Mavericks blank AA Lakers in State opener

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta — Andrew Richardson had the juice Saturday. 

Richardson tossed 6 1-3 innings of one-hit baseball as the Missoula Mavericks downed the Kalispell AA Lakers 3-0 at the Montana/Alberta State AA Legion tournament. 

The win moves Missoula into a winner’s bracket matchup with the Billings Scarlets — who downed the Helena Senators 2-1 — at 4 p.m. Sunday, while Kalispell faces Helena in an elimination game at 10 a.m. 

Bozeman downed Great Falls in another opening round matchup while host Lethbridge battled the Billings Royals in the nightcap. The game was not finished at press time. 

Mavericks 3, Lakers 0

Richardson went the first six frames without allowing a hit, only putting three runners on from walks. 

He received help from an Owen Felton second inning big fly, which broke a scoreless tie. 

In the third, Missoula (28-13) added a second run on an RBI double from Colter Nicolarsen to right field. In the fifth, Nicolarsen hit into a fielder’s choice and an error allowed Gabe Gibbs to score and make it 3-0. 

Kalispell (14-19) chased Richardson in the seventh. After an opening fly out, Tait Orme tripled for the Lakers’ first hit of the ballgame. 

Dawson Rodoni then entered for Missoula and sat down Beau Schulz. A walk to Liam Rech and Brady Buckmaster being hit by a pitch loaded the bases as Missoula again switched pitchers. 

Nicolarsen came on to get the final out as Lincoln Fisher hit into a fielder’s choice. 

Max Schara took the bump for Kalispell, allowing three runs on six hits in a complete game performance.  

AA Lakers    000    000    0    -    0    1    1 

Mavericks    011    010    x    -    3    6    0

Max Schara and Brady Buckmaster. Andrew Richardson, Dawson Rodoni (7), Colter Nicolarsen (7) and Gabe Gibbs. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Miles Arrowsmith 0-3, Micah Engle 0-3, Hunter Fann 