BILLINGS — A close play at the plate was the difference between extra innings and the end of the season for the Kalispell Lakers, who fell 4-3 to the top-seeded Billings Scarlets at the Class AA American Legion baseball state tournament at Dehler Park Thursday.

The Lakers (29-29) trailed 4-1 with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth inning when Robert Reaser doubled to the right-center field gap. Sean O’Connell and Dillon Eaves scored from second and third bases, respectively, but Dillon Matteson was thrown out at the plate to end the game.

“Reaser hit a line drive into right center that got past the right fielder on a diving attempt,” Lakers coach Ryan Malmin said. “We were sending everybody and they just had a clean relay and a bang-bang play at home where the tying run was called out. It was a tough call against us. I felt that he got there, he tagged him on his back. It was a tough call.”

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Scarlets tagged Lakers starting pitcher Eaves for three runs on four hits. Eaves lasted seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out 10 and walked three in the losing effort.

Scarlets starting pitcher Gage Hinsz earned the win, allowing one run on three hits in five innings while striking out 11. Christian Martinson pitched three scoreless innings of relief and David Follett earned the save despite giving up two runs in the ninth.

Eaves batted 3 for 4 to lead the Lakers at the plate. Reaser was 2 for 5. Nick Funyak and Jalen Garcia each had two hits for the Scarlets.

The Lakers finished the double-elimination state tournament 0-2 after losing 2-1 to the Bozeman Bucks on Wednesday.

“We played great baseball, we were clean defensively, our pitchers in two games put zeros on the scoreboard 14 out of 18 innings,” Malmin said. “We hit the ball well at times today, it was just right at people. We were two runs shy from being in the semifinals and it’s just kind of the parity in the state this year where anybody can win at any given time. There’s great parity, it’s just unfortunate that we fell short two runs.”

The Scarlets will play another loser-out game today at 1 p.m. against the Missoula Mavericks.

In other state tournament games on Thursday, the Medicine Hat (Alberta) Monarchs beat the Helena Senators 8-7 in a loser-out contest and the Billings Royals beat Missoula 6-3 in a winner’s bracket game. Bozeman led the Great Falls Chargers 7-2 in the third inning when the game was suspended by rain. The tournament continues today.

Kalispell 000 010 002 — 3 6 1

Scarlets 000 300 10x — 4 8 1

Dillon Eaves, Hank McLeod (8) and Adam Frandsen. Gage Hinsz, Christian Martinson (6), David Follett (9) and Nick Funyak. W - Hinsz. L - Eaves. S - Follett.

KALISPELL - Chris Combs 0-4, Charlie Obermiller 0-4, Eaves 3-4, Sean O’Connell 0-1, Dillon Matteson 0-4, Robert Reaser 2-5, Frandsen 0-4, Jake Barstow 1-4, Luke LaFontaine 0-2.

SCARLETS - Cole Jones 0-3, Jalen Garcia 2-2, Torry Huppert 0-1, Funyak 2-3, Collin Maier 1-2, Winston Cox 1-4, Gordon Sveinson 1-4, Shelby Zorn 0-4, Martinson 0-4, Brayden Wickam 1-2.

2B - Reaser; Cox, Sveinson. RBIs - Reaser 2; Cox 2, Funyak, Sveinson.

Medicine Hat 8, Helena 7

Helena 102 010 102 — 7 15 2

Med. Hat 102 002 30x — 8 14 1

Joe Spradlin, Marcus Lindgren (5), Jarin Gasset (8) and Ryan Estep. Nolan Rattai, Kaid Lutz (9) and Konner Lutz. W - Rattai. L - Lindgren. S - Kaid Lutz.

HELENA - Lee Muller 3-5, Tristan Shea 3-5, Troy Arntson 3-4, Dan Hansen 2-4, Jarin Gassett 2-3, Brad Tiefenthaler 2-5, Ryan Estep 0-5, Zach Merzalk 0-2, Nick Wrigg 0-2, Reed Carter 0-0, Colin Volesky 0-3.

MEDICINE HAT - Nolan Rattai 2-4, Kaid Lutz 0-0, Braden Goldade 0-4, Konner Lutz 2-5, Andy Scott 2-4, Austin Weisgerber 2-4, Brendan Schafer 1-3, Brad Paradis 3-4, Lane Aman 1-4, Tanner Ross 1-3.

2B - Mueller, Arntson, Gassett, Tiefenthaler; Rattai. RBIs - Arntson, Hansen, Gassett, Tiefenthaler 2; Goldade, Lutz, Scott, Weisgerber, Paradis, Aman, Ross.

Billings Royals 6, Missoula 3

Royals 120 000 030 — 6 5 1

Missoula 000 000 012 — 3 9 3

Tanner Leenknecht and Matt Dillon. Anthony Contonio, Matt McHugh (9) and Slade Heggen. W - Leenknecht. L - Contonio.

ROYALS - Joseph Zimmer 0-4, Konner Weichman 0-3, TJ Jacobs 1-3, Chance Ackerman 0-2, Leenknecht 1-3, Matt Shelhamer 1-3, Taylor Goselin 1-3, Baylee Slevira 0-4, Dillon 1-4.

MISSOULA - Heggen 1-3, Tres Cunningham 1-4, Shane Olson 0-4, Nathan Jewett 1-4, Josh Meader 1-4, Alec Bouchee 3-4, Jesson Preston 0-4, McHugh 1-4, Tanner Reinschmidt 1-4.

2B - Leenknecht; Bouchee. 3B - Reinschmidt. RBIs - Dillon 2, Shelhamer, Leenknecht, Jacobs; Heggen, Bouchee.