AA Lakers split opening twinbill

MISSOULA — Oscar Kallis’ two-out single plated two runs in the seventh inning, and the Kalispell AA Lakers beat Missoula 4-3 Saturday to salvage a split in their American Legion baseball doubleheader.

The Lakers opened their season with a 12-5 loss to the Mavericks at Lindborg-Cregg Field — Schuyler Fairchild hit two doubles and drove in four runs for Missoula in that one — but rallied nicely behind pitchers Jackson Heino and Hunter Fann in the second game. 

Missoula (3-3) had made up a 2-0 deficit in the nightcap to lead 3-2 in the sixth: Colter Nicolarson hit a leadoff double, was sacrificed to third and came in on Easton Reimers’ squeeze bunt to break a 2-2 tie. 

Kalispell rallied with two out in the seventh. Fann and Luke Nikunen singled, and both came around when Kallis’ single up the middle got past the center fielder for an error. 

“It’s what you want to see with your 2, 3 and 4 hitters,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. “Competing and finding a way to get it done.” 

Fann came in to pitch the seventh and gave up a leadoff single. After the Mavs bunted the runner over, Carter Taylor lined out to center and Rylan Davis grounded out to Nikunen at third to end it. 

Heino went six innings, allowing six hits, a walk and one earned run. He fanned two. 

“Jackson was solid on the mound, and minimized scoring threats,” Malmin said.  “Typical Day 1 – worked through some nerves and dealt with the cold, wind and rain."

Fann had an RBI single in the first inning, and Missoula balked in another run to trail early. 

In the first game Reimers threw six innings for the Mavs, allowing six hits, two walks and two earned runs. The North Dakota State signee struck out five. 

Meanwhile Missoula scored three times in the first and third innings to go up 6-0. A two-out error set up a two-run double by Fairchild early on.. 

“Unfortunate first inning,” Malmin said. “We could have gotten out of that allowing just a run, but the throw snapped the webbing of our first baseman’s mitt.” 

Dixon had two hits, including a double, for the Lakers.  Reggie Sapa made his Lakers debut, getting one hit in the first game. 

The two teams come to Kalispell Sunday to open up Griffin Field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.  

First game 

AA Lakers    000    030    2    -    5    9    5 

AA Mavs    303    204    x    -    12    8    1 

Kyler Croft, No. 33 (4) and Brady Buckmaster. Easton Reimers, Devin Leary (7) and Rylan Davis. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Brady Buckmaster 1-4, Hunter Fann 1-4, Luke Nikunen 1-4, Oscar Kallis 2-4, Kaiden Kahler 0-3, Reggie Sapa 1-3, Bryce Buckmaster 0-1, Cale Brink 1-3, Teagan Dixon 2-3. 

MISSOULA AA MAVERICKS — Carter Taylor 1-2, Davis 2-3, Colter Nicolarsen 1-1, Owen Felton 1-3, Remington Howard 0-2, Schuyler Fairchild 2-4, Andrew Richardson 1-4, Stellan Ridley 0-4, Bryce Ostrom 0-3. 

 2B — Fairchild 2, Dixon. RBIs — Fairchild 4, Richardson 2, Howard 2, Davis, Nicola, Felton, Fann 2, Buckmaster, Brink, Nikunen. 

Second game 

AA Lakers    200    000    2    -    4    5    3 

AA Mavs    002    001    0    -    3    6    3 

Jackson Heino, Fann (7) and Brady Buckmaster. Cole Truglio, Nicolarsen (7) and Kaden Thennis.  

LAKERS — Bra. Buckmaster 0-4, Fann 2-4, Nikunen 1-3, Kallis 2-3, Kahler 0-0, Bry. Buckmaster 0-4, Croft 0-3, Dixon 0-3, Brink 0-1, Wyatt Asher 0-2, Sapa 0-1. 

MAVERICKS — Taylor 2-4, Davis 1-4, Nicolarsen 2-3, Felton 0-2, Reimers 0-1, Fairchild 0-3, Richardson 0-3, Thennis 1-3, Ridley 0-2, Ostrom 0-0. 

2B — Nicolarsen, Taylor. RBIs — Fann, Kallis, Davis, Reimers.