday night at Griffin Field.

The Lakers scattered 11 hits across nine innings, but couldn't seem to get runs when they needed them as they added a digit to the loss column. The team is now 32-17 overall and in sole possession of fourth place in the Western AA Conference.

Missoula's seventh round Major League Baseball draft pick Ben Roberts came up big for the Mavericks in the fourth inning.

With two outs and the game locked at 2-2, Roberts beat out a throw to first after hitting a soft grounder down the third baseline.

Brody Miller walked next to load the bases setting up a single by Riley King that scored Roberts and Tres Cinningham. Miller crossed home plate on a throwing error and the Mavericks went up 5-3.

They would hold the lead for the remainder of the game.

"They had a timely hit and brought in a couple of runs," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said after the loss. "We didn't get that timely hit."

The Lakers left nine runners on base and could not capitalize on a strong outing by Louis Freudenburg, who entered in the fifth inning to relieve starting pitcher Sidney Schenck.

Freudenburg gave up one earned run on three hits and struck out six batters in an outing that impressed his coach.

"Louis came in and did a great job for us in relief," Malmin said. "He's given us some good innings lately. He's really progressing."

Another bright spot for the Lakers came in the batter's box. All but two Kalispell batters had hits in the game.

The team was led offensively by Michael O'Connell, who went 2 for 5 with a double and a home run.

The homer came in the first inning as O'Connell deposited a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead. They tacked on another run in the second when Michael's brother Sean O'Connell walked, moved to third on a single by Dominic Eickert and scored on a Missoula fielding error to put the Lakers up 2-0.

Kalispell scored again in the third. Catcher Cody Dopps belted a stand-up double to start the inning and scored on deep fly ball off the bat of Joe Pistorese.

Michael O'Connell scored the team's fourth and final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Sean O'Connell.

But the Mavericks scored two in the third, three in the fourth and one in the sixth while racking up 10 hits to take the victory.

The Lakers will take on Clackamas, Ore., in two seven inning games scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Griffin Field.

Missoula 002 301 000 6 10 1

Kalispell 110 020 100 4 11 2

Riley King, Michael Melugin (2), Andrew Sopko (8) and Steven DeYoung; Sidney Schenck, Louis Freudenburg (5) and Cody Dopps. W - Melugin; L - Schenk; S - Sopko.

MISSOULA - Ben Roberts 3-5, Brody Miller 2-4, Riley King 2-5, Steven DeYoung 2-4, Kyle Booi 1-1, Nathan Jewett 0-5, Tanner Rheinschmidt 0-4, Sopko 0-4, Melugin 0-2, Nate Ratts 0-0, Tres Cunningham 0-3.

HR - Miller; RBI - Miller (3), King (2).

Kalispell - Cody Dopps 2-5, Michael O'Connell 2-5, Dominic Eickert 2-4, Dillon Matteson 1-4, Joe Pistorese 1-4, Dillon Eaves 2-4, Sean O'Connell 1-3, Kendrick Lee 0-3, Nate Bengston 0-3

2B - Dopps, M. O'Connell; RBI - M. O'Connell, Pistorese, S. O'Connell,