Lakers fall to Scarlets at state tourney
BILLINGS — It was a heartbreaker of a day for the Kalispell Lakers at the AA Montana-Alberta American Legion state baseball tournament.
Sunday’s loser-out contest with the Billings Scarlets was tied at four in the top of the eight when Billings’ Ben Egan doubled on a 3-2 count, driving in two runs to earn a 6-4 win.
The Lakers didn’t go down easily. They trailed 3-0 after the first inning and 4-3 after the sixth. But they fought all the way through and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Billings error.
“Despite a slow start in both games, this team continued to battle and grind like they did all year and gave us a chance to win,” said Lakers coach Ryan Malmin.
“Both Logan (Siblerud) and Wes (Palmer) gave us the outings we needed on the mound, but our bats just didn’t show up. We had runners in scoring position all tournament, but couldn’t get that clutch hit we needed,” he added.
“Our expectation is to always be day four, final four at the tournament. We fell short of that expectation, but the season as a whole was a success. Earning the three seed after starting 1-6 in conference tells you a lot about the character of this team. They always came to work, wanted to get better and they grew as young men, most importantly.
“The seniors were great leaders and will be tough to replace, but now it’s time for the younger guys to step up and take their place.”
The Scarlets finished the day with eight hits while Kalispell had five.
Randy Stultz was 2-for-5 to lead the Lakers at the plate.
Billings 300 001 02— 683
Kalispell 000 003 10 —451
Michael Horrell, Kolby Kimmet (6) and Jarron Wilcox. Wes Palmer, Ryan McDonald (8) and Jonathan Craver. W — Kimmet. L — Palmer.
Scarlets — Brooks Rohrer 1-3, Logan Meyer 0-4, Andy Larsen 0-3, Jarron Wilcox 2-4, Cory Brownson 1-3, Johnny Day 0-0, Koby Croft 2-4, Ethan Clark 0-2, Ben Egan 1-2, Caden Dowler 1-4, Christian Michaelson 0-2. 2B — Egan, Rohrer, Wilcox. 3B — Croft. RBI — Kroft 2, Egan 2, Brownson, Wilcox.
Lakers —Ryan Symmes 1-5, Randy Stultz 2-5, Connor Drish 1-4, Taylor Morton 0-4, Eric Seaman 0-2, Ryan Galvan 0-0, Payton Davisson 0-1, Luke Halland 0-1, Jack Corriveau 1-3, Logan Siblerud 0-2, Thomas O’Connell 0-2, Jonathan Craver 0-2, Kobe Burland 0-0, Ben Corriveau 0-1. RBI — Stultz, Symmes 2.
Sunday’s Scores
Lethbridge 6, Great Falls 0
Bozeman 8, Helena 2
Billings Royals 5, Missoula 2
Billings Scarlets 6, Kalispell 4
Today’s Games
1 p.m. —Helena vs. Lethbridge
4 p.m. — Billings Scarlets vs. Missoula Mavericks
7 p.m. —Billings Royals vs. Bozeman Bucks
Vauxhall 7, Mission Valley 2
FLORENCE — John-Markus Vulcano was 3-for-4 and Kole Fujita was 2-for-4 as the Vauxhall Spurs downed the Mission Valley Mariners 7-2 at the A Montana-Alberta American Legion state baseball tournament on Sunday.
The Spurs collected nine hits on the day while Mission Valley had a challenging day at the plate. The Mariners tallied just two hits — by Eric Dolence and Trevor Lake.
Vauxhall got on the board quickly, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. It then added five more runs in the second inning.
Mission Valley battled back with two runs in the second inning, but get anything more going.
The Mariners drop into loser-out action at 11:30 a.m. today against the host Bitterroot Bucs.
Vauxhall 150 100 0 —793
Mariners 020 000 0 —221
Aaron Vulcano and Kole Fujita. Espn Fisher and Izyk Gillingham.
Vauxhall — Kole Fujita 2-4, Dallas Cummins 0-4, John-Markus Vulcano 3-4, Carson Becker 1-3, Blake Kondor 0-4, Aaron Vulcano 0-3, Hayden Mack 2-3, Grady Honess 0-3, Carson Cleland 1-2.
RBI —JM Vulcano 3, Becker 1,
Mariners — Izyk Gillinham 0-3, Gabe Merganthaler 0-3, Eric Dolence 1-4, Corbin Davis 0-3, Keyan Dalby 0-2, Xavier Fisher 0-2, Dawson Dumont 0-3, Trevor Lake 1-3, James Bennett 0-3.
Sunday’s Scores
Dillon 12, Miles City 3
Bitterroot Bucs 14, Lewistown 4
Laurel 9, Gallatin Valley 7
Today’s Games
11:30 a.m. — Mission Valley vs. Bitterroot Bucs
2:30 p.m. — Dillon vs. Gallatin Valley
5:30 p.m. — Vauxhall vs. Laurel