Legion baseball: Chargers jolt Lakers AA
<p>Kalispell third baseman Charlie Obermiller makes a catch in the infield Saturday evening during the Lakers loss in the first game of a doubleheader against the Great Falls Chargers at Griffin Field in Kalispell. June 21, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Kalispell's Jake Barstow (left) is collides with a Chargers player after being tagged out at second base on a steal attempt Saturday evening during the Lakers loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the Great Falls Chargers at Griffin Field in Kalispell. June 21, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
The Kalispell Lakers couldn’t overcome a sharp hitting Great Falls Chargers team, as they dropped both games of an American Legion doubleheader on Saturday night.
Great Falls jumped out to an early lead with a big first inning in Game 1, scoring four runs on one hit.
After a pair of walks and an error, Chargers’ Erik Willis hit a three run triple in the opening inning to start the rally.
Kalispell would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the first and scored another run in the second.
But that’s all Chargers starting pitcher Quade Hamrel would allow in his complete game victory.
“My fastball was there and that’s really all I used,” Hamrel said. “They were chasing them so I just let ‘em go. Those five errors didn’t help, but we regrouped and got the win.”
After giving up four runs in the first, Kalispell starting pitcher Brandon Maassen shut out the Chargers for the next five innings before being relieved.
“We’ve got to be ready to play from the get go, all 21 outs,” Lakers head coach Ryan Malmin said.
“We had a chance to get out of that first inning with no runs, but give we’ll give our guys some credit with answering right away and chipping away. Brandon has some great stuff he just needs to be a little more consistent with his location.”
In Game 2, each team scored a third-inning run to tie the contest 1-1, but it wouldn’t hold up for long as the Chargers got hot in the fourth.
Great Falls tallied six runs on as many hits to break the game open.
The rally began when Great Falls left fielder Eric Bailey led off the inning with a double off the right field fence, and the final hit of the hot streak was a two-run double off the left field wall by Willis.
All six runs came with two outs.
The Lakers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth, scored by second baseman Levi Brenneman and catcher Adam Frandsen who started the inning with two consecutive singles.
First baseman Chasen Eaves and shortstop Walker Malmin earned the RBIs.
Justin Rich was 2 for 3 in Game 2, as was catcher Adam Frandsen, whose key blocks kept the Chargers base runners from advancing on the bases throughout the contest.
“He’s a great defensive catcher,” Malmin said.
“We don’t have any issues throwing off speed in any count because of what he does behind the plate.”
Kalispell would cut Great Falls’ lead to 7-5 by scoring a run in the fifth and sixth inning, but the Chargers put the game away with two runs in the seventh.
“If you look at the line, we have one error, nine hits, we chipped away, scoring in four of the seven innings,” Malmin said.
“It’s tough to swallow because the opportunities are there. The pieces are there; we just have to come together and play a complete doubleheader.”
Game 1
Great Falls AA 400 000 0 — 4 2 5
Kalispell AA 210 000 0 — 3 5 1
Quade Hamrel and Justin Pfennigs. Brandon Maassen, Colton Wiley (6) and Jake Barstow. W — Hamrel. L — Maassen.
GREAT FALLS — Anthony Bonilla 0-2, Justin Pfennigs 0-2, Jayse McLean 0-4, Erik Willis 2-4, Eric Bailey 0-4, Gabe Kuntz 0-2, Marc Judice 0-2, Matt Garcia 0-1, Lucas Poitra 0-1.
KALISPELL — Brandon Maassen 1-4, Charlie Obermiller 1-4, Levi Brenneman 0-3, Adam Frandsen 0-3, Chasen Eaves 1-3, Walker Malmin 1-3, Justin Wallace 0-3, Colten Wiley 0-1, Jake Barstow 1-3.
3B — Willis. RBIs — Willis 3, Maassen.
Game 2
Great Falls AA 001 600 2 — 9 15 2
Kalispell AA 001 211 0 — 5 9 1
Erik Willis, Jake Lowery (7) and Justin Pfennigs. Sam Crompton, Colten Wiley (6), Justin Rich (7) and Adam Frandsen. W — Willis. L — Crompton
GREAT FALLS — Anthony Bonilla 4-4, Justin Pfennigs 2-5, Jayse McLean 4-5, Erik Willis 2-4, Eric Bailey 1-4, Gabe Kuntz 1-4, Marc Judice 0--3, Matt Garcia 0-2, Lucas Poitra 1-2.
KALISPELL — Brandon Maassen 1-4, Charlie Obermiller 0-3, Levi Brenneman 1-3, Adam Frandsen 2-3, Chasen Eaves 0-2, Andy Bemis 0-1, Walker Malmin 0-3, Justin Rich 2-3, Brett Thomas 1-2, Jake Barstow 2-3.
2B — Willis, Bailey, Poitra. RBIs — McLean 2, Pfennigs 2, Bonilla, Willis 2, Kuntz, Poitra, Barstow 2, Rich, Frandsen, Malmin.