The pitching was the highlight of the night at Griffin Field for the final game on the first day at the Canadian Days American Legion Baseball Tournament.

Calgary Redbirds ace Mike Soroka struckout 14 batters in seven innings of work to lead the Redbirds to a 2-0 victory over the Kalispell Lakers.

Soroka allowed just two hits in his complete game shutout.

“It’s a great opportuntiy to see that level of a pitcher. I thought we went out and were aggressive at the dish. We just didnt get the timely hit that we needed,” Lakers head coach Ryan Malmin said.

Redbird batters had a difficult time at the plate as well.

Lakers pitcher Brandon Maassen and Colten Wiley combined for 13 strikeouts to match their counterpart’s effort on the mound.

Maassen, the starter, struck out nine Redbirds, allowing just one hit in five innings before he was relieved by Wiley in the fifth inning.

Wiley allowed no runs on one hit to keep Calgary at bay as the runs were hard to come by through out the contest.

“It was good to see Brandon get back into his routine a little bit there,” Malmin added.

“Wiley, again, has done a great job playing that reliever role. We got to clean up a few thing defensily and be able to get that timely hit.”

Maassen, who carried a no-hit bid through four and two-third innings, found himself in a jam early in the game.

He walked two of the first three batters he faced and a run scored when he picked off catcher Vincent Hanley off first base. The relay throw to home was wide of the plate and Redbird center fielder Jake Sakon scored from third.

Maassen would settle down however, earning his nine strike outs until the fifth inning.

Calgary second baseman Luke Loomer, who walked, scored on an RBI single from first baseman Braden Persian that landed just inside the chalk, bouncing directly over third base and into left field.

The Lakers would manage to threaten Soroka and the Redbirds in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Shortstop Walker Malmin reached on error and advanced to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch.

But one of Canada’s top-ranked pitchers settled down, as Soroka would go on strike out two Lakers and get another to ground out to avoid surrendering a run.

With the hard throwing right-hander in a groove, two runs were all Calgary would need to claim the victory.

Each team committed just two errors in a clean game that showcased an abundance of talent in this weekend’s tournament.

Second baseman Justin Wallace and center fielder Jake Barstow each had hits for Kalispell.

Wallace’s perfectly placed bunt rolled just inside the third base line for an infield single to end a no-hitter for Soroka in the third inning.

Calgary 100 010 0 — 1 2 2

Kalispell 000 000 0 — 0 2 2

Mike Soroka and Vincent Hanley. Brandon Maassen, Colten WIley (5) and Adam Frandsen. W — Soroka. L — Maassen.

CALGARY — Jake Sakon 0-3, Luke Loomer 0-3, Vincent Hanley0-2, Braden Persian 1-3, Patrick Slattery 0-3, Evan Cloutier 0-1, Cal Tecklenburg 0-1, Blake Enders 0-2, Riley Rowland 1-3, Reece Helfrich 0-3.

KALISPELL — Walker Malmin 0-3, Brandon Maassen 0-3, Levi Brenneman 0-3, Adam Frandsen 0-2, Andy Bemis 0-3, Justin Rich 0-2, Dillon Eaves 0-1, Justin Wallace 1-3, Jake Barstow 1-3, Colten Wiley 0-2.

RBIs — Persian.

Canadian Days Tournament

Friday’s Results

AA

Edmonton Cardinals 10, Glacier Twins 5,

Spokane 49ers 13, Sherwood Park Dukes 11

Calgary Redbirds 2, Kalispell Lakers 0

A

Calgary Redbirds 11, Edmonton Cardinals 9

Cranbrook Bandits 9, Kalispell Lakers 7,

Glacier Twins 19, Sherwood Park A’s 1

Saturday’s Games

AA

Griffin Field

Glacier Twins vs. Sherwood Park Dukes, 9 a.m.

Kalispell Lakers vs. Edmonton Cardinals, 11:30 a.m.

Sherwood Park Dukes vs. Calgary Redbirds, 2 p.m.

Spokane 49ers vs. Edmonton Cardinals, 4:30 p.m.

Glacier Twins vs. Kalispell Lakers, 7 p.m.

Kidsports Complex West Field

Spokane 49ers vs. Calgary Redbirds, 10 a.m.

A

Archie Roe Field

Edmonton Cardinals vs. Glacier Twins, 9 a.m.

Cranbrook Bandits vs. Calgary Redbirds, 11:30 a.m.

Calgary Redbirds vs. Sherwood Park A’s, 2 p.m.

Sherwood Park A’s vs. Kalispell Lakers, 4:30 p.m.

Kidsports Complex West Field

Kalispell Lakers vs. Edmonton Cardinals, 12:30 p.m.

Cranbrook Bandits vs. Glacier Twins, 3 p.m.