AA Lakers pick up a pair of shutout wins

by Daily Inter Lake
| May 18, 2025 12:00 AM

Luke Nikunen pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits, walking none and striking out seven as the Kalispell AA Lakers won 10-0 over the Cranbrook Bandits in their second game of the Canadian Days Tournament at Griffin Field Saturday.

The Lakers beat the Prairie Cardinals out of Post Falls, Idaho in their tourney opener 15-0.

Hunter Fann provided the sparks for the Lakers (12-4) offense, hitting an inside the park home run in the fifth inning, scoring one and finishing with three RBIs. Nikunen added two hits, including a double, a run scored and an RBI after dazzling on the mound for five innings as the game was called early to the mercy rule.

Kalispell did most of their damage in a 7-run fourth inning, on three RBI singles and Nikunen’s double. Cale Brink drove in two runs and Kyler Croft scored two runs with an RBI.

Josh Pighin recorded the only extra base hit for the Bandits (6-11), a double in the third inning. Clark Reimer, Kye Taggart and Dallin Rodger each collected a single.

Late Friday

Kalispell 15, Prairie 0

Bryce Buckmaster pitched a no-hit shutout, striking out six in Friday’s game that lasted just three innings due to the run rule.

The Lakers offense wasted no time, as the first seven batters reached base, highlighted by Kaedan Kahler’s 2-run double to jump out to an early 8-0 lead after one. They plated four more runs in the second inning and Nikunen’s 2-run single made it 15-0 after three to end the game.

Nikunen finished with three RBIs, Brady Buckmaster went 2-for-3 with two runs driven in out of the leadoff spot. Hunter Fann knocked in two, Fann and Teagan Dixon each scored three times.

Camden Fitzpatrick was the only player to reach base for the Cardinals (1-1), a walk in the third inning. No batter reached scoring position.

Cranbrook 000 00x x - 0 4 1

AA Lakers 010 72x x - 10 9 1

Ty Dupley and Josh Pighin. Luke Nikunen and Andre Cephers.

CRANBROOK BANDITS — Vinny Fiorentino 0-3, Josh Pighin 1-2, Clark Reimer 1-2, Ty Dupley 0-2, Kye Taggart 1-2, Dallin Rodger 1-2, Hunter Willard 0-2, Stellaen Damery 0-2, Daniel Vandlerberg 0-2.

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Cale Brink 1-3, Nikunen 2-3, Kaedan Kahler 1-3, Oscar Kallis 0-1, Jackson Heino 1-1, Kyler Croft1-2, Hunter Fann 1-3, Andre Cephers 1-2, Bryce Buckmaster 1-2, Teagan Dixon 0-2.

2B — Nikunen. HR — Fann. RBIs — Fann 3, Brink 2, Buckmaster, Cephers, Croft, Nikunen.

Prairie 000 xxx x - 0 0 2

AA Lakers 843 xxx x - 15 9 0

Timothy Howard (1), Alec Finn (2), Damien LaFountain (3) and Mason Perkins. Bryce Buckmaster (3) and Brady Buckmaster.

PRAIRIE CARDINALS — Timothy Howard 0-1, Alec Finn 0-1, Isaiah Kearney 0-1, Gavin Wienker 0-1, Bryce Berger 0-1, Toby Begalman 0-1, Andrew Olson 0-1, James Morast 0-1, Mason Perkins 0-1, Camden Fitzpatrick 0-0.

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Brady Buckmaster 2-3, Nikunen 2-3, Kahler 1-1, Kallis 0-1, Brink 1-3, Croft 1-1, Cephers 0-0, Fann 1-2, Dixon 1-2.

2B — Kahler. RBIs — Nikunen 3, Buckmaster 2, Fann 2, Kahler 2, Brink, Cephers.

Canadian Days Tournament

Kalispell

Saturday, May 16

Prairie 6, Cranbrook 2

Calgary 5, Prairie 3

Kalispell AA vs Calgary, late