Mariners open Firecracker tourney with wins

POLSON — Mission Valley opened up the annual Firecracker Tournament with a complete game performance from Jake Helser to win 6-0 over the Missoula Impact Friday.

Helser allowed two hits in the win and sat down four batters. 

Mission Valley capitalized on two walks and five hit batsmen in the victory, only picking up a pair of hits. 

Holden Emerson provided one of the hits in the form of a solo home run to lead off the fifth and make it 4-0. Brayson Dumont had the other on a sixth inning single. 

Mission Valley followed up the performance with a 15-2 showing over the Lethbridge Lakers. 

Cole Wadsworth and Cody Haggard went yard in the second game, while Noah Agliano had two triples. The Mariners had six extra-base hits in the game. 

Haggard also tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits. He fanned eight. The game ended after five innings due to the run rule. 

Lethbridge took the lead early on a double from Lorenzo Martin in the opening frame. A ground ball scored another to make it 2-0, but it was all Mariners from there. 

Four runs in the third and 11 in the fourth gave Mission Valley control of the game. 

The tournament continues Saturday for the Mariners with another doubleheader against the Flathead A’s and the Fort McLeod Royals.