Errors cost Twins in State AA opener

WHITEFISH — Four errors, seven walks and four hit batters were too much for the Glacier Twins to overcome in a 14-2 loss to the Billings Royals in the first round of the Montana-Alberta Class AA American Legion state baseball tournament at Memorial Field in Whitefish Wednesday.

Billings (34-13, 18-6 Eastern AA) jumped on Glacier (6-46, 0-25 Western AA) early, scoring three runs in each of the first three innings before Twins relief pitcher Corey Davis held the Royals scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. Glacier scored twice in the top of the sixth to cut its deficit to 9-2 before Billings scored five in the bottom of the inning. The game ended after six and a half innings due to the 10-run rule.

“You can’t face the best team on the east side when you’re tight,” Twins manager Scott Murray said. “We gave up 11 (walks and hit batters) and four errors. That’s playing tight.”

Despite the lopsided final score, Murray said he was encouraged by the two scoreless innings Davis pitched in the middle innings. “When we put some goose eggs up for the opposition, we feed off that, and we know we can do it,” he said.

Glacier’s offense was held to four hits by Billings right-hander Eli Gunderson, who issued just one base on balls while tallying four strikeouts in seven innings.

“I think he was probably the best pitcher I’ve ever faced,” said Twins left fielder Jeremy Nielsen, who had two of Glacier’s four hits. “He had good movement on his fastball, and his curveball was breaking more than we thought it would.”

After holding Glacier hitless through two innings, Gunderson looked vulnerable in the third when Jacob Slaybaugh began a one-out rally with a line-drive single to left field. Nielsen followed with a single to shallow left-center field before Carl Talsma lined out to center field and Nicholas LaGrandeur hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Gunderson retired six straight Twins in the fourth and fifth innings before Nielsen led off the sixth with a single past Royals third baseman Chance Ackerman, who was playing four steps in front of the infield dirt to protect against the bunt. Nielsen scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Peter Seymour. Second baseman Shane Marcial, who entered the game in the fifth inning as a defensive replacement, also scored in the sixth on a single by Garrett Houston.

Twins starter Conner Donahue was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs, two earned, in two innings. Donahue had success when he was able to spot his big-breaking curveball, but he often missed high and outside, which led to five walks.

Davis pitched four innings in relief, allowing eight runs, five earned, on eight hits, two walks and two hit batters.

Joseph Zimmer led the Royals’ offense with three singles and four runs.

The Twins play the Billings Scarlets at noon today in an elimination game.

“I think the guys are going to come out and compete,” Murray said. “I can tell they’re fired up to play and we hope to have a better outcome.”

Murray said Talsma will be Glacier’s starting pitcher. 

“He’s one of our team leaders. We’re going to rely on him and put the burden on his shoulders.”

Nielsen said the Twins will have to put together a more complete game to have success against the Scarlets. “Our mindset is just to clear our minds and come out 100 percent all game.”

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Conner Donahue, Corey Davis (3) and Garrett Houston. Eli Gunderson and Nick Scanson. W – Gunderson. L – Donahue.

GLACIER — Jeremy Nielsen 2-2, Carl Talsma 0-1, Nick LaGrandeur 0-2, Shane Marciel 0-1, Peter Seymour 0-3, Houston 1-3, Nathan Carr 0-3, Bryce Wehrli 0-3, Isaac Venezio 0-3, Jake Slaybaugh 1-2.

BILLINGS — Joseph Zimmer 3-4, Luke Reinschmidt 1-2, Hunter Kovash 1-4, Chance Ackerman 1-3, Scanson 0-3, Konner Weichman 1-2, Matt Shelhamer 0-3, TJ Jacobs 0-2, Tanner Leenknecht 3-3.

2B – Zimmer, Renschmidt, Leenknecht; RBI – Seymour, Houston, Zimmer, Reinschmidt 3, Kovash, Ackerman, Scanson, Weichman 2, Leenknecht 2.

