Legion baseball: Lakers AA take two from Senators

The Kalispell Lakers AA continue to close out regular-season play on a streak, sweeping the Helena Senators in an American Legion baseball doubleheader at Griffin Field on Monday.

The Lakers, winners of four of their last five games, won both outings by 3-2 scores.

Andrew Schleusner had the game-winning hit in the second game, which stretched to nine innings. He singled to left center to score Tiler Whiteaker, who opened the bottom of the ninth with a double.

“Our pitching staff did a great job,” Lakers manager Ryan Malmin said. “They only allowed three passes all day long. Our defense was clean behind them.”

Brandon Maassen went 3 for 3 for Kalispell in the opener and drove in a run. He doubled, along with Schleusner.

Maassen and Schleusner both had two hits in the second game. Maassen doubled and drove in two runs.

Kalispell concludes regular-season play on Saturday with a doubleheader at Butte. The State AA Tournament follows in Helena, July 29-Aug. 1.

Helena 100 000 1 — 2 3 2

Kalispell 001 001 x — 3 9 2

WP — Robert Reaser; LP — Riley Pickens.

HELENA — Danny Burton 0-3, Koby Griffin 1-3, Payton Pappas 1-3, Nick Wrigg 0-2, Jackson Thennis 1-3, Kienan Stief 0-3, Henry Bowers 0-3, Carter Pappas 0-2, Ryan Dorvall 0-2.

KALISPELL — Walker Malmin 0-3, Andrew Schleusner 1-3, Patrick O’Connell 1-3, Reaser 0-3, Leif Ericksen 0-3, Tiler Whiteaker 1-2, Levi Brenneman 1-2, Brandon Maassen 3-3, Keatin Mohl 2-3.

2B—Schleusner, Maassen; RBI—Wrigg, Stief; O’Connell, Brenneman, Maassen.

Helena 001 000 000 — 2 10 1

Kalispell 010 100 001 — 3 7 0

WP—Maassen; LP—Kenny Wilson.

HELENA — Burton 0-5, Griffin 2-3, P. Pappas 1-4, Wrigg 1-4, Thennis 1-4, Stief 3-3, Jackson Maynard 0-3, Wilson 2-4, Ryan Dorvall 0-4.

KALISPELL — Whiteaker 1-4, Schleusner 2-4, O’Connell 0-4, Reaser 1-3, Ericksen 0-2, Andy Bemis 1-4, Brenneman 0-3, Maassen 2-3, Quinn Barber 0-3, Jayson Combs 0-1.

2B—Griffin; Maassen, Whiteaker, Bemis; RBI—Wrigg, Wilson; Schleusner, Maassen (2).