Scarlets pound Lakers
The Daily Inter Lake
GREAT FALLS - The Billings Scarlets pounded Kalispell pitching for 15 hits en route to a 12-2 opening-day victory Saturday at the Montana/Alberta Class AA American Legion state baseball tournament.
The Scarlets (48-7) scored two runs in both the second and third innings to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead.
The Lakers (32-28) put a run on the board in the fourth inning and then added another in the fifth.
But Billings had two more big innings, scoring three times in the fifth and four in the eighth to win by the 10-run mercy rule.
Eric Rose went 3-for-4 to power the Scarlets' offense. The future Nebraska Cornhusker doubled and singled twice and finished with an RBI.
Scarlets pitchers Kirk Dehler (9-3) and Tyler Tabbert checked the Lakers on four hits.
Dan Conners, Geoff Hogan, Austin Zapata and Chris Hooley had singles for Kalispell. Hogan had the team's only RBI.
The Scarlets advance to a winner's-bracket game this afternoon at 4 against Missoula (31-36). The Mavericks blanked Bozeman (44-6) 3-0.
The Lakers now drop into loser-out action today.
Also Saturday, the Billings Royals (35-21) blasted the Great Falls Electrics (33-22), 13-3.
And in a late game, the Great Falls Stallions (34-18) blasted the Butte Miners (23-27), 12-2.
Today's Games
9 a.m. - Bozeman vs. Kalispell, loser-out
12:30 p.m. - Great Falls Electrics vs. Butte, loser-out
4 p.m. - Missoula vs. Billings Scarlets, winner's bracket
7:30 p.m. - Billings Royals vs. Great Falls Stallions, winner's bracket
Saturday's Boxes
SCARLETS 12, LAKERS 2 (8)
R H E
Scarlets 022 030 14 - 12 15 0
Kalispell 000 110 00 - 2 4 3
Kirk Dehler, Tyler Tabbert (8) and Joe Studiner; Adam Olson, Sam Freudenburg (5), Zach Davis (8) and Jake Fitzsimmons. W-Dehler (9-3). L-Olson (9-3).
BILLINGS SCARLETS (48-7) - Brian Dukart 1-5, Trent Trier 2-4, Eric Rose 3-4 (RBI), Tom Danahy 1-4, Joel Reitz 2-4, Randy Hayden 1-3 (RBI), Eli Johnson 2-5 (2 RBI), Joe Studiner 2-5 (2 RBI), Chris Rogers 1-5 (RBI).
KALISPELL LAKERS (32-28) - Stefan Malkuch 0-4, Dan Conners 1-3, Jake Fitzsimmons 0-3, Ryan Laughlin 0-1, Jonathan White 0-3, Geoff Hogan 1-3 (RBI), Zach Davis 0-2, Zach Ford 0-3, Tucker Hankinson 0-0, Austin Zapata 1-3, Chris Hooley 1-2.
2B-Rose 2, Johnson, Studiner, Hogan.
T-2:36.
MAVERICKS 3, BUCKS 0
Missoula 100 100 100 - 3 9 3
Bozeman 000 000 000 - 0 5 1
Brian Fowler and Chris Bartenhagen; Gabe Weidenaar, Ben Harris (8) and Ryan Minkoff, Anthony Rinard. W-Fowler (10-5). L-Weidenaar (9-3).
Missoula MAVERICKS (31-36) - Taylor King 0-4, Travis Johnsen 2-4, Conor Dwyer 1-5, Chris Bartenhagen 1-4 (RBI), Brad Rutherford 0-4, Dan Belet 0-4, Mac Cuffe 1-4, Eric Maunder 2-3, Mac Kirk 2-2 (RBI).
Bozeman BUCKS (44-16) - Ryan Minkoff 0-3, Anthony Rinard 0-0, Matt Comer 1-3, Caleb Schlender 1-4, Sean Potkay 1-4, Curt Potkay 1-4, Skyler Bugger 0-3, Travis Peck 0-3, Andy Pike 0-3, Ben Harris 1-3.
2B-Johnsen, Bartenhagen, Maunder.
Time-2:24
Royals 13, GF Electrics 3 (8)
GF Electrics 002 010 00 - 3 3 3
Billings Royals 030 700 12 - 13 15 2
Curtis Bloomfield, Shaun Tatarka (4), Kevin Corwin (6) and Levi Johnson; Chandler Griffin and Robert Stabio. WP-Griffin (4-2). LP-Bloomfield (9-7).
Great Falls Electrics (33-22) - Ryan Egan 0-2, Ryan Beecroft 0-0, J.T. King 1-3 (2 RBI), Zack Semenza 1-4, Colin Egan 0-0, Shaun Tatarka 0-4, Kevin Corwin 0-3, Levi Johnson 0-4, Kody Swartz 0-3, Jarod Jacobson 0-1, Cody Dobson 0-1, Jake Meierhoff 0-0, Tyler Fayden 1-3.
Billings Royals (35-21) - Corey Crum 1-3 (2 RBI), Mo Burrough 3-4 (3 RBI), Jeff Brokaw 2-4 (2 RBI), Robert Stabio 1-4 (RBI), Dustin Luedt 1-4, Chandler Griffin 2-4 (RBI), Chris Round 2-4, Cade Helmer 1-4, Sean Gratwohl 2-5 (2 RBI).
2B-Burrough, Griffin 2. 3B-Fayden.
Time-2:30.
STALLIONS 12, MINERS 0
Box not available