Baseball roundup: Lakers collect 2 road wins; Mariners win tourney title
GREAT FALLS — The Kalispell Lakers picked up two key conference AA American Legion baseball victories on Sunday by sweeping the Great Falls Chargers.
Kalispell won the first game 14-7 and the second 11-5.
In both outings, the Lakers (16-10 overall, 3-2 league) had to rally to prevail.
“We did a good job of answering and extending the lead,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said.
“We were pretty solid on the bases, pretty aggressive.”
The Lakers outhit Great Falls (13-13, 2-2) in both games, 11-10 and 14-6.
The Lakers head for Pullman, Wash., and the Summer Palouse Tournament, which begins Thursday.
First Game
Kalispell 441 400 1 — 14 11 0
Great Falls 401 001 1 — 7 10 4
Dillon Eaves and Adam Frandsen. Jayse McLean, Ryan O’Connell (2), Elijah Collins (4) and Justin Pfennigs. W-Eaves. L-McLean.
Kalispell — Chris Combs 3-3, Charlie Obermiller 3-5, Dillon Eaves 1-2, Sean O’Connell 1-4, Dillon Matteson 1-4, Robert Reaser 0-2, Adam Frandsen 1-2, Hank McLeod 1-4, Jake Barstow 0-4.
Great Falls — Anthony Bonilla 0-5, Colton Philp 0-2, Jayse McLean 3-4, Dalton Cook 1-3, Wyatt Eckert 2-4, Tyler Pfennigs 3-4, Justin Pfennigs 1-1, Josh Oatman 0-3, Garrett Cornwell 0-0, Ryan O’Connell 0-1, Elijah Collins 0-3.
2B—Obermiller, S. O’Connell, McLean, Eckert. 3B—J. Pfennigs. RBI—Combs, Obermiller 4, Eaves, S. O’Connell 2, Matteson, Frandsen, Barstow, Mclean, Cook 2, Eckert, J. Pfennigs 2, Collins.
Second Game
Kalispell 080 030 0 — 11 14 2
Great Falls 201 020 0 — 5 6 1
Justin Wallace and Frandsen. Quade Hamrell, Oatman (3), Cornwell (5) and Lucas Poitra. W-Wallace. L-Hamrell.
Kalispell — Combs 1-3, Obermiller 1-2, Eaves 4-5, S. O’Connell 4-5, Matteson 1-3, Reaser 1-4, Lukas Leigh 1-3, Frandsen 0-3, Barstow 1-3.
Great Falls — Bonilla 1-2, Poitra 1-4, McLean 1-3, Cook 1-3, Eckert 0-2, T. Pfennigs 2-2, J. Pfennigs 0-2, Kolby Sukut 0-2, Philp 0-4, Cornwell 0-3.
2B—Combs, Reaser. 3B—Leigh, Cook. RBI—Combs 2, Eaves 3, S. O’Connell, Matteson, Reaser 2, Leigh, McLean, Cook, T. Pfennigs 2.
Mariners 7, Helena 4
HELENA — Mission Valley claimed the Cloninger Legion A Classic American Legion baseball tournament title with a victory over Helena.
Ryan Pablo went 2 for 4 to pace the Mariners offense and drove in one run.
Bradley Pichler, Bransen Krebbs and TJ Olson also had RBIs for the Mariners.
R H E
Mission Valley 7 6 4
Helena 4 7 6
Alex Krebbs, Jake Young (2); Koby Griffin, Danny Burton (6). W – Young, L – Griffin.
MISSION VALLEY – Ryan Pablo 2-4, Brennan Andrews 1-4, Alex Killian 0-3, Jeremiah Crawford 0-1, Bradley Pichler 1-3, Bransen Krebbs 0-3, TJ Olson 0-4, Nick Crawford 0-4, Aaron Rassmussen 1-4, Young 1-3.
HELENA (25-4) – Danny Burton 1-4, Reilly Leary 0-4, Nick Wrigg 1-3, Chase Rook 1-2, Reed Carter 1-4, Payton Pappas 0-3, Kenny Wilson 2-3, Jackson Thennis 1-2, Keenan Stief 0-3.
2B – Burton, Wilson; RBIs – Rook 2, Pablo, Pichler, Krebbs, Olson, Leary, Stief.
Third Place
R H
Laurel 11 5
Gallatin Valley 3 6
WP – Kameron Fisher, LP Ian White.
GVO hitting – Brock Bitterman 1-3, Jordan Carlson 2-2, John Holmes 1-3, Wyatt Smith 1-1, White 1-2.
Laurel hitting – Caje Golden 1-2, Dakota Cortese 1-2, Anthony Panella 1-2, Jake Anderson 1-3, Nate Krackel 1-1.
2B – Golden; RBIs – N/A.