Mission Valley asserted itself early, reaching five batters in each of the first two innings, on the way to a dominant 12-2 win over Glacier in the semifinals of the Western A District American Legion baseball tournament on Friday at Griffin Field. The win clinched a spot in today’s championship game at 4 p.m. and a bid to next week’s state tournament in Lewistown.

The Mariners wasted no time in making their mark on the game. After a brilliant defensive play from the Twins to nab Mission Valley’s first batter, the Mariners reached the next five batters safely, scoring three runs in the process.

Mission Valley reached the first five batters of the second inning, chasing Twins starting pitcher Jesse Walburn before recording an out. The Mariners led 7-0 before surrendering a hit to the Twins in the third inning.

“The easier you get things going, the better off you’re going to be,” Mission Valley coach Jami Hanson said.

“That’s our game. Get the wheels going and run a little bit.”

That first hit for Glacier also plated its first run. Dakota Bridwell, who reached base on an error, scored on a single from Austin Robins, who came in as a pinch hitter.

That run was answered by two more from Mission Valley in the bottom of the inning. The Mariners did the same in the fifth inning, answering the Twins final run with three more to take a 12-run lead.

After a scoreless sixth, the game was called on the 10-run rule in the seventh after three straight outs, capped by a strikeout from Derek Peel to finish a complete game on the mound. Peel ended with two strikeouts and one walk in seven innings pitched.

“Derek’s thrown the ball well all year,” Hanson said. “We’ve had good pitching so far in the district tournament. The kids are throwing strikes knowing and trusting their defense will pick them up and be there.”

Alex Killian was 3 for 3 from the plate with three RBIs and Zeke Webster-Yaqui was 2-2 with a pair of RBIs for the Mariners.

Robins was 2 for 3 with both RBIs for the Twins.

The Twins will start play today against the Bitterroot Bucs at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will play Mission Valley in the district championship game and clinch the second spot to state.

Glacier 001 010 0 — 2 6 4

MIssion Valley 342 030 x — 12 12 2

Jesse Walburn, Austin Robins (2) and Dakota Bridwell. Derek Peel and Alex Killian. W- Peel. L- Walburn.

GLACIER — Colton Gove 1-3, Chris Park 1-1, Jayce Fagerland 1-2, Colten Parker 0-1, Austin Robins 2-3, Vinny Smith 0-2, Kyler Howke 0-3, Tristin Steinwand 0-3, Jesse Walburm 0-3, Dakota Bridwell 0-3, Tyler Murphy 1-3.

MISSION VALLEY — Ryan Pablo 1-4, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 2-2, Alex Killian 3-3, TJ Olson 2-3, Bradley Pichler 1-3, Jared Young 0-2, Jacob Harrod 1-3, Bransen Krebs 0-4, Trevor Paro 2-2.

2B—Paro. RBIs—Robins 2; Webster-Yaqui 2, Killian 3, Olson 2, Young, Harrod 2.

Loser out

Bucs 13, Lakers 3

7 Innings

The Lakers fell behind in the fourth and couldn’t find the runs to catch up, ending their season to Bitterroot. The Bucs will play Glacier at 1 p.m. in today’s third-place game.

Kalispell was scoring early, and led 2-1 in the third inning after an RBI double from Patrick O’Connell scored Leif Ericksen.

The Bucs would answer quickly, however, reaching their first four batters safely and scoring twice in the bottom of the frame. Bitterroot would score four more in the fourth, all with two outs, to put the game out of reach. All seven batters reached base in the seventh inning to score five runs and end the game early.

O’Connell was 1 for 3 and had a pair of RBIs and Quinn Barber was 2 for 2 and hit in one run to lead the Lakers at the plate.

Bitterroot’s Bo Zieler was 1 for 3 with a double and three RBIs at the dish and recorded the win on the mound.

Kalispell 101 001 0 — 3 7 5

Bucs 012 401 5 — 13 8 1

Quinn Barber, Leif Ericksen (4) and Tiler Whiteaker. Bo Zeiler and Kadin Beller. W- Zeiler. L- Barber.

