Lakers AA down Redbirds, Dukes
The Kalispell Lakers AA are heading to the championship.
The Lakers went 2-0 on Day 2 of the Canadian Days American Legion baseball tournament, shutting out the Calgary Redbirds 8-0 before dropping the Sherwood Park Dukes 14-4 on Saturday at Griffin Field.
In the opener, Lakers pitcher Walker Malmin scattered three hits in seven innings, using just 82 pitches for the complete-game shutout.
Kalispell put up five runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fifth.
“The kids did a great job of coming out with a good approach and attacking the fastball,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. “They stringed some hits together and were able to break into the scoring in the third inning.”
Sherwood Park jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the nightcap, but the Lakers quickly erased the deficit, pushing eight runs across the plate in the bottom of the first inning.
Quinn Barber hit a grand-slam during the eight run rally to spark the offense in the mercy-rule shortened game.
“They did great job of staying poised. Brandon Maassen settled down on the mound and that first inning was capped by a Quinn Barber grand slam,” Malmin said.“It feels like we’re in a pretty good groove at the plate. With each at-bat the kids are gaining confidence and taking a great approach to the dish.
Barber finished 2 for 2 with four RBIs while Andrew Schleusner slapped his second double in as many games.
The Lakers face the Dukes in the title game today at 3:30 p.m. on Griffin Field.
Sherwood Park 310 000 — 4 5 2
Kalispell AA 823 1x — 14 13 2
W — Brandon Maassen. L — Prather.
SHERWOOD PARK — Kirwer 0-2, Heck 0-2, Yuzda 1-2, Zuk 1-3, Withrow 0-2, Parranto 0-2, Gillespie 1-2, Sellinger 1-2, Reay 1-1.
KALISPELL — Tiler Whiteaker 2-4, Levi brenneman 1-3, Andrew Schleusner 1-2, Logan DeCock 1-1, Patrick O’Connell 1-2, Leif Ericksen 1-2, Andy Bemis 1-3, Quinn Barber 2-2, Keatin Mohl 3-3.
2B — Schleusner, Ericksen, Barber. HR — Barber. RBIs —Yuzda, Withrow; Whiteaker, Schleusner, Ericksen 2, Bemis 2, Barber 4, Mohl 2.
Calgary 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
Kalispell AA 005 300 0 — 8 9 3
W — Malmin. L — N/A
CALGARY — N/A
KALISPELL — Tiler Whiteaker 0-3, Brandon Maassen 2-4, Andrew Schleusner 1-2, Patrick O’Connell 1-2, Leif Ericksen 1-4, Levi Brenneman 0-3, Sam Crompton 0-3, Jayson Combs 2-3, Quinn Barber 2-3.
2B — Schleusner. RBIs — Whiteaker, Maassen, Schleusner 3, O’Connell.
Saturday’s Scores
Class A
Kalispell Lakers A 19, Sherwood Park A’s 0
Ferris Saxons 6, Edmonton Cardinals 4
Calgary Redbirds 11, Cranbrook Bandits 10
Kalispell Lakers A 11, Edmonton Cardinals 6
Ferris Saxons 18, Sherwood Park A’s 0
Class AA
Sherwood Park Dukes 12, Okotoks Outlaws 2
Calgary Redbirds 35, Okotoks Outlaws 2
Kalispell Lakers AA 8, Calgary Redbirds 0
Kalispell Lakers AA 14, Sherwood Park Dukes 4
Today’s Schedule
Class A
Archie Roe Field
10:30 a.m. Sherwood Park A’s vs Edmonton Cardinals
1 p.m. Calgary Redbirds vs Cranbrook Bandits
Griffin Field
1 p.m. — Kalispell Lakers A vs Ferris Saxons
Class AA
Griffin Field
10:30 a.m. Calgary Redbirds vs Okotoks Outlaws
3:30 p.m. Kalispell L