Lakers down Senators in twinbill

The Kalispell Lakers AA know how to bounce back.

The Lakers rebounded from Saturday’s rough outing with a pair of big American Legion baseball wins Sunday over the visiting Helena Senators.

Kalispell downed the Senators 5-0 in the first game, then rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the nightcap, 3-2.

“We competed better today on the mound and played with better tempo,” Kalispell coach Ryan Malmin said.

“Both Wes (Palmer) and Logan (Siblerud) gave us a chance to win today. When we are consistently in the zone and allow our defense to make plays, we are successful and we find ways to win. There is great parity in AA and ton finish in the top three in the state, especially after a slow conference start and inexperience says a lot about our kids and their mentality and willingness to get better every day. This is a great group of kids, on and off the field.”

The Laker defense committed just one error on the day.

The Lakers got things rolling right away on Sunday, scoring three runs in the first two innings of the first game.

Offensively, Ryan Symmes, 2-for-4 and Connor Drish, 2-for-2, led the way in that one. Payton Davison also had two RBI.

In the second game, Helena scored in the top of the fifth to break a one-all tie. But Jonathan Craver singled and Symmes was hit by a pitch. Both scored — Craver on Drish’s single and Symmes on an error.

The Lakers head to the state tournament July 27-31 in Billings.

Helena 000 000 0 —052

Lakers 210 020 x —571

Ethan Keintz, Ryan Barrett (5) and Brady Anderson. Wes Palmer, Ryan McDonald (7) and Jonathan Craver. W — Palmer. L — Keintz.

Helena — Caden Sell 1-3, Matt Krigen 1-4, Chase Nielson 0-3, Grady Koening 0-3, Ty Mcguarran 0-2, Brady Anderson 1-3, Hunter Kirkpatrick 1-3, Tyler Tenney 1-3, Hunter Lindgren 0-2.

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

Helena 001 010 0 —251

Lakers 001 000 2 —350

Rudy Barkley, Ryan Barrett (6) and Brady Anderson. Logan Siblerud, Ryan McDonald (7) and Jonathan Craver. W — McDonald. L — Barrett.

Helena — Mcgurran 1-4, Krigen 0-2, Koening 1-3, Nielson 2-3, Keintz 0-2, Barrett 0-2, Anderson 0-3, Cy Miller 1-3, Peyton Witham 0-3. 2B —Miller. RBI —Nielson 2.

Kalispell —Symmes 1-2, Stultz 0-4, Drish 1-4, Davison 0-1, Seaman 0-2, Morton 1-2, Halland 0-3, Ben Corriveau 1-3, Craver 1-3. RBI —Drish.