Legion Baseball: Lakers AA fall in first round at state

HELENA — A fast start turned into a crushing loss for the Kalispell Lakers in the opening game of the Montana/Alberta American Legion Class AA state baseball tournament on Wednesday at Kindrick Legion Field.

The Lakers scored three runs in the first two innings but couldn’t stop the high-powered Missoula Mavericks, falling 10-3 in the first round. With the loss, Kalispell falls to the loser-out bracket and will play the host Helena Senators at 12:30 p.m. today.

“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot,” Lakers AA manager Ryan Malmin said.

“We were right in it. We just played differently. I’m not sure if that was just being tight, but that’s not who we are. I’m just disappointed in the plays we struggled to make today.”

Playing with a banged up team, the Lakers plated three straight batters to load the bases in the top of the first inning, scoring twice one batter later on a fielder’s choice followed by an error. Another error from the Missoula shortstop allowed the Lakers to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning.

Missoula tied the game in the bottom of the second on a pair of wild pitches and preceded to hold the Lakers scoreless for the rest of the contest.

A five-run Mavericks burst in the seventh inning, that saw Missoula reach seven straight batters, pushed the game out of reach. Kalispell reached its first four batters of the ninth inning, but a fielder’s choice and a game-ending double play left the Lakers rally short.

Tiler Whiteaker was 2 for 3 from the plate and Andrew Schleusner 2 for 5 for the Lakers. Robert Reaser took the loss on the mound.

Missoula compiled 14 hits, led by Ben Tabaracci’s 4 for 5 performance at the dish that saw a double and an RBI.

“(We did) some things that aren’t characteristic,” Malmin said. “But, tomorrow’s a new day.”

Helena, the Lakers’ opponent this afternoon, lost its opening round game to the Billings Scarlets 11-1 in eight innings.

Earlier in the day, the Billings Royals beat Medicine Hat 10-8 and Bozeman beat Lethbridge 8-2.

Kalispell 210 000 000 — 3 7 4

Missoula 120 110 050 — 10 14 4

Robert Reaser and Walker Malmin (7). Austin Bohnsack W - Bohnsack L - Reaser.

KALISPELL - Walker Malmin 0-5, Andrew Schleusner 2-5, Patrick O’Connell 1-3, Leif Ericksen 1-4, Robert Reaser 0-3, Andy Bemis 0-1, Jayson Combs 1-2, Quinn Barber 0-1, Tiler Whiteaker 2-3, Levi Brenneman 0-3, Brandom Maasen 0-4.

MISSOULA - Jackson King 0-4, Jesson Preston 1-4, Ben Tabaracci 4-5, Zanon Fulbright 1-4, Josh Tabor 2-4, Kellen Round 2-5, Nick Yovetich 1-3, Kip Vetos 1-2, Jakob Bierig 2-3.

2B - Tabaracci, Tabor. RBIs - Malmin, Reaser, Bierig, Tabaracci, Tabor, Vetos, Fulbright 2.