Legion baseball: Scarlets take 2 from Lakers
<p>Kalispell center fielder Jake Barstow makes a grab near the fence to get the first out during the second game Friday evening of an American Legion AA baseball doubleheader against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field. </p>
<p>Kalispell pitcher Colten Wiley looks a runner back to third base as he fields the ball Friday evening during the first game of doubleheader against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field.</p>
The Billings Scarlets came through with a pair of tight wins over the Kalispell Lakers Friday night in AA American Legion baseball action at Griffin Field.
The Scarlets scored twice in the third, fourth and fifth innings to claim a 6-4 victory in the opener.
Billings pitcher Gordon Sveinson then tossed a 3-hitter in the second game, a 2-0 victory for the Royals.
“Sveinson did a good job keeping us off balance,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said.
“He mixed up his speeds really well.”
Levi Brenneman, Chasen Eaves and Colten Wiley had singles for the Lakers in the second game.
“Our kids competed well,” Malmin said.
“We jumped out early in Game 1.”
In that outing, Kalispell led 2-0 after two innings before the Scarlets stormed back.
Brandon Maassen and Eaves both went 2 for 4 to lead the Lakers offensively in the opener. Maassen had two RBIs.
“I thought we pitched well, as we have all year,” Malmin said in both games.
“Defensively we were pretty solid.”
Kalispell is back in action with a league doubleheader on Monday at Medicine Hat, Alberta. The first game begins at 4 p.m.
Game 1
Billings Scarlets 002 220 0 — 6 10 2
Kalispell Lakers 110 011 0 — 4 7 1
WP— Michael Merchant; LP—Sam Crompton.
BILLINGS — Jackson Cobb 2-4, Jake Tallman 3-4, Jalen Garcia 2-3, Colin Maier 0-4, Gordon Sveinson 1-2, Jake McGovern 0-3, Jayson Leinwand 1-2, Luke Funyak 0-4, AJ Smith 1-3.
KALISPELL — Brandon Maassen 2-4, Levi Brenneman 0-4, Chasen Eaves 2-4, Adam Frandsen 1-3, Justin Rich 0-4, Walker Malmin 0-3, Charlie Obermiller 1-2, Justin Wallace 1-3, Jake Barstow 0-3.
2B—Leinwand, Tallman, Garcia; Obermiller; Frandsen; RBIs—Tallman, Garcia (2), Smith; Maassen (2), Frandsen, Rich.
Game 2
Billings Scarlets 002 000 0 — 2 7 0
Kalispell Lakers 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
WP—Gordon Sveinson; LP—Brandon Maassen.
BILLINGS — Jackson Cobb 0-4, Jake Tallman 2-4, Jalen Garcia 3-3, Colin Maier 2-4, Elijah Sommerville 0-3, Jake McGovern 0-3, AJ Smith 0-2, Luke Funyak 0-2, Caje Golden 0-2.
KALISPELL — Maassen 0-3, Levi Brenneman 1-3, Chasen Eaves 1-3, Adam Frandsen 0-3, Walker Malmin 0-3, Charlie Obermiller 0-2, Colten Wiley 1-2, Justin Wallace 0-2, Jake Barstow 0-2.
RBIs—Maier (2).