Kroger throws shutout in Twins’ win; M’s fall

LAUREL — Kellen Kroger threw a shutout and the Glacier Twins made one first-inning run hold up for a 1-0 victory over Butte Wednesday, in the first game of the State A Montana/Alberta Legion tournament.

Kroger and Butte’s Derek Dunmire had a heck of a pitchers’ duel, with each allowing three hits.

Dunmnire walked four and struck out eight, and gave up two hits in the first inning: The second, by Jake McIntyre, drove in Mikey Glass with the game’s lone run.

In Wednesday’s second game, the Mission Valley Mariners fell 7-3 to the Belgrade Bandits. The Twins (29-9) and Bandits (29-9) both advanced to winner’s bracket action Thursday; the Twins will play either Havre or the Billings Blue Jays; Belgrade will draw either Lethbridge or the host Laurel Dodgers.

Twins 1, Miners 0

McIntyre’s RBI was enough, though the defending State A champion Miners put some pressure on.

Butte got a leadoff single in the third inning, but stranded the runner at second; they got a walk and single to start the sixth, but left those runners at second and third.

Then Zach Tierney singled to lead off the seventh for Butte, and a pinch-runner moved to second on a groundout. But Kroger fanned the next two batters to end that threat and the game — his 11th and 12th strikeouts.

Kroger walked one batter and hit one, and threw 100 pitches.

Twins 100 000 0 - 1 3 0

Miners 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

Kellen Kroger and AC Chilson. Derek Dunmire and Quinn Cox.

GLACIER TWINS — Maddox Muller 0-4, Mikey Glass 0-2, Kroger 1-3, Tristan Butts 0-2, Jake McIntyre 1-2, Dayne Tu 0-2, Talon Murphy 0-3, Josiah Ruther 0-3, Chilson 1-3.

BUTTE MINERS — Kenley Leary 0-2, Kevin Donaldson 1-2, Anthony Knott 0-3, Cayde Stajcar 0-2, Zach Tierney 1-3, Cox 0-3, Trey Hansen 0-2, Ethan Cunningham 1-3, Sean Ossello 0-2.

RBIs — McIntyre.

Bandits 7, Mariners 3

Aidan Kulbeck drove in six runs for Belgrade, four with a fourth-inning grand slam that put the Bandits up 7-0.

That was more than enough support for Collin Delph, who went six innings and allowed four hits, two walks and two earned runs, striking out five. Keenan Kraft threw the seventh inning for the Bandits.

The Mariners struck for three runs in the sixth inning, getting an RBI single from Espn Fisher, a run-scoring groundout from Dawson DuMont and a dropped third strike that Hunter Emerson beat out while Fisher came across the plate.

Mission Valley loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Kraft was able to fan the next two hitters to seal the win.

Cole Wadsworth and Aiden Gfroerer each had two of Mission Vallley’s six hits. Cymian Calley went the distance on the hill for the Mariners, allowing 10 hits and a walk. He struck out two and threw 80 pitches.

State A Tournament

July 26-30, Laurel

Wednesday

Game 1: Glacier Twins 1, Butte Miners 0

Game 2: Belgrade Bandits 7, Mission Valley Mariners 3

Game 3: Havre Northstars (43-16) vs. Billings Blue Jays (48-9), 4 p.m.

Game 4: Lethbridge Miners (37-10) vs. Laurel Dodgers (52-8), 7 p.m.

Thursday

Game 5: Butte Miners (31-11) vs. Loser 3, 10 a.m., loser out

Game 6: Mission Valley Mariners (24-16) vs. Lost 4, 1 p.m., lo

Game 7: Glacier Twins (29-9) vs. Winner 3, 4 p.m.

Game 8: Belgrade Bandits (29-9) vs. Winner 4, 7 p.m.

Friday

Game 9: Winner 6 vs. Lost 7, 1 p.m., lo

Game 10: Winner 5 vs. Loser 8, 4 p.m., lo

Game 11: Winner 7 vs. Winner 8, 7 p.m., semifinal

Saturday*

Game 12: Winner 9/10 vs. Loser 11, 4 p.m.

Game 13: Winner 9/10 vs. Winner 11, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Game 14: Championship, Noon

Game 15: 45 minutes after Game 14 (if necessary)

*-Games 12/13 will not be rematches unless absolutely necessary.

NOTE: If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 draws a bye through Game 14.