HELENA — The Kalispell Lakers AA battled on the opening day of the Keith Sells American Legion baseball tournament on Thursday, splitting their two games in the Treasure State capital.

Trailing 6-3 in the tournament opener against the Gallatin Valley Outlaws, Kalispell rallied in the top of the sixth inning.

The Lakers pushed three runs across the plate and held off the Outlaws the rest of the way for a 6-6 tie.

Leif Erickson led the Lakers’ offense, going 3 for 4 from the plate. He finished with a team-high two RBIs.

Patrick O’Connell was 2 for 4 with a double.

Quinn Barber, Levi Brenneman and Andy Bemis also doubled in the opener as the Lakers tallied 10 hits in the contest.

Tiler Whitaker added a base hit to the Lakers’ total.

Whitaker and Brenneman combined for a no decision on the mound.

Kalispell’s second contest was a little more devastating.

Squaring off against the host Helena Senators, Kalispell tied the game at two in the top of the fourth inning.

But the Senators threatened in the bottom of the sixth.

With runners on first and third, Helena successfully pulled off a squeeze play to break the tie.

They pushed one more across in the inning on their way to a 4-2 victory.

Andrew Schleusner went 2 for 3 to lead the Lakers at the plate. He finished with an RBI

O’Connell added an RBI in the nightcap on a 1 for 2 effort in the box.

Walker Malmin and Andy Bemis each added a hit for Kalispell.

The Lakers defense was sharp, finishing the game without recording an error.

Tournament play  continues today and runs through Sunday.

Kalispell Lakers     000     200     0 —     2     5     0

Helena Senators     200     002     x —     4     8     1

L DeCock; Ryan Dorvall (5.1), Kenny Wilson (1.2). W - Wilson, L - DeCock.

KASLISPELL — Tiler Whitaker 0-3, Walker Malmin 1-3, Patrick O’Connell 1-2, Andrew Schluesner 2-3, Leif Erickson 0-3, Robert Reaser 0-3, Andy Bemis 1-3, Levi Brenneman 0-2, Brandon Maassen 0-2.

HELENA — Koby Griffin 2-3, Danny Burton 2-2, Nick Wrigg 1-3, Payton Pappas 0-2, Jackson Thennis 1-2, Henry Bowers 0-1, Kienan Stief 0-2, Kenny Wilson 1-3, Jackson Maynard 0-3, Ryan Dorvall 1-1.

2B - O’Connell, Schluesner; RBIs - Stief, Wilson, O’Connell, Schluesner.

Kalispell     102      003   0     —     6     10

Gallatin Valley     022      020   0 —     6     8

Pitchers (ND): Kal - Whitaker, Brenneman; GVO - N/A.

KALISPELL — Tiler Whitaker 1-4, Robert Reaser 0-5, Patrick O’Connell 2-4, Andrew Schluesner 1-3, Leif Erickson 3-4, Andy Bemis 1-4, Brandon Moosser N/A, Levi Brenneman 1-3, Quinn Barber 1-3, Jason Combs 0-4.

GV — Bitterman 2-3, Elliott 1-4, Willard 2-4, Mourer 1-4, Young 0-4, Lindsoe 2-4, Lorenz 0-3, Pruett 0-3, Nehring 0-4.

2B - Barber, Brenneman, Bemis, O’Connell, Mourer; 3B - Elliott; RBIs - Erickson 2, Schluesner, Brenneman, Lindsoe, Elliott.