A Lakers split games on opening day of Harp tourney
Miles Arrowsmith tripled during an eight-run sixth inning as the Kalispell A Lakers defeated the Kootenai Valley Rangers in their first game at the John R. Harp Tournament Friday.
The Lakers (26-23) followed the victory with an evening loss to the Bozeman Bucks 7-3.
The Rangers (7-6) took a victory in their second game of the day over the Prairie Cardinals 15-7.
Also in action Friday were the Mission Valley Mariners, who nabbed a pair of wins over the Kalispell B Lakers red squad 12-3 and the Prairie Cardinals 13-1.
Other results from the tournament included the Bozeman Bucks defeating the Lethbridge Miners 12-4 and Lethbridge besting the B Lakers red squad 9-3.
Kalispell A Lakers 9, Kootenai Valley Rangers 3
Ryan Conklin's sacrifice fly and a Lakers error in the top of the first put the Rangers up 2-0,
Kalispell added one in the second and took control of the game in the sixth with eight runs.
Arrowsmith’s triple gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead. Later in the frame, Liam Rech added a two-RBI single to right field that scored Fischer Lee and Falon Clark.
Kootenai Valley added one back in the seventh on a throwing error that brought home Colin Hickman.
On the mound, Mason Lewis went the distance for the Lakers. He allowed five hits and struck out five.
Ethan McLean threw 5 1-3 innings for the Rangers, scattering six hits and fanning two batters.
Bozeman Bucks 7, A Lakers 3
True Archer went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs for Bozeman as the Bucks defeated the Kalispell A Lakers.
Archer put the Bucks (30-8) up 2-0 in the first with a line drive to right field.
Kalispell tied the game at two on a throwing error during a fielder’s choice in the second that brought home Wyatt Sharp and George Schwan.
An error by the Lakers helped the Bucks take the lead for good in the third as two runs came in to make it 4-2.
Cody Smith singled in the sixth inning, bringing home Grayson Trenka for Bozeman to grow the lead out to 7-2.
The Lakers got one back in the seventh on a Dillon Wink single, but could get no closer.
Arrowsmith threw 3 2-3 innings for the Lakers, allowing five runs on four hits and striking out six.
Harvey Kimmel went six innings for the Bucks, allowing just two hits and one run. He fanned eight.
Mission Valley 12, B Lakers 3
Paxson DuMont went 3-for-5, driving in three runs as the Mission Valley Mariners bested the Kalispell B Lakers red squad.
The Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth after three scoreless innings, thanks to a double from Landen Jacobson to center field.
The Mariners (23-16) added the next three runs, capped off with a DuMont RBI single in the fifth to make it 3-2.
DuMont’s triple helped the Mariners take control with nine runs in the seventh inning for the victory.
Aiden Courville threw three scoreless innings for the Mariners, allowing two hits and fanning one.
Jacobsen went five innings for the Lakers, striking out five and allowing three runs on four hits.
Mission Valley 13, Prairie Cardinals 1
DuMont and Cole Wadsworth combined for seven RBIs as the Mariners defeated the Prairie Cardinals.
Wadsworth finished the game 2-for-four with three RBIs, he also crossed the plate three times. DuMont drove in four runs with a 3-for-3 outing.
DuMont opened the scoring in the first inning with a triple to center, driving in Wadsworth and Cody Haggard.
Wadsworth and Haggard both hit two-RBI doubles in the third as the Mariners added eight runs in the inning to take an 11-1 lead.
Justin Brown threw five innings for Mission Valley, allowing three hits and one run. He fanned five. The game ended after five innings due to the run rule.
Kootenai Valley 15, Prairie Cardinals 7
A trio of fourth inning doubles powered the Kootenai Valley Rangers to a nine-run frame and a victory over the Prairie Cardinals.
The Rangers trailed 6-3 after three innings before Max Barone’s two-run double cut into the deficit in the fourth. Emmet McKim followed with a single that tied the game at six.
After two more runs came in on a walk and hit batsman with the bases loaded, Tristan Libby cleared the bases with a double to left to give Kootenai Valley an 11-6 lead. Conklin then doubled to bring home Libby and cap off the nine-run inning.
Barone threw two no-hit innings in relief for Kootenai Valley.
Damien LaFountain led the Cardinals at the plate, going 2-for-3 and driving in one run.