Lakers AA eliminated at Legion baseball state tourney
BOZEMAN — The Kalispell Lakers AA saw their season come to an end Thursday afternoon.
The Lakers lost 14-4 to the Bozeman Bucks in an elimination game at the Montana/Alberta Class AA American Legion state baseball tournament.
Kalispell jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks in part to three Bucks errors in the bottom of the first, but the tournament hosts broke the game open with nine runs in the top of the third.
The Lakers got a run back in the fourth, but Bozeman put up four runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to end the game early by way of run rule.
Pat O’Connell had two hits, including a triple, and Hayden Schlepp added two hits and an RBI for Kalispell.
Bozeman 009 000 41 — 14 15 3
Kalispell 300 100 00 — 4 6 6
WP: Adam Hubley LP: Dawson Smith
BOZEMAN BUCKS AA — Tyler Dobie 2-5, Bailey Paddock 3-5, Andrew Purpura 2-3, Morgan Hostetler 0-4, Adam Hubley 1-5, Jake Murfitt 3-5, Kelher Murfitt 1-5, Ryan Evenson 2-5, Michael Freund 1-5.
KALISPELL LAKERS AA — Jonas Nyman 0-4, Eric Seaman 0-3, Patrick O’Connell 2-4, Hayden Schlepp 2-4, Torin Bowdin 0-4, Spencer Pisk 0-3, Ryan Symmes 1-3, Sam Elliott 0-1, Dawson Smith 1-2, Keaden Morisaki 0-1, Randy Stultz 0-1.
2B: Murfitt, Paddock. Smith. 3B: O’Connell. RBI: Dobie, Freund, Hostetler, Hubley 2, J. Murfitt 2, Paddock, Purpura 2. Schlepp, Smith.
Thursday’s Other Scores
Undefeated Bracket
Missoula 16, Lethbridge 1
Helena 7, Billings Scarlets 4
Loser-out
Billings Royals 4, Great Falls 1
Friday’s Schedule
Undefeated semifinal
7 p.m. — Helena vs. Missoula
Loser-out
Noon — Bozeman vs. Lethbridge
3:30 p.m. — Billings Royals vs. Billings Scarlets
Class A State Tournament
Belgrade 3, Kalispell 0
THREE FORKS — The Kalispell Lakers A entered this week’s state tournament fresh off a surprising run through the district tournament. They’ll now need to summon more magic if they want to keep their season alive.
The Lakers fell 3-0 to the Belgrade Bandits on Thursday in the opening game for both teams at the Montana/Alberta Class A American Legion state baseball tournament.
The Bandits, who entered the state tournament 27-1 this year in conference play, scored all three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off of Kalispell’s Evan Todd, a hard-luck loser despite a dazzling outing.
Todd limited the Bandits to four hits and a walk in six innings. Each of the three runs he surrendered was unearned.
Belgrade starter Colton Charnholm kept the Lakers off balance throughout his seven innings of work, surrendering just two hits and three walks. He, like Todd, struck out eight.
Tyler Kitch and Adam Joy provided the two hits for Kalispell.
The Lakers will fight to prolong their season against the Miles City Mavericks, who lost 12-2 to the Medicine Hat Knights on Thursday, in a loser-out game scheduled for 9 a.m. today.
The winner of the elimination game will advance to play the loser of the winner’s bracket game between the Knights and the Bandits on Saturday.
Kalispell 000 000 0 — 0 2 2
Belgrade 000 003 x — 3 4 0
WP: Colton Charnholm LP: Evan Todd
KALISPELL LAKERS A — Cole Crosby 0-3, Tyler Kitch 1-3, Taylor Morton 0-3, Nate Vanderbeek 0-3, Logan Siblerud 0-2, Clayton Jaques 0-2, Jonathan Craver 0-2, Nate Kelly 0-2, Adam Joy 1-2
BELGRADE BANDITS A — Trey Mounts 2-3, Easton Page 0-3, Manny Eudave 0-2, Matt Hess 0-3, Aiden White 0-3, Riley Burman 1-1, Peter Stump 1-2, Marcos Verdeja 0-2, Colton Charnholm 0-3
RBI: Stump 2.
Thursday’s Other Scores
Medicine Hat 12, Miles City 2
Billings Cardinals 13, Lewistown 4
Bitterroot Red Sox 4, Gallatin Valley 3
Friday’s Schedule
Undefeated Bracket
2 p.m. — Medicine Hat vs. Belgrade
5 p.m. — Billings Cardinals vs. Bitterroot Red Sox
Loser-out
9 a.m. — Kalispell vs. Miles City
11:30 a.m. — Gallatin Valley vs. Lewistown