AA Lakers pummel Elks to earn split
LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — Andre Cephers’ three-run double capped a six-run first inning, and the Kalispell Lakers went on to beat Lethbridge 13-3 in the second game of a Class AA Legion baseball doubleheader Tuesday.
The win gave the AA Lakers (32-15) a split of the twinbill and snapped a three-game slide. The Elks (14-18) rallied to win the opener 9-6.
The Lakers came back strong in the second game, ending it in six innings under the mercy rule. Carter Schlegel had three hits in both ends of the doubleheader, and had a double and scored three times in the nightcap.
Michael Owens scored twice, as did Ostyn Brennan in the win. On the hill Luke Nikunen threw five strong innings — he allowed six hits, three walks and one earned run, with three strikeouts — and Trever Cockerill finished up.
Things looked promising in the first game when Brennan and Schlegel hit RBI singles in a three-run second inning, and Oscar Kallis hit a solo home run in the third for a 6-4 Laker lead.
But the Elks, sparked by Ty Mabin’s RBI triple, scored four times in the fifth inning to regain momentum. By then Lethbridge reliever Cooper Oriold-Climenhaga had settled in; he finished with five strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings, allowing just the Kallis homer.
The Lakers now head to Bozeman for the Bucks’ invitational tournament Thursday through Sunday.
First Game
AA Lakers 231 000 0 - 6 9 2
Elks 400 041 x - 9 7 0
Ostyn Brennan, Jackson Heino (5) and Andre Cephers. Kade Pallett, Cooper Oriold-Climenhaga (2) and Ben Puszkar.
KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Brennan 1-5, Carter Schlege 3-4, Luke Nikunen 1-3, Kaden Dristh 1-2, Trever Cockerill 2-4, Oscar Kallis 1-4, Brysen Herion 0-2, Michael Owens 0-1, Cephers 0-3, Bryce Buckmaster 0-2, Hunter Fann 0-0.
LETHBRIDGE ELKS — Tristan Oriold-Marek 0-1, Fawkes Bruinsma 0-3, Karsen Haney 2-3, Lyle Steadman 0-4, Ty Mabin 1-4, Willis Takahashi, Puszkar 1-3, River Hope 1-3, Midnite Toker 1-3.
2B — Toker. 3B — Mabin. HR — Kallis. RBIs —Schlegel, Drish, Cockerill, Kallis, Puszkar 2, Hope 2, Mabin, Takahashi.
Second Game
AA Lakers 610 114 - 13 13 4
Elks 111 000 - 3 6 4
Luke Nikunen, Trever Cockerill (6) and Ostyn Brennan. Bowen Weaver, Hope (1), Jarret McNeill (3), Bruinsma (5), Takahashi (6) and Takahashi, n/a (7).
LAKERS — Brennan 1-2, Schlegel 3-4, Nikunen 2-4, Drish 3-4, Cockerill 0-2, Kallis 1-4, Fann 1-4, Owens 0-2, Cephers 2-4.
ELKS — Oriold-Marek 0-4, Bruinsma 1-2, Steadman 2-3, Haney 0-2, Mabin 1-2, Puszkar 0-3, Takahashi 1-3, Hope 0-3, Toker 1-3.
2B — Schlegel, Cephers. HR — Takahashi. RBIs — Cephers 4, Nikunen 2, Drish 2, Cockerill, Schlegel, Takahashi 2, Haney.