Mission Valley Mariners wrap up season
By BRANDON HANSEN For the Leader | Lake County Leader | UPDATED 1 year AGO
Catcher Holden Emerson grabs a pitch just out of the strike zone. (Kaleb Unger/Leader)
The Mission Valley Mariners closed out their 2024 American Legion baseball season at the Class A District Tournament in Whitefish, falling to Cranbrook and Missoula to finish with a 25-23 overall record.
On Thursday, Mission Valley opened tournament play against the Cranbrook Bandits in a game that was tightly contested until a decisive sixth inning. After a scoreless first three frames, the Mariners took a two-run lead but Cranbrook plated three runs in the fourth and added four more in the sixth to pull away for a 7-3 win.
Cole Wadsworth led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Holden Emerson, Cody Haggard, Aiden Gfroerer, Noah Agliano, and Justin Brown each added hits. Emerson, Brown, and Landon Pablo each drove in a run.
On the mound, Haggard pitched a complete game, tossing six innings and striking out five. Of the seven runs allowed, only three were earned, as defensive miscues proved costly for Mission Valley.
Looking to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket, the Mariners faced Missoula on Friday in a tight, low-scoring contest. Missoula built an early 3-0 lead with a single run in the first, and two in the third, but the Mariners clawed back with two runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to one.
Emerson once again led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double. Gfroerer, Brayson DuMont, Cody Haggard, and Aiden Courville each recorded hits. Pablo delivered a strong performance on the hill, pitching all six innings and allowing only three earned runs on three hits while striking out two. His effort gave the Mariners a chance throughout the game, but three Missoula runs were enough to hold off Mission Valley’s late rally.
Thursday, July 24
CRANBROOK 7, MISSION VALLEY 3
MissValley - 0002010 - 3 - 7 - 3
Cranbrook - 000304x - 7 - 7 - 2
MISSION VALLEY HITTING - Cole Wadsworth 2-3, Holden Emerson 1-3, Cody Haggard 1-4, Aiden Gfroerer 1-3, Noah Agliano 1-2, Justin Brown 1-4; RBI - Holden Emerson, Justin Brown, Landon Pablo
MISSION VALLEY PITCHING - Cody Haggard (6IP, 7H, 7R, 3ER, 2BB, 5SO)
Friday, July 25
MissValley - 0000020 - 2 - 6 - 2
Missoula - 102000x - 3 - 3 - 3
MISSION VALLEY HITTING - Holden Emerson 2-4, Cody Haggard 1-4, Aiden Gfroerer 1-3, Brayson DuMont 1-4, Aiden Courville 1-3; 2B - Holden Emerson
MISSION VALLEY PITCHING - Landon Pablo (6IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 2SO)