AA Legion: Holden, Lakers eliminate Bucks

BILLINGS — Max Holden threw a five-hit shutout to push the Kalispell Lakers into the final four at the State AA Legion tournament, after a 3-0 win over the Bozeman Bucks Friday at Dehler Park.

Holden threw a gem, walking two batters and striking out five. The Lakers (31-24) next play the Billings Royals at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Royals beat the Helena Senators 4-3 Saturday to guarantee themselves a spot in the championship round Sunday;

This is the fifth time in seven years the Lakers have made it to the fourth day of state; they finished third twice in that time, including last year, and played for the state title in 2016.

Small ball got the Lakers on the board in the second inning: Oscar Kallis was hit by a pitch, James Moody singled and both Lakers moved up on Haiden Bunyea’s bunt. Grady Drish hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Kallis.

In the third inning Elijah Owens hit a leadoff single and came in on Ostyn Brennan’s double; Kallis came up with a two-out single to bring in Brennan for a 3-0 lead.

That was enough. Bozeman didn’t get a hit until Max Matteucci’s single in the fourth. The Bucks got runners as far as second base in the sixth and seventh innings, but Holden shut them down each time.

Bucks 000 000 0 - 0 5 0

Lakers 012 000 x - 3 8 0

Jackson Burke and A Western. Max Holden and Grady Drish.

BOZEMAN BUCKS — Jake Vigen 0-3, Western 0-2, River Smith 1-3, Max Matteucci 1-3, Corbin Holzer 0-3, Bryce Hapton 2-3, Dillon Coleman 1-3, Dillon Farne 0-3, Austin Cooper 0-1, Hayden Roethle 0-2.

KALISPELL LAKERS — Ostyn Brennan 1-3, Kostya Hoffman 1-3, Gage Brink 0-3, Oscar Kallis 1-2, James Moody 1-3, Haiden Bunyea 1-2, Drish 1-1, Carter Schlegel 1-3, Elijah Owens 1-2.

2B — Drish, Brennan, Bunyea. RBIs — Brennan, Kallis, Drish.