Legion: After opening win, AA Lakers drop 2 to Royals
BILLINGS — Just as it was late Tuesday, the sixth inning was tough on the Kalispell AA Lakers Wednesday, who saw the Billings Royals use a four-run rally to push past the Lakers 7-4 in Legion baseball.
Ethan Chaney and Paxton Fitch hit RBI singles as the Royals (17-16-1) pulled away from a 3-3 tie; the hosts scored two more runs on the same fielder’s choice later in the inning to lead 7-3.
The Lakers (28-12) threatened in the seventh, with walks to Luke Nikunen, Hunter Fann and Trever Cockerill loading the bases with two out. Oscar Kallis got one run home with a single, but the next hitter fanned for the game’s final out.
The Lakers outhit Billings 10-8 but left 10 men on; they hit into a pair of double plays. Still, Nikunen hit a two-run triple and came in on Fann’s single to put Kalispell up 3-2 in the fifth inning.
The teams split a Tuesday doubleheader, with the Lakers winning the opener 7-3 and falling in the nightcap 6-3.
In the late Tuesday game Kalispell made most of its four hits against Royals ace Jaiden Turner count: Brysen Herion and Carter Schlegel collected two hits in the third inning, and Herion came in on a bases-loaded walk to Nikunen.
The Lakers scored twice in the fifth, using a walk, single and Fann’s liner that was misplayed in right field. But the Royals broke ahead in the sixth inning via two singles, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Ryan Denowh.
Andre Cephers had held the line for five innings, scattering three hits and five walks Tuesday night. He fanned five.
The Lakers are back in action Monday at Griffin Field, playing to Class A teams: Mission Valley at 4 p.m. and Kootenai Valley at 7.
Wednesday
AA Lakers 000 030 1 - 4 10 1
Royals 200 014 x - 7 8 1
Carter Schlegel, Oscar Kallis (6) and Ostyn Brennan. Carson Jenkins, Chaise Tracy (7) and Ryan Denowh.
KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Brennan 2-3, Schlegel 0-3, Luke Nikunen 0-2, Kaden Drish 0-4, Huner Fan 1-3, Trever Cockerill 2-3, Kallis 3-4, Michael Owens 0-3, Brysen Herion 0-1, Andre Cephers 1-3.
BILLINGS ROYALS — Tracy 1-4, Sy Waldron 1-4, Denowh 0-2, Jenkins 2-3, Ethan Chaney 2-3, Alex Peel 0-0, Connor Smith 0-1, Paxton Fitch 1-3, Camden Wilson 1-3, Ryder Murdock 0-2.
2B — Jenkins 2, Chaney. 3B — Nikunen. RBIs — Nikunen 2, Fann, Kallis, Chaney 2, Murdock 2, Tracy, Jenkins, Fitch.
Late Tuesday
AA Lakers 001 020 0 - 3 4 2
Royals 030 003 x - 6 6 2
Cephers, Cockerill (6) and Brennan. Jaiden Turner, Smith (4) and Anthony Williams.
AA LAKERS — Brennan 0-2, Schlegel 1-4, Nikunen 1-3, Drish 1-3, Fann 0-4, Cockerill 0-3, Kallis 0-2, Owens 0-2, Herion 1-3.
ROYALS — Tracy 0-1, Waldron 0-3, Denowh 1-3, Jenkins 1-4, Chaney 0-2, Wilson 0-2, Williams 1-3, Fitch 1-2, Murdock 2-2.
2B — Denowh. 3B — Fitch. RBIs — Nikunen, Tracy 2, Denowh 2, Fitch.