Lakers win Pullman tournament
PULLMAN, Wash. - Much needed. Much enjoyed.
The Kalispell Lakers American Legion baseball team won the Palouse Tournament at Washington State University last weekend.
The Lakers went 3-1 in Pullman with wins over Abbotsford, B.C. (7-4), the Spokane Crew (17-2) and the Washington Wave (9-7 in the championship). Their one loss was 12-11 to Pullman, Wash. in a contest called due to the time limit.
Kalispell also posted several individual honors, including tournament MVP Michael O'Connell, outstanding pitcher Alex Stanley and tournament defensive player Nate Bengtson.
O'Connell picked up one win in the tournament and also provided key, timely offense for Kalispell, with a home run and two doubles.
The championship was worth the price of admission for Lakers fans as Kalispell scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally from a 6-2 deficit.
The Lakers tied the game when Dominic Eickert executed a suicide squeeze.
Kalispell got a triple from Cody Dopps, doubles by Michael and Sean O'Connell and a single from Joe Pistorese, all in that inning.
Stanley threw five innings in that game, but Louis Freudenburg got the win in two innings of relief work.
"This was the best we've competed all year in all aspects of the game," said Lakers coach Ryan Malmin of Sunday's championship.
"It was much needed. We still make a few mistakes, but we found the zone, kept them off-balance and got some timely hits," he said.
Kalispell opened the tournament with a 10-inning win over Abbotsford.
Abbotsford tied the game at 3-all in the bottom of the seventh, but O'Connell hit a bases-clearing double in the top of the 10th. He also got the win on the mound, going 5 1/3 innings.
The Lakers rolled on Saturday afternoon against the Spokane Crew.
Sid Schenck got the win and Scoob Decker had a fourth-inning bases-clearing double to get the offensive wheels rolling.
Saturday night was the only Laker blemish.
Matt McLean threw a four-hitter, but the Lakers couldn't overcome eight errors.
"We played very sloppy defensively," Malmin said.
The Lakers (21-9 overall) play host to the Missoula Mavs on Tuesday.