A Lakers’ season ends with District loss to Bucs

POLSON — The Kalispell A Lakers didn’t get the kindest of draws at the West A District Legion tournament, and a 7-6 loss to the Bitterroot Bucs on Saturday is proof of that.

The Lakers, who ended up 38-18 with the defeat, started the tournament with a win, then fell to the top-seeded Glacier Twins 3-1 on Friday. Because Missoula upset the Bucs 3-2 on Thursday, Kalispell drew the West A’s second seed in Saturday’s loser-out play.

The Bucs’ Gabe Philbrick hit what turned out to be a key RBI single in the sixth inning, putting Bitterroot (33-10) ahead 7-4.

The Lakers rallied in the seventh, starting with a leadoff triple from Trever Cockerill.

He scored on Brecken Walcheck’s ensuing single, and an error and a walk loaded the bases for Hunter Fann. Fann, who doubled and scored in the fifth, hit a grounder to second but everyone was safe, and Walcheck scored to cut the gap to 7-6.

There was still one out, but then Bucs’ third baseman Drew Wagner turned Luke Nikunen’s sharp grounder into a game-ending 5-3 double play.

Cockerill started on the hill, allowing four hits, four walks and two earned runs in 4 1-3 innings. He fanned seven.

Lakers 000 130 2 - 6 5 3

Bucs 003 022 x - 7 8 3

Trever Cockerill, Cale Brink (5), Hunter Fann (6) and Bryce Quinnell. Trapper Oster, Drew Wagner (5), Brodie Hinsdale (5), Deklan Kulaski (7) and Joey Wheeler.

KALISPELL A LAKERS — Hunter Glidden 0-3, Fann 1-3, Luke Nikunen 0-4, Braden Capser 0-2, Bryce Bucmaster 1-4, Cockerill 2-3, Jackson Heino 0-3, Brecken Walchek 1-1, Brink 0-2, Easton Capser 0-1, Quinnell 0-4.

BITTERROOT BUCS — Hinsdale 1-2, Troy Larson 0-3, Gabe Philbrick 2-4, Wagner 3-4, Braelon Bahm 0-3, Wheeler 0-3, Mason Arlington 0-2, Conner Root 0-1. Thomas Reinhart 0-2, Oster 1-1, Roy Combs 1-2.

2B — Fann, Wagner, Philbrick. 3B — Cockerill, Oster. RBIs — Fann, Nikunen, Buckmaster, Cockerill, Walcheck, Philbrick 2, Wagner 2, Bahm.