Legion Baseball Lakers AA sweep Butte; state play next in Bozeman

by The Daily Inter Lake
| July 23, 2017 11:51 PM

BUTTE — The Kalispell Lakers AA wrapped up another successful campaign on the diamond late Saturday night by sweeping the Butte Miners 12-3 and 10-9 in the regular-season American Legion baseball finale for both squads.

Kalispell, 11-7 in league play, now advances to state tournament play in Bozeman this week as the No. 5 seed.

Butte, 1-17, does not qualify for state play. Only the top eight teams do.

Kalispell will face No. 4 seed Helena on Wednesday in the opening round.

The Lakers posted a 5-3 mark in league action for July, which included a split with top-seed Bozeman (14-4).

Patrick O’Connell had a big night at the plate, going 5 for 9 and driving in five runs in the two games. He doubled in the opener and tripled in the nightcap.

Hayden Schlepp, 1 for 4, had three RBIs in the first test. He also doubled.

Drew Scherrer pitched six innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walked three and struck out three to get the win.

Leadoff hitter Jonas Nyman went 3 for 5 in the second game and scored twice. Torin Bowden, 3 for 4, also scored twice.

Brady Peiffer picked up that win, going five innings. He allowed six hits, one earned run, walked a batter and struck out four.

O’Connell pitched the final 2/3 inning to earn the save.

Kalispell 012 211 50 — 12 10 0

Butte 120 000 0 — 3 8 6

WP—Drew Scherrer; LP—Quin Summers.

KALISPELL — Eric Seaman 1-3, Ryan Symmes 1-4, Patrick O’Connell 2-4, Hayden Schlepp 1-4, Torin Bowden 0-3, Johan Freudenberg 0-1, Dawson Smith 1-4, Randy Stultz 1-2, Jonas Nyman 0-1, Spencer Pisk 1-3, Keaden Morisaki 2-3.

BUTTE — Renzy Dohety 0-3, Justin Summers 1-4, Ax Henningson 2-4, Ryan Moodry 0-4, Q. Summers 1-3, Austin Gerry 1-2, Cash Kelly 2-3, Bryson Henningson 0-3, Cameron Johnson 0-1, Monk Bugnee 1-1.

2B—Schlepp, O’Connell; Kelly, Henningson; 3B—J. Summers; RBIs—Seaman, O’Connell (2), Schlepp (3), Freudenberg, Smith (2), Pisk; J. Summers (2), Q. Summers.

Kalispell 401 001 4 — 10 10 3

Butte 100 102 5 — 9 11 4

WP—Brady Peiffer; LP—Dohety; S—O’Connell.

KALISPELL — Nyman 3-5, Seaman 0-0, Peiffer 0-1, Symmes 0-0, O’Connell 3-5, Schlepp 0-4, Bowden 3-4, Smith 1-2, Pisk 0-2, Freudenberg 0-3, Morisaki 0-4.

BUTTE — Dohety 1-3, Henningson 2-4, Q. Summers 2-3, Henningson 0-1, Liam Sommer 1-2, Moodry 2-4, J. Summers 1-3, Bugnee 0-3, Conner Miranda 1-4, Braden Klobucar 1-4.

2B—Moodry; 3B—Bowden, O’Connell; RBIs—O’Connell (3), Bowden, Smith, Pisk; Q. Summers, Sommer, Moodry (2), Miranda.

Class AA

Final Regular-Season Standings

Record

Seed W-L Pct.

1. Bozeman Bucks AA 14 - 4 .778

2. Billings Royals 13 - 5 .722

3. Missoula Mavs AA 12 - 6 .667

4. Helena Senators 12 - 6 .667 5. Kalispell Lakers AA 11 - 7 .611 6. Great Falls Chargers 9 - 9 .500 7. Lethbridge Elks 7 - 11 .389

8. Billings Scarlets 6 - 12 .333 9. Medicine Hat Monarchs 5 - 13 .278

10. Butte Miners 1 - 17 .056

NOTE: Missoula won the No. 3 seed tiebreaker by sweeping Helena during regular season; Top 8 teams advance to state tournament play, which begins Thursday in Bozeman.

July 20

Great Falls 3, Missoula 2 (11)

Kalispell 4, Bozeman 2

Blgs Royals 14, Helena 9

July 21

Bozeman 6, Kalispell 1

Missoula 12, Lethbridge 4

Billings Royals 7, Helena 4

July 22

Kalispell 12, Butte 3

Kalispell 10, Butte 9

Missoula 7, Lethbridge 6

July 23

Billings Scarlets 3, Great Falls 0

Billings Scarlets 16 Great Falls 5