Senators slide by Lakers, 10-5

The Helena Senators used a strong start and finish to top the Kalispell Lakers 10-5 on Saturday evening in Class AA American Legion baseball action at Griffin Field.

The Senators tallied three runs in the first inning and closed with a four-run seventh.

The game was tied at 4-all after two innings.

Kalispell loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and managed to add another run.

Chase Nelson pitched the first four innings for Helena to earn the win. He struck out three, walked four, allowed seven hits and four runs, all earned.

Peyton Witham went the final three.

Jack Corriveau was on the mound for the first four innings for Kalispell. He struck out seven, walked seven, allowed four hits and four runs, all earned.

AJ Wood went the final three and took the loss. He fanned four, walked two, allowed six hits and six runs, five were earned.

Ethan Keintz, 3 for 4, drove in four runs for Helena. Grady Koenig, 2 for 4, was the other top hitter for the Senators.

Connor Drish, 2 for 4 and Payton Davison, 2 for 3, had the most hits for Kalispell. Drish drove in two runs. Davison doubled and Randy Stultz had a triple.

The two teams close out regular-season play today with a doubleheader at Griffin Field beginning at noon.

State tournament action follows in Billings July 27-31.

Helena Senators 310 011 4 — 10 10 2

Kalispell Lakers 130 000 1 — 5 8 2

WP—Chase Nelson; LP—AJ Wood.

HELENA — Caden Sell 1-4, Matt Krieger 0-2, Grady Koenig 2-4, Ryan Barrett 0-3, Ethan Keintz 3-4, Hunter Kirkpatrick 1-3, Cy Miller 0-1, Chase Nielson 1-1, Peyton Witham, 1-2 Tyler Tenney 1-2, Rudy Barkley 0-2.

KALISPELL — Ryan Symmes 1-3, Randy Stultz 1-4, Eric Seaman 0-4, Connor Drish 2-4, Taylor Morton 1-4, Luke Halland 0-1, Payton Davison 2-3, Thomas O’Connell 1-4, Jonathan Craver 0-1.

2B—Kirkpatrick; Davison; 3B—Stultz; RBIs—Keintz (4), Kirkpatrick, Witham, Tenney (2); Symmes, Stultz, Seaman, Drish, O’Connell.