American Legion State Baseball Senators slip by Lakers; Mariners edge Mavericks
BILLINGS — Zach Spiroff, the ninth batter in the order, tripled in the top of the seventh to left field with one out to score Tyler Tenney, who reached on a single, in a 3-2 victory for the Helena Senators over the Kalispell Lakers in the opening game of the AA Montana/Alberta American Legion state baseball tournament on Saturday at Dehler Park.
The Lakers threatened in the bottom half of the seventh, but stranded runners on first and second.
The Senators (30-23) are the tournament’s sixth seed. The Lakers are seeded third.
Logan Siblerud took the loss for Kalispell. He went the distance, seven innings, allowing five hits, striking out three and walking four.
Helena’s Ethan Keintz went the final inning to get the win. Keintz and Miller checked Kalispell on three hits. Miller fanned six batters and walked five.
Taylor Morton doubled for Kalispell.
The Lakers have a loser-out game today at 10 a.m. versus the Billings Scarlets.
Helena Senators 002 000 1 — 3 5 0
Kalispell Lakers 002 000 0 — 2 3 2
WP—Ethan Keintz; LP—Logan Siblerud.
HELENA — Ty McGurran 1-4, Matt Krieger 0-4, Chase Nielsen 0-3, Grady Koenig 0-1, Caden Sell 0-2, Trysten Mooney 0-0, Hunter Kirkpatrick 1-3, Brady Anderson 0-2, Tyler Tenney 1-3, Zach Spiroff 2-2.
KALISPELL — Ryan Symmes 1-3, Randy Stultz 1-2, Connor Drish 0-1, Payton Davison 0-4, Jack Corriveau 0-2, Luke Halland 0-3, Taylor Morton 1-2, Eric Seaman 0-1, Jonathan Craver 0-2.
2B—Morton; 3B—Spiroff; RBIs—McGurran, Spiroff; Corriveau.
Saturday’s Scores
First Round
Helena Senators 3, Kalispell Lakers 2
Missoula Mavericks 9, Great Falls Chargers 1
Bozeman Bucks 11, Billings Scarlets 4
Billings Royals 3, Lethbridge Elks 1
Today’s Schedule
Losers’ Bracket
10 a.m. — Kalispell Lakers vs. Billings Scarlets
1 p.m. — Great Falls Chargers vs. Lethbridge Elks
Winners’ Bracket
4 p.m. — Helena Senators vs. Bozeman Bucks
7 p.m. — Missoula Mavericks vs. Billings Royals
Mission Valley 5, Miles City 3
FLORENCE — Espn Fisher had a sharp outing on the mound to carry the Mission Valley Mariners to a victory over the Miles City Mavericks in Game 3 on opening day of the A Montana/Alberta American Legion state baseball tournament.
Miles City, who had runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, and managed to push one run across the plate on a two-out single by Jack Cline before Jess Bellows flew out to Mission Valley right fielder Corbin Davis to end the game.
Fisher went the distance. He struck out five, walked one batter and allowed six hits — five singles and a double.
Mission Valley had eight hits, led by Eric Dolence, 2 for 4, and Dylan Davis, 2 for 3.
Fisher had the team’s only extra-base hit, a double.
Mission Valley advances to face the Vauxhall Spurs today at 2:30 p.m.
Miles City drops into loser-out action at 9:30 a.m. versus the Dillon Cubs.
Mission Valley 011 200 1 — 5 8 3
Miles City 020 000 1 — 3 6 2
WP—Espn Fisher; LP—Nathan Zard.
MISSION VALLEY — Izyk Gillingham 0-4, Gabe Mergenthaler 0-2, Eric Dolence 2-4, Dylan Davis 2-3, Keyan Dalbey 1-3, Fisher 1-2, Dawson Dumont 1-3, Trevor Lake 0-3, James Bennett 1-3.
MILES CITY — Jack Cline 1-4, Jess Bellows 1-4, Joel Christopherson 0-3, Clay Press 0-3, Kayden Hager 1-3, Cameron Muri 1-2, Aiden Cline 0-0, Dalton Polesky 1-3, Carson Hunter 1-3, Jayden Venable 0-3.
2B—Dolence; Hager; RBIs—Davis, Dalbey, Dumont; J. Cline.
Saturday’s Scores
First Round
Vauxhall Spurs 6, Dillon Cubs 0
Gallatin Valley Outlaws 6, Lewistown Red Birds 3
Mission Valley Mariners 5, Miles City Mavericks 3
Laurel Dodgers 16, Bitterroot Bucs 6
Today’s Schedule
Losers’ Bracket
9:30 a.m.— Dillon Cubs vs. Miles City Mavericks
Noon — Lewistown Red Birds vs. Bitterroot Bucs loser
Winners’ Bracket
2:30 p.m. — Vauxhall Spurs vs. Mission Valley Mariners
5:30 p.m. — Gallatin Valley Outlaws vs. Laurel Dodgers