Lakers silence, sweep Elks

Kalispell keeps postseason hopes alive

As long as the Kalispell Lakers keep winning, they still have a chance.

Kalispell kept its slim Class AA American Legion state baseball tournament hopes alive Tuesday evening at Griffin Field with a sweep of the Lethbridge Spitz Elks.

Pitcher Tyler Reichhoff turned in a masterpiece in the opener, tossing a two-hitter as Kalispell emerged with a 3-0 victory.

The Lakers' defense helped pitcher Adam Olson out of two jams in the second game as Kalispell rolled to an 8-1 win.

Both pitchers went the distance.

Olson doubled in the first two runs of the game in the nightcap, and Brian Sneck put the game out of reach with his first home run of the season - a three-run shot over the left-field fence.

The Lakers improved to 12-9 in Western AA play with three games remaining.

Kalispell is battling Lethbridge (13-7) for the final tournament berth.

The Great Falls Electrics are tournament hosts and have an automatic bye to state. Only three other teams from Western AA advance to the tournament.

The Great Falls Stallions (27-33 overall) top the standings at 17-5, while the Missoula Mavericks are second at 15-6.

All teams play 24 conference games.

"We needed these two," Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said.

"We also got the tie-breaker (with Lethbridge); that was huge."

Lethbridge had a seven-run advantage in the tie-breaker going into the doubleheader. But Kalispell made up for that easily, outscoring the Elks 11-1. Kalispell and Lethbridge split their regular-season series.

The Lakers (30-23) will end regular-season play at home. They host Glacier (0-17 conference) on Thursday at 6 p.m. for one nine-inning game. They finish up Sunday, entertaining Medicine Hat (5-13) with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Missoula, 11-8 winners over the Stallions on Tuesday, has three league games left, while Lethbridge has four. If both teams win out, they are in, along with the Stallions.

Lethbridge plays a doubleheader today, starting at 2 p.m., at the Glacier Twins. Missoula (45-21) hosts the Stallions for one nine-inning game today at 3 p.m.

"It's unfortunate that one of us won't make it," Malmin said.

"It's the luck of the draw.

"Again, the only thing we can control is what we do, and we'll go from there," Malmin added.

"That's our focus."

Reichhoff was in top form and never struggled.

He forced 12 Lethbridge batters to pop out and retired the side in order in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.

He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Kylle Rokosh doubled. Rokosh also doubled in the seventh.

Reichhoff fanned five, walked three and hit one batter.

Rokosh was just as sharp on the hill, going the distance and holding Kalispell to two hits - a single and a triple by Ben Sansaver. Rokosh struck out six, issued three walks and hit one batter.

Sansaver also drove in a run.

The Lakers did all of the their scoring in the opener with two outs in the third inning.

In the second game, Olson got stronger on the mound as the game went along.

Lethbridge scored in the second inning when Olson hit Braden Horon with the bases loaded and no outs. But Olson forced Chad Northcott to pop out to him for the first out, and then the Lakers turned a ground ball by Mark Clauson into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Lethbridge had runners on second and first in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but failed to score.

Olson gave up eight hits, had just one strikeout, walked one batter and hit four.

Rokosh had another big game at the plate for Lethbridge, going 3-for-4.

Sansaver, Olson and Sneck all went 2-for-3 as the Lakers totaled nine hits.

"Both kids threw really well," Malmin said of his two pitchers.

"We're extremely happy with our outings on the hill today. Lethbridge is a good-hitting baseball team, and for us to allow just one run is huge."

The Lakers' defense made just one error.

"Overall, it was a great effort," Malmin said.

"We were fortunate enough to get some lucky breaks, but our kids battled and competed."

Malmin said of Olson's double in the second game, "we actually called off a squeeze and let him hit. Good thing we did."

Olson lined his shot to right-center field on the next pitch.

On the home run by Sneck …

"It was long overdue," Malmin said.

"He's got some good power."

Game 1

Lethbridge 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Kalispell 003 000 x - 3 2 1

Kylle Rokosh and Sheldon Haughian; Tyler Reichhoff and Zach Brosten. W - Reichhoff. L - Rokosh.

Lethbridge - Mark Clauson 0-2, Brock Fulkerth 0-2, Spencer Farrell 0-3, Mitch Maxwell 0-3, Rokosh 2-3, Tanner Granberg 0-2, Haughian 0-2, Tyson Hudson 0-1, Tyler Czech 0-2, Chad Northcutt 0-1.

Kalispell - Derek Keller 0-1, Ben Sansaver 2-3, Tyler Reichhoff 0-2, Adam Olson 0-3, Brian Sneck 0-3, Jacob Scott 0-2, Zach Brosten 0-2, Toby Liechti 0-1, Austin Roehl 0-2.

2B-Rokosh (2); 3B-Sansaver; RBIs-Sansaver.

Game 2

Lethbridge 010 000 0 - 1 8 1

Kalispell 000 350 x - 8 9 0

Joel Dragland, Jamin Heller (5) and Braeden Horon; Adam Olson and Pat Hergesheimer. W - Olson. L - Dragland.

Lethbridge - Mark Clauson 0-4, Brock Fulkerth 1-3, Spencer Farrell 1-3, Mitch Maxwell 1-3, Kim Barthel 0-1, Kylle Rokosh 3-4, Tanner Granberg 1-4, Tyler Czech 0-2, Braden Horon 0-1, Chad Northcutt 1-3.

Kalispell - Derek Keller 1-4, Ben Sansaver 2-3, Tyler Reichhoff 0-2, Adam Olson 2-3, Pat Hergesheimer 0-3, Brian Sneck 2-3, Jacob Scott 1-3, Toby Liechti 1-3, Austin Roehl 0-1.

2B-Olson; HR-Sneck; RBIs-Horon; Sansaver, Olson (3), Sneck (3), Scott.