Lakers exit AA tourney with loss to Scarlets
BILLINGS – The Kalispell Lakers’ run at the State AA Legion tournament ended early, with an 8-6 loss to the Billings Scarlets in a loser-out game at Dehler Park on Friday evening.
The Scarlets jumped ahead with a four-run first on Kalispell starter Jack Corriveau, and stayed ahead even though their pitchers issued 12 walks and hit five batters.
The Lakers, who ended up 31-16, drew to 7-6 with two-run rallies in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the fourth they loaded the bases against Scarlets starter Michael Horrell, and then Ben Corriveau was walked on a 3-2 pitch by reliever Nate McDonald, forcing in one run.
Kostya Hoffman bounced into a fielder’s choice before Danny Kernan was hit by a pitch, forcing in Connor Drish to cut the gap to 7-4.
In the fifth the Lakers’ Joe Schlegel reached on an error and Jack Corriveau drew a walk – his second and the 11th issued by Scarlets pitching – ahead of a two-run single by Ethan Diede. Suddenly it was 7-6.
Drish followed with a single but the next two hitters went down in order.
Nate Dewar came on for Billings in the sixth, hit the first batter he faced, but got a diving catch by Meyer on Schlegel’s liner to center to squelch that rally. He then worked around a walk and hit by pitch in the seventh.
The Scarlets jumped ahead in the first with a walk, single and then RBI singles from Jarron Wilcox and Jackson Schaubel. Bases-loaded walks put Billings up 4-0.
The Lakers got two of those runs back on an RBI double by Drish and a bases-loaded walk issued to Kernan.
But the gap grew to 7-2 on an RBI single by Michael Feralio in the second inning and, in the fourth, a solo homer from Logan Meyer and another RBI single by Feralio.
In the sixth the Scarlets went double, walk, single and a sacrifice fly by Feralio to go up 8-6.
Drish, who threw the final two innings, had two of Kalispell’s four hits, drove in two and scored twice.
Jack Corriveau went five innings on the mound, allowing seven runs on eight hits and five runs. He fanned four – and also scored twice.
It was Billings’ second win over the Lakers in five matchups this season.
Friday
Scarlets 410 201 0 - 8 10 2
Lakers 200 220 0 - 6 4 0
Michael Horrell, Nate McDonald (4), Nate Dewar (6) and Jarron Wilcox. Jack Corriveau, Connor Drish (6) and Gage Brink. WP – McDonald. LP – Corriveau.
BILLINGS SCARLETS – Nate Dewar 0-4, Johnny Day 1-4, Logan Meyer 2-3, Jarron Wilcox 1-1, Jackson Schaubel 3-4, Michael Feralio 3-3, Caden Dowler 0-3, Andrew Brester 0-2, Jace Buchanan 0-1, Spencer Berger 0-3.
KALISPELL LAKERS – Jack Corriveau 0-3, Gage Brink 1-3, Ethan Diede 1-2, Connor Drish 2-2, Kostya Hoffman 0-3, Ben Corriveau 0-2, Caden Willis 0-1, Danny Kernan 0-0, Kobe Burland 0-4, Joe Schlegel 0-4.
2B – Meyer, Drish. HR – Meyer. RBIs – Feralio 3, Dowler, Meyer, Berger, Schaubel, Wilcox, Diede 2, Kernan 2, Drish, B. Corriveau.
State AA Legion
Dehler Park, Billings
Wednesday
Game 1 – Bozeman Bucks, bye
Game 2 – Kalispell Lakers 7, Missoula Mavericks 5
Game 3 – Billings Royals 14, Billings Scarlets 3
Game 4 – Helena Senators 6, Great Falls Chargers 0
Thursday
Game 5 – Billings Scarlets, bye
Game 6 – Great Falls 4, Missoula 1, loser out
Game 7 – Bozeman 11, Billings Royals 0
Game 8 – Helena 8, Kalispell 2
Friday
Game 9 – Billings Royals 5, Great Falls 4, loser out
Game 10 – Billings Scarlets 8, Kalispell 6, loser out
Game 11 – Bozeman vs. Helena, undefeated semifinal, late
Saturday
Game 12 – Billings Royals vs. Game 11 loser, loser out, 4 p.m.
Game 13 – Billings Scarlets vs. Game 11 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 14 – Championship, 1 p.m.
Game 15 – Second championship game, if necessary, 45 minutes after first game