Lakers split with Stallions

The Daily Inter Lake

Bryce Thompson hit a two-RBI single in the third inning and a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning Monday night to give the Great Falls Stallions a 3-2 victory over the host Kalispell Lakers (28-16) in the first half of an American Legion baseball doubleheader.

The Lakers, though, bounced right back to win the second game, 5-1.

"I think it was real important for us to get that split," said Kalispell coach Ryan Malmin.

The Lakers improved to 13-5 in conference and 28-16 overall.

If it comes down to a tie in the conference standings between Kalispell and the Stallions, the Lakers will have the tiebreaker, he said.

Joe Pistorese went all eight innings in the first game for the Lakers.

"He did a tremendous job, spotting up and locating pitches," Malmin said.

Pistorese struck out nine, gave up six hits, walked just two batters and hit one batter.

"He did a great job. We're very happy with his efforts on the mound," the coach said.

"We just didn't cash in on key hits in that first game."

Kalispell was led at the plate by shortstop Ben Sansaver. He was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

Zane Ridings went the distance for Kalispell in the second game.

The Lakers backed him up with 10 hits. They scored a run in the first and four more in the fifth.

Dean Stimpson was 2-for-4, Sansaver was 2-for-3 and Toby Liechti.

Matt O'Brien, Pistorese and Mike O'Connell each had doubles and RBIs were by O'Brien (2), Liechti and Pistorese.

Great Falls scored its' only run in the sixth inning. The Stallions had one run in, the bases loaded and no outs at that point.

Ridings responded with two strikeouts and got the third out on a groundout.

"He competed well. He dug down and got some key outs for us," Malmin said.

Next up for the Lakers is the Sapa-Johnsrud tournament. Kalispell's first game is 11:45 a.m. Wednesday against the Calgary Blues. The Lakers will then play Lethbridge at 2:30 p.m.

The Lakers play the Pullman Patriots at 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

On Friday, they take on the Spokane Blue Devils at 9 a.m., then play the host Twins at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Great Falls 3, Lakers 2

Great Falls 002 000 01 - 3 6 1

Kalispell 001 010 00 - 2 4 0

Tanner Bleskin, Dan Olinger (6) and Cole McPherson. Joe Pistorese and Zach Brosten. W - Olinger. L - Pistorese.

Great Falls - Jake Bleskin 0-2, Dan Olinger 0-3, Tanner Bleskin 1-4, Bryce Thompson 2-4, Cole McPherson 1-4, Jake Mansch 0-4, Dustin Schultz 1-3, Tyler Stanich 0-0, Alex Waltari 1-3, Tanner Watson 0-2, Taylor Davis 0-1. 2B - Waltari. HR - Thompson. RBI - Thompson 3.

Kalispell - Dean Stimpson 1-3, Ben Sansaver 2-2, Mike O'Connell 0-3, Pat Hergesheimer 0-3, Zach Brosten 0-4, Matt O'Brien 0-3, Toby Liechti 0-2, Joe Pistorese 1-3, Zane Ridings 0-3. 2B - Sansaver. RBI - Sansaver, O'Connell.

Game 2

Lakers 5, Stallions 1

Great Falls 000 001 0 - 1 5 3

Kalispell 100 130 0 - 5 10 1

Tyler Stanich and Cole McPherson. Zane Ridings and Zach Brosten. W - Ridings. L - Stanich.

Great Falls - J. Bleskin 0-1, Olinger 1-3, T. Bleskin 2-3, Thompson 1-2, McPherson 1-3, Mansch 0-3, Dustin Schultz 0-3, Waltari 0-3, Stanich 0-3. 2B - T. Bleskin. RBI - Thompson.

Kalispell - Stimpson 2-4, Sansaver 2-3, O'Connell 1-3, Hergesheimer 1-1, Brosten 0-3, O'Brien 1-3, Liechti 2-2, Pistorese 1-2, Ridings 0-3. 2B - O'Brien, O'Connell, Pistorese. RBI - O'Brien 2, Liechti, Pistorese.