Twins' Murphy throws no-hitter
WHITEFISH — Tyler Murphy was unsolvable Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Mission Valley Mariners.
Murphy, Glacier Twins A’s starting pitcher, twirled a no-hitter over seven innings, striking out nine in an efficient 93-pitch outing.
Four walks and an error kept him from a perfect game.
Murphy’s dazzling outing keyed a two-game sweep of Mission Valley, 4-0 and 9-1, as the Twins stayed hot.
Since a five-game losing streak that spilled into the beginning of June, Glacier has won 10 in a row by a combined score of 113-15.
The Twins did not have an RBI hit in Game 1, but that didn’t stop the offense from giving Murphy all the support he needed.
Coby Clark-Dickenson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second, and the Twins added three runs in the third.
Tom Hellwig coaxed a bases-loaded walk to score a run, and James Sampson-Keck and Clark-Dickenson followed with RBI groundouts to stretch the lead.
That was more than enough help for Murphy, who struck out Xavier Fisher looking to end the game.
Terek Bistodeau nearly matched Murphy’s stellar performance on the mound in Game 2, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight in a complete game.
Izyk Gillingham drove in the Mariners’ only run of the doubleheader with their only hit of the doubleheader — a single to right field.
It wasn’t nearly enough to match the performance by the Glacier offense in the nightcap.
The Twins jumped out to an early advantage with two runs in the first inning and another in the second. They added four in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to pull away.
Sampson-Keck and Clark-Dickenson led the way once again for the Twins.
In addition to two hits apiece, Sampson-Keck scored two runs and drove in another two, while Clark-Dickenson drove in three and scored another.
Hellwig also had two hits and scored a run.
The Twins will look to keep things rolling this weekend as they host the Ed Gallo Tournament in Whitefish. Play begins on Thursday and continues through Sunday.
Mission Valley 000 000 0 — 0 0 1
Glacier 013 000 x — 4 6 1
MISSION VALLEY MARINERS A — Karsten Krebs 0-3, Bryant Hales 0-2, Brendon Blood 0-3, Jacob Harrod 0-2, Izyk Gillingham 0-3, Tyson Petticrew 0-1, Tyler Kelsch 0-2, Dylan Wisniewski 0-1, Xavier Fisher 0-2, Eric Dolence 0-2
GLACIER TWINS A — Greyson Bistodeau 2-3, Tom Hellwig 0-2, James Sampson-Keck 1-3, Coby Clark-Dickenson 1-3, Tyler Murphy 1-2, Dan Seymour 0-3, Quintin Schriver 1-3, Gunner Marsh 0-2, Skyler Warner 0-1
2B: Coby Clark-Dickenson
Mission Valley 000 010 0 — 1 1 4
Glacier 210 420 x — 9 11 2
MISSION VALLEY MARINERS A — Karsten Krebs 0-3, Bryant Hales 0-3, Brendon Blood 0-3, Jacob Harrod 0-2, Tyson Petticrew 0-3, Tyler Kelsch 0-3, Izyk Gillingham 1-3, Gabe Mergenthaler 0-2, Eric Dolence 0-2
GLACIER TWINS A — Tom Hellwig 2-4, Terek Bistodeau 1-2, James Sampson-Keck 2-3, Coby Clark-Dickenson 2-4, Tyler Murphy 1-4, Dan Seymour 0-3, Quintin Schriver 1-2, Gunner Marsh 0-2, Matt Morrison 0-2, Nathan Hader 1-2, Skyler Warner 1-1
2B: Coby Clark-Dickenson 3B: James Sampson-Keck
Kalispell Lakers A 5,
Bitterroot Bucs 3, Game 1
Bitterroot Bucs 7,
Lakers A 0, Game 2
KALISPELL — The Kalispell Lakers A team split a doubleheader at Griffin Field on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Biterroot Bucs.
The Lakers snagged the first game 5-3 behind a two-hit, two-RBI day from Logan Siblerud.
Though the two runs Siblerud drove in were the only earned runs of the game for Kalispell, it added three more unearned runs against Bucs starter Liam LeCoure, who pitched all six innings for Bitterroot.
Lakers starter Evan Todd matched him pitch for pitch, tossing six innings of six-hit, three-run ball.
Bitterroot jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Kalispell responded with two runs of its own in the second inning.
The Bucs took a 3-2 lead with a run in the fifth inning, but the Lakers roared back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take their first lead.
It stood thanks to Ryan McDonald, who allowed two hits but no runs in the top of the seventh inning to pick up the save.
The Lakers couldn’t get the bats working in the nightcap, falling 7-0.
Starter Clayton Jaques went the distance for Kalispell, pitching seven innings and allowing seven runs on just six hits.
Five of the seven runs he surrendered were unearned. Kalispell had six errors in Game 2.
Like in Game 1, the Bucs’ offense did most of its damage early in the game.
Bitterroot scored a run in the first inning and tacked on four more in the second to take a commanding lead early. The Bucs also added runs in the third and fourth innings.
Eight of Bitterroot’s nine starters either scored a run or drove one in.
Taylor Morton had two of the Lakers’ six hits.
Bitterroot 200 010 0 — 3 8 0
Kalispell 020 003 x — 5 7 1
BITTERROOT BUCS A — Marcus Zeiler 1-4, Braxton McCollough 0-3, Jake Finley 1-4, Liam LeCoure 1-2, Brendan Schneiter 1-3, Colby Kohlman 2-3, Jake Scully 1-3, Jonny Lineback 0-2, Alex Gavlate 0-1, Brendan Bailey 1-3
KALISPELL LAKERS A — Brandon Jordan 0-3, Tyler Kitch 1-3, Jonathan Craver 2-3, Nate Vanderbeek 0-2, Clayton Jaques 1-2, Taylor Morton 1-3, Logan Siblerud 2-3, Ryan McDonald 0-1, Adam Joy 0-2
2B: Jonathan Craver 3B: Jake Finley
Bitterroot 141 100 0 — 7 6 2
Kalispell 000 000 0 — 0 6 6
BITTERROOT BUCS A — Marcus Zeile 2-4, Braxton McCollough 0-4, Jake Finley 1-3, Liam LeCoure 1-4, Colby Kohlman 1-4, Brendan Schneiter 0-3, Jake Scully 0-3, Alex Gavlak 1-3, Brendan Bailey 0-3
KALISPELL LAKERS A — Brandon Jordan 0-3, Tyler Kitch 0-2, Jonathan Craver 1-4, Nate Vanderbeek 1-3, Taylor Morton 2-3, Evan Todd 1-2, Logan Siblerud 0-3, Grant Marsh 1-3, Adam Joy 0-2, Nate Kelly 0-1
2B: Jake Finley, Liam LeCoure