KALISPELL — Micah Benson 1-4, Brooks Krause 0-2, Leif Ericksen 1-4, Patrick O’Connell 1-3, Robert McCarvel 1-4, Tiler Whiteaker 1-3, Jayson Combs 0-2, Quinn Barber 2-2, Logan DeCock 0-2.

BITTERROOT — Dylan Reed 1-3, Logan Lueck 2-4, Bo Zeiler 1-3, Kadin Beller 0-2, Rees LeSoine 0-2, Brad Schaff 1-3, Jake Finley 1-4, Jade Chimo 0-3, Shane Thorson 2-4.

2B—O’Connell, Barber; Reed, Zieler. RBI—O’Connell 2, Barber; Reed 2, Lueck 2, Zieler 3, LeSoine, Chimo, Thorson.

Kalispell 10, Missoula 3

A five-run seventh inning carried Kalispell past Missoula in loser-out play.

Leif Ericksen, 2 for 5, drove in three runs for Kalispell. Quinn Barber, 2 for 5, had two RBIs for the victors.

Kalispell took the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning. Pat O’Connell, 2 for 4, led that inning off with a double while Barber and Logan DeCock, 2 for 4, followed with RBI singles.

Kalispell outhit Missoula 14-9.

Barber belted a RBI double in the seventh inning. Jayson Combs, 2 for 4, doubled in the eighth.

Micah Benson also had two hits for Kalispell.

Kalispell 100 310 500 — 10 14 1

Missoula 100 000 101 — 3 9 1

Tiler Whiteaker and Lukas DeCock. Ryan McHugh, Austin Kominek (7), Aidan Collins (7) and Kellen Round. W- Whiteaker. L- McHugh.

KALISPELL — Micah Benson 2-6, Brooks Krause 1-4, Leif Ericksen 2-5, Pat O’Connell 2-4, Robert McCarvel 0-5, Lukas DeCock 1-3, Jayson Combs 2-4, Quinn Barber 2-5, Logan DeCock 2-4.

MISSOULA — Jonothan Mitchell 3-5, Ben Tabaracci 2-5, Josh Tabor 0-4, Nick Yovetick 1-5, Koty Behban 0-1, Spencer Shock 0-1, Walker Kay 1-4, Tyler Jewett 0-3, Hunter Polson 0-1, Kellen Round 0-3, Mitch Roberts 1-3, Davis Walker 1-1.

2B—O’Connell, Combs, Barber; RBIs—Benson, Ericksen (3), Lu. DeCock, Combs, Barber (2), Lo. DeCock; Tabaracci.

Bucs 9, Red Sox 3

The Bucs scored early and often to beat the Red Sox in a battle of the Bitterroots.

Brad Schaff was 2 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the Bucs, who scored the winning runs in the third inning.

Bucs 302 210 100 — 9 8 0

Red Sox 010 000 002 — 3 10 3

Dylon Gavlak, Rees LaSoine (6) and Kadin Beller. Austin Ray, Tyler Scheffer (5), Kade Hudgins (9) and Chase Connor. W- Gavlak. L- Ray.

BUCS — Dylan Reed 0-2, Logan Lueck 2-4, Bo Zieler 1-5, Kadin Beller 0-4, Rees LaSoine 1-4, Brad Schaff 2-3, Noah Baney 0-2, Jake Finley 0-0, Jade Chimo 1-4, Shane Thorsen 1-5.

RED SOX — Austin Ray 2-5, Nate Loranger 2-5, Justin Horvath 1-3, Kody Lane 2-5, Brennon Fisher 2-4, Tylor Nixon 0-4, Chase Connor 1-4, Joe Johnson 0-1, Tyler Scheffer 0-1, Kade Hudgins 0-1, Tanner Lehr 0-2.

2B—Leuck, Chimo; Ray. 3B—Schaff. RBIs—Reed, Zieler, LaSoine, Schaff 3, Baney; Ray, Loranger, Lane.