AA Lakers cruise past Kootenai Valley

Jackson Heino drove in two runs as the Kalispell AA Lakers scored early and often in a 13-0 victory over the Kootenai Valley Rangers Wednesday. 

A first inning squeeze bunt from Luke Nikunen put the Lakers (22-11) on the board before they busted the game open in the second inning. 

After opening the frame with a double, Cale Brink scored on an error to make it 2-0. Heino made it 4-0 with a two-run single to left that brought in Kyler Croft and Andre Cephers. An Ostyn Brennan single and a fielder’s choice capped off the five-run frame for Kalispell. 

Three more runners came across in the third inning, including a pair of RBI singles from Cephers and Bryce Buckmaster. 

On the mound, five Lakers pitchers shared the duties as they combined for seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit. 

Tristan Libby picked up the lone hit for Kootenai Valley, a single in the sixth inning. 

Rowan Burow and Ryan Conklin split time on the mound for the Rangers, Burow striking out four in four innings of work. Conklin fanned one in two innings of relief. 

Kootenai    000    000    0    -    0    1    3 

AA Lakers    153    112    x    -    13    13    0 

Rowan Burow, Ryan Conklin (5) and Avery Caton. Andre Cephers, Cale Brink (2), Luke Nikunen (3), Kaedan Kahler (4), Hunter Fann (5), Carter Schlegel (6), Ostyn Brennan (7) and Ostyn Brennan, Bryce Buckmaster (7). 

KOOTENAI VALLEY RANGERS — Calvin Eisenbarth 0-2, Rowan Burow 0-3, Ryan Conklin 0-3, Max Barone 0-3, Emmet McKim 0-3, Tristan Libby 1-2, Avery Caton 0-2, Colin Hickman 0-2, Hunter Grieve 0-2. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Ostyn Brennan 2-2, Hunter Fann 1-3, Carter Schlegel 2-4, Luke Nikunen 0-2, Kaedan Kahler 0-2, Oscar Kallis 1-3, Cale Brink 2-3, Kyler Croft 1-3, Andre Cephers 2-3, Bryce Buckmaster 1-2, Jackson Heino 1-3, Wyatt Asher 0-3. 

2B — Fann, Cephers, Croft, Brink. RBIs — Heino 2, Schlegel 2, Buckmaster, Cephers, Croft, Brennan, Fann, Brink.