Legion baseball: Lakers, Red Sox split doubleheader
It was a tale of two games for the Kalispell Lakers AA on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference American Legion baseball doubleheader against the Bitterroot Red Sox at Griffin Field. Kalispell split the games, winning the first 10-6 and losing the second 10-1.
The Lakers bats were on fire in the opener.
After falling down 3-0 in the top of the first inning, Kalispell answered quickly, scoring twice on the home side of the frame and once more in the second to tie the contest.
The Lakers took their first lead in the fourth inning, and erupted in the fifth, scoring five runs to take a 10-4 advantage. Walker Malmin hit a bases-clearing, three-run double to start the inning and Leif Ericksen shot a single past the Red Sox first baseman to score the final run of the inning.
The Red Sox rebounded for a pair of runs in the seventh inning, but Logan DeCock closed out the game before the rally gained steam.
Brandon Maassen picked up the win on the hill.
“I thought we played a great game the first game,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said.
“We had a slow start, we were able to come back and answer. We chipped away and were able to take the lead and extend it. The kids played well all-around in the first game.”
The second game was far different.
Bitterroot again took an early lead in the first inning, scoring its first two batters. Kalispell again found a run in the bottom half of the inning to cut into the lead.
After that, the game fell apart for the Lakers.
Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Ringer threw six strikeouts in the first three innings, and held the Lakers scoreless for the rest of the contest.
Bitterroot never slowed down, piling up three hits and a run in the second inning. Red Sox third baseman Bret Huxtable hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence to cap a four-hit, three-run fifth inning and Bitterroot took advantage of a pair of walks and two passed balls in the sixth to score two more runs.
All told, the Red Sox tallied 14 hits and 10 runs in a 10-1 win over the Lakers.
Ringer finished with nine strikeouts in a complete game performance.
“We left the ball up a little bit too much, which we don’t normally do,” Ryan Malmin said.
“Offensively, we didn’t respond like we did in the first game. We weren’t as disciplined at the plate and that takes its toll.
“Disappointing as far as how well we played in the first game.”
The Lakers (5-5 overall) play at Libby on Wednesday ahead of hosting the Canadian Days tournament this weekend.
Game 1
Bitterroot 301 000 2 – 6 9 2
Kalispell 211 150 x – 10 10 2
Kyle Norman, Ladd Grenfell (4), Kade Hudgins (5) and Austin Ray. Brandon Maassen, Logan Decock (6) and Andrew Schleusner. W – Maassen. L – Norman.
BITTERROOT RED SOX – Nate Loranger 2-5, Tylor Nixon 0-2, Jonathan Ringer 1-4, Horvath 3-3, Kody Lane 0-3, Joe Johnson 1-2, Brennon Fisher 1-3, Billy Anderson 1-4, Austin Ray 0-4.
LAKERS AA – Tiler Whiteaker 0-3, Walker Malmin 2-3, Schleusner 1-3, Patrick O’Connell 0-2, Leif Ericksen 2-3, Sam Crompton 0-4, Quinn Barber 2-3, Keatin Mohl 0-4, Jayson Combs 3-4.
2B – Horvath, Malmin, Ericksen, Combs, Barber. RBIs – Ringer, Fisher, Anderson, Malmin 3, Schleusner, O’Connell, Ericksen 2, Barber, Combs.
Game 2
Bitterroot 210 132 1 – 10 14 1
Kalispell 100 000 0 – 1 4 0
Jonathan Ringer and Austin Ray. Walker Malmin, Sam Crompton (5), Leif Ericksen (7) and Andrew Schleusner. W – Ringer. L – Malmin.
BITTERROOT RED SOX – Nate Loranger 3-5, Tylor Nixon 0-2, Kody Lane 2-4, Justin Horvath 2-5, Ringer 2-3, Joe Johnson 0-3, Dodge Hurley 0-1, Bret Huxtable 2-3, Kyle Norman 0-4, Ray 3-3.
LAKERS AA – Tiler Whiteaker 0-3, Brandon Maassen 0-2, Andrew Schleusner 0-0, Keatin Mohl 1-3, Patrick O’Connell 1-3, Leif Ericksen 0-3, Andy Bemis 1-3, Quinn Barber 1-3, Jason Combs 0-3, Logan Decock 0-3.
2B – Ringer, Lane, Ray, O’Connell. HR – Huxtable. RBIs – Loranger, Nixon, Lane 3, Horvath, Ringer, Huxtable 2, O’Connell.