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Top-seeded Billings Royals oust Lakers from State AA Legion

by Daily Inter Lake
| July 31, 2022 12:00 AM

BILLINGS — Davis Mosier had four hits and drove in three runs and an eight-run third inning that carried the Billings Royals over the Kalispell Lakers 14-5 Saturday, at the State AA Legion tournament.

The top-seeded Royals move into Sunday’s championship against the defending champion Helena Senators, who ousted the Billings Scarlets 8-2 Saturday. The Senators will have to beat the Royals twice to repeat.

The Lakers, getting a two-run double from Gage Brink, trailed just 4-3 heading to the bottom of the third inning. The Royals then sent 12 men to the plate, and six of them rapped out singles. Mosier had one, sending in a run to make it 8-3; Sy Waldron’s two-run base hit made it 11-3.

Much of the damage came against Lakers starter Oscar Kallis, though just five of the Royals’ runs were earned. Kalispell committed two miscues in that fateful inning; six runs scored after two were out.

The Lakers ended up 32-25, and with a second straight third-place finish at state. They came in as the No. 6 seed and went 2-2 at Dehler Park.

“Top three is a strong finish,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. “Lost to the two teams who are playing for the state title.

“Down 4-3 with one out in the bottom of the third inning, we were right there, but could not or did not make routine plays. Make the routine plays and we come out of that potentially with another win.”

Nic Gustafson threw 3 1-3 innings and gave up two runs, one earned. He fanned two.

“Nick Gustafson pitched his (butt) off allowing one earned run …. And gave us opportunities to get back in it. We settled in and made some quality plays and had guys on base in nearly every inning and couldn’t capitalize on them.”

Mosier also got the win on the mound, allowing four hits, two walks and four earned runs in five innings. He fanned three. He hit two Lakers and walked another in the fifth inning, setting up Grady Drish for a two-run single that cut the gap to 12-5.

Relievers Nathan Kojetin and Owen Doucette split the last two innings and combined for five strikeouts, though the Lakers but two runners on in each frame. Kalispell left 11 men on base.

“We are young,” Malmin said. “We grew. We learned. We said goodbye to some great kids.

“We will continue to be a team that gets the most out of our kids.”

Lakers 003 020 0 - 5 6 4

Royals 318 011 x - 14 14 2

Oscar Kallis, Nic Gustafson (3) and Grady Drish. Davis Mosier, Nathan Kojetin (6), Owen Doucette (7) and Bryce LaForest.

KALISPELL LAKERS — Ostyn Brennan 2-5, Kostya Hoffman 1-1, Gage Brink 1-3, Kallis 0-3, Haiden Bunyea 0-4, Max Holden 0-2, Drish 1-4, Elijah Owens 1-3, Jackson Nelson 0-3.

BILLINGS ROYALS — Davis Chakos 1-5, Austin Schaaf 1-2, Mosier 4-4, Owned Doucette 2-3, Jessen West 1-4, Sy Waldron 1-3, Kruz Slevira 1-3, Jaiden Tuner 1-4, LaForest 2-4.

2B — Brink. RBIs — Brink 2, Drish 2, Mosier 3, Waldron 3, Doucette 2, Chakos, West, Slevira.

Scores

State AA

July 27-31, Dehler Park, Billings

Wednesday

Game 1 — Great Falls Chargers 1, Missoula Mavericks 0

Game 2 — Helena Senators 17, Lethbridge Elks 7.

Game 3 — Billings Royals 1, Bozeman Bucks 0

Game 4 — Kalispell Lakers 9,. Billings Scarlets 6

Thursday

Game 5 — Bozeman Bucks 8, Missoula Mavericks 5, loser out

Game 6 — Billings Scarlets 7, Lethbridge Elks 2, loser out

Game 7 — Billings Royals 12, Great Falls Chargers 11.

Game 8 — Helena Senators vs. 11, Kalispell Lakers 0

Friday

Game 9 — Billings Scarlets 4, Great Falls Chargers 1, loser out

Game 10 — Kalispell Lakers 3, Bozeman Bucks 0, loser out

Game 11 — Billings Royals 4, Helena Senators 3

Saturday

Game 12 — Helena Senators 8, Billings Scarlets 2

Game 13 — Billings Royals 14, Kalispell Lakers 5, Lakers third

Sunday

Game 14 — Billings Royals (36-23) vs. Helena Senators (47-13), championship, 11 a.m.

Game 15 — If necessary

State A

July 27-31, Belgrade

Wednesd10 ay

Game 1 — Billings Cardinals 8, Bitterroot Red Sox 6

Game 2 — Glacier Twins 13, Laurel Dodgers 7

Game 3 — Butte Miners 15, Havre Northstars 5

Game 4 — Belgrade Bandits 11, Lewistown Redbirds 5

Thursday

Game 5 — Havre North Stars 5, Bitterroot Red Sox 4, loser out

Game 6 — Lewistown Redbirds 11, Laurel Dodgers 6, loser out

Game 7 — Butte Miners 7, Billings Cardinals 3

Game 8 — Belgrade Bandits 9, Glacier Twins 5, 10 innings

Friday

Game 9 — Billings Cardinals 19, Lewistown Redbirds 4, loser out

Game 10 — Havre Northstars 9, Glacier Twins 3, loser out

Game 11 — Butte Miners 12, Belgrade Bandits 2

Saturday

Game 12 — Billings Cardinals 13, Belgrade Bandits 11, loser out

Game 13 — Butte Miners 15, Havre Northstars 5, Northstars third.

Sunday

Game 14 — Billings Cardinals (40-19-1) vs. Butte Miners (39-9), championship, 11 a.m.

Game 15 — If necessary, 45 minutes after Game 14