Strong finish pushes AA Lakers past Royals

BILLINGS — Ostyn Brennan picked up two doubles and drove in a pair of runs as the Kalispell AA Lakers defeated the Billings Royals 7-3 Wednesday, in the first game of a Legion doubleheader.

The Lakers (28-10) broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the top of the sixth inning and added one more insurance run in the top of the seventh. 

Trever Cockerill added an RBI for Kalispell in a 2-for-4 outing. Kaden Drish, Carter Schlegel and Hunter Fann each drove in a run for the Lakers, who picked up eight hits in the game. 

Luke Nikunen started on the mound for Kalispell, allowing three runs on three hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out three and walked five. 

Brennan finished out the game, throwing 1 2-3 innings of one-hit baseball to secure the win. He fanned two. 

Peyton Waskow started for the Royals (15-16-1), going four innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out a pair.

The teams played a second game Wednesday that had not been decided at press time. 

Kalispell    000    213    1    -    7    8    1 

Billings    001    200    0    -    3    4    2 

Luke Nikunen, Ostyn Brennan (6) and Andre Cephers. Peyton Waskow, Chaise Tracy and Ryan Denowh. 

KALISPELL — Ostyn Brennan 2-4, Carter Schlegel 1-2, Luke Nikunen 0-3, Kaden Drish 1-3, Hunter Fann 0-3, Trever Cockerill 2-4, Oscar Kallis 0-4, Michael Owens 1-2, Andre Cephers 1-4. 

BILLINGS — Chaise Tracy 1-3, Sy Waldron 0-4, Ryan Denowh 2-4, Carson Jenkins-Antle 0-3, Jaiden Turner 0-2, Ethan Chaney 0-1, Camden Wilson 0-4, Paxton Fitch 1-2, Connor Smith 0-0. 

2B — Brennan 2, Schlegel, Denowh. RBIs — Brennan 2, Schlegel, Drish, Cockerill, Fann, Tracy, Chaney, Fitch.