LEGION: Big inning boosts Kalispell Lakers A over Mission Valley

Ryan Symmes singled twice during a seven-run third and Sam Elliott twirled six solid innings to lead the Kalispell Lakers A to a 7-2 win over the Mission Valley Mariners on Friday night at Griffin Field.

The game was the first of a Western A conference doubleheader. The second game was not completed at press time.

Symmes’ pair of hits came during a seemingly endless parade of singles, walks, errors and hit batsmen that helped the Lakers overcome an early deficit. Kalispell sent 13 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring all of the runs it would need.

“They made a couple mistakes there and we were able to get a few clutch hits and turn it into a big inning,” Lakers manager Jesse McFarland said.

“These guys have done a good job of (working counts) all year, but especially in that third inning we were able to turn it into a big one and that was the difference in the game.”

The Lakers (15-6 overall, 3-0 Western A) needed only five hits to score seven times in the frame, taking advantage of four Mariners’ errors, a walk, a wild pitch and two hit by pitches. Eric Seaman had the first big blow, lining a single to center to score the Lakers’ second and third runs. Jaryon Venturini, Tyler Kitch and Symmes also picked up RBIs later in the rally.

Kalispell forced southpaw Tyson Petticrew to throw 47 pitches in the decisive inning after he worked through the first two frames fairly cleanly, and on just 24 pitches.

Mission Valley staked Petticrew a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, touching Elliott for the only two runs he would allow on a two-out Nyqolas Gillingham single. From that point on, however, Elliott was nearly untouchable. The tall right-hander did not allow another hit until the sixth inning, struck out five and earned the win.

“I wouldn’t say he had his best stuff,” McFarland said of Elliott. “He had a little trouble locating his breaking ball, which is usually not an issue, and that’s really a testament to him and his competitiveness; not having his best stuff and still being able to come out and throw a great game. I’m really proud of him.”

Elliott allowed just the two earned runs on three hits in six innings but did have to work around five walks. Elliott helped get himself out of a number of jams, picking off a pair of Mariners baserunners, including one at second base to squash a third inning Mission Valley threat.

“He holds runners on very, very well,” McFarland said. “He just caught one sleeping here and there and was able to get a couple cheap outs. He does a good job of that.”

Seaman, Venturini and Kitch joined Symmes with two hits. All 11 Lakers hits were singles.

Micah McClure replaced Petticrew in the fourth and fired three shutout innings to keep the Mariners in the game. McClure struck out four and did not walk a batter.

M. Valley 200 000 0 — 2 4 4

Kalispell 007 000 0 — 7 11 3

Tyson Petticrew, Micah McClure (4) and Warren Wood (MV). Sam Elliott, Clayton Jaques (7) and Randy Stultz (K). W — Elliott. L — Petticrew.

MISSION VALLEY — Kade Schutzman 0-2, Jacob Harrod 1-4, Walter Wood 0-4, Anthony Jones 1-1, War. Wood 0-2, Nyqolas Gillingham 1-3, Petticrew 0-2, McClure 0-0, Tyler Kelsch 0-3, Bransen Krebs 1-3.

KALISPELL — Ryan Symmes 2-4, Stultz 1-3, Eric Seaman 2-4, Jaycob Serrano 0-4, Jaryon Venturini 2-4, Brady Peiffer 1-4, Nathan Vanderbeek 1-3, Keaden Morisaki 0-4, Tyler Kitch 2-2.

RBIs — Gillingham 2 (MV); Symmes, Seaman, Venturini, Kitch (K).