Bucks 11, Chargers 1

Bozeman cruised to a win in its opener against Great Falls, opening the game with five runs in the first inning on the way to an 11-1 finish.

Matt Hape was 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Bucks.

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Dalton Cook, Kolby Sukut (7) and Justin Pfennigs. Sam Olson and Nate Lamberty.  W — Olson. L — Cook.

GREAT FALLS — Anthony Bonilla 2-4, Cayden Napierala 0-3, Scott Held 0-3, Tanner Watson 0-1, Garret Cornwell 0-2, Destin Wassman 0-3, Sam Wingerter 0-2, Jayse McLean 2-2, Tyler Pfennigs 0-2, Justin Pfennigs 0-2, Dalton Cook 0-1.

2B — McLean; RBI — McLean.

BOZEMAN — Corey Hockett 2-5, Conner Linebarger 1-3, Ean Weaver 1-2, Matt Hape 3-4, Keith Ailes 2-4, Sam Olson 1-3, Jake Ekstrom 0-5, Nate Lamberty 1-5, Isaac Thompson 0-2.

2B — Linebarger; RBI — Hape (3), Olson (3), Lamberty (2), Weaver, Ailes.

Mavericks 7, Scarlets 6

Missoula scored twice in the sixth inning to preserve a narrow 7-6 win over the Billings Scarlets.

A two-run homer by Nathan Jewett keyed the Mavericks’ offense while Riley King was able to shut down the Scarlets’ rally with a clean sheet in the ninth inning.

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Colton Endy, Christian Martinson (6) and Nick Funyak. Tres Cunningham, Anthony Contonio (5), Riley King (9) and Slade Heggen. W — Cunningham. L — Endy. S — King.

BILLINGS — Myles Berkram 0-3, Kenny Clarin 0-5, Jalen Garcia 0-0, Nick Funyak 1-4, Ian Byorth 1-4, Shelby Zorn 0-3, Christian Martinson 1-3, Gage Hinsz 2-3, Brayden Wickam 1-4, Winston Cox 1-3, Colton Endy 0-1. 

2B — Byorth, Hinsz, Cox; RBI — Byorth (3), Cox.

MISSOULA — Tanner Reinschmidt 0-4, Anthony Contonio 0-4, Riley King 2-3, Nathan Jewett 1-5, Slade Heggen 1-5, Shane Olson 2-5, Jesson Preston 1-3, Alec Bouchee 2-2, Tanner Maier 0-2, Tres Cunningham 0-0.

2B — King; HR — Jewett; RBI — Jewett (2), King, Contonio.

Moose Monarchs 7, Senators 1

Medicine Hat got its offense going late, scoring six runs in the seventh and eighth innings to stretch a tight game into a comfortable 7-1 win over Helena.

Andy Scott went 2 for 5 with a home run and Jose Calderon led the Mosse Monarchs with two RBIs while going 2 for 2 at the plate.

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Konner Lutz, Brad Paradis (8), Nolan Rattai (9) and Austin Weisgerber. Ryan Estep, David Lindgren (8) and Daniel Hansen. W — Lutz (1-0). L — Estep (0-1).

MEDICINE HAT — Braden Goldade 1-4, Florkowski 1-3, Konner Lutz 1-5, Greg Adams 1-5, Andy Scott 2-5, Austin Weisgerber 0-4, Nolan Rattai 4-4, Justin Becic 1-4, Tanner Ross 0-2, Jose Calderon 2-2, Brad Paradis 0-0, John Weiss 0-0.

3B — Becic; HR — Scott; RBI — Calderon (2), Goldade, Scott, Rattai, Becic.

HELENA — Lee Mueller 1-3, Troy Arnston 0-4, Raymond Schnur 0-5, Daniel Hansen 0-4, Colter Andriolo 1-3, Jarin Gassett 0-2, Matthew Burgess 1-4, David Lindgren 0-3, Tristan Shea 2-4, Ryan Estep 0-0.