Out with a win: Engle’s two RBIs help Lakers to victory
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 16 hours, 49 minutes AGO
Kalispell's Micah Engle (8) drives in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell starting pitcher George Schwan (17) delivers in the first inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Beau Shulz (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring on Micah Engle's bases-loaded single in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell second baseman Hunter Fann (15) fields a ground ball against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Tait Orme (9) drives in a run with an RBI single in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell shortstop Beau Shulz (10) makes a play on a ground ball against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Brady Buckmaster (18) connects on a single to right field against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Hunter Fann (15) drives in a run in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
SPORTS REPORTER Jon Allen is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He covers youth and high school athletics across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Allen reports on major games, athletes and teams throughout the region’s prep sports landscape. In addition to game coverage, he contributes features and analysis across print and digital platforms. Jon can be seen on our Big Sky Now podcast, weighing in on the college landscape. His work highlights the athletes and communities that define Northwest Montana sports. IMPACT: Jon’s work tells the stories of local athletes and the communities that support them. | July 16, 2026 12:00 AM
After a late Tuesday night doubleheader, the Kalispell AA Lakers brought the energy in a 5-2 victory Wednesday afternoon over the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field.
It was the final home game for a large contingent of Lakers seniors and Micah Engle helped to ensure that they would go out victorious with a third-inning two-run single.
“Today’s game was kind of like the first two, but today we found a way to win,” AA Lakers coach Mike O’Connell said. “The guys played really well all weekend in all facets of the game.
It wasn’t easy though.
The Scarlets (18-14 overall, 9-9 in AA Legion games) took the early lead in the second inning after Zach McDonald hit a towering fly over the left field wall for a two-run homer — Kyren Ballard opened the frame with a single.
Lakers starter George Schwan locked in from there.
Schwan went five innings and allowed just one more hit after McDonald’s big fly. He fanned four batters.
“We scripted it because we have to with this brutal stretch, and all of our pitchers did what they were supposed to do in their role,” O’Connell said. It worked exactly like we wanted it to and the guys did their job.”
In the bottom of the third, Kalispell (12-14, 5-13 in conference) found its offense. Two walks sandwiched Dillon Wink reaching on an error while laying down a bunt to load the bases. Engle stepped in and his grounder found a gap in the left side to score two runs and tie the game.
“I have been really confident in the team,” Engle said. “Playing for the people around you instead of just yourself has been a huge confidence boost.”
That brought up Hunter Fann, who gave the Lakers the lead with an RBI groundout. Then Tait Orme made it 4-2 as he singled to the left side of the infield, bringing in Engle.
Engle reached on an error in the fifth and came around to score thanks to Fann being hit by a pitch, a double steal and a wild pitch to put Kalispell up 5-2.
Kyler Croft came in to close out the final two innings for the Lakers, going two strong innings. He allowed one hit and sat down four batters.
Billings starter Matteo Harris went all six innings for the Scarlets. He allowed five runs on four hits and struck out five.
Scarlets 020 000 0 - 2 4 3
AA Lakers 004 010 x - 5 4 0
Matteo Harris and Luke Slyker. George Schwan, Kyler Croft (6) and Brady Buckmaster.
BILLINGS SCARLETS — Jaxon King 0-3, Bridger Leland 1-4, Oliver Prill 0-3, Kyren Ballard 1-2, Zach McDonald 1-2, Ollin Kulaga 0-3, Paxton Dahlberg 0-2, Luke Slyker 0-3, Brooks Hust 1-3.
KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Teagan Dixon 0-2, Micah Engle 1-3, Hunter Fann 0-2, Tait Orme 1-3, Liam Rech 1-3, Miles Arrowsmith 0-3, Brady Buckmaster 1-3, Beau Schulz 0-2, Dillon Wink 0-3.
HR — McDonald. RBIs — McDonald 2, Engle 2, Fann, Orme.
Kalispell starting pitcher George Schwan (17) delivers in the first inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Beau Shulz (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring on Micah Engle's bases-loaded single in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell second baseman Hunter Fann (15) fields a ground ball against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Tait Orme (9) drives in a run with an RBI single in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell shortstop Beau Shulz (10) makes a play on a ground ball against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Brady Buckmaster (18) connects on a single to right field against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Kalispell's Hunter Fann (15) drives in a run in the third inning against the Billings Scarlets at Griffin Field on Wednesday, July 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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