Cranbrook’s late rally defeats A Lakers

A six-run seventh inning lifted Cranbrook past the Kalispell A Lakers 14-9 in the opener of a doubleheader in Legion baseball Wednesday evening at Archie Roe Field. 

Cranbrook (24-11) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Kalispell (8-23) answered with four runs in the bottom of the first on RBI singles from Dustin Gladeau, Jacobe Sullenger and Madden Carrier. 

After both teams scored in the second and the Bandits added four more in the fifth, the Lakers reclaimed the lead at 9-8 in the bottom half when Sullenger ripped a three-run double. 

But the Bandits answered in their final at-bat.  

Cranbrook sent 11 hitters to the plate in the seventh, using three hits, four walks and a hit batter to score six runs. Hunter Willard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run before Riley Hughston-Bulmer added a two-run single. 

Sullenger finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs, while Blake Paulsen added two hits. The Lakers also turned two double plays. 

The teams played a second game later Wednesday evening, but the game was still ongoing at press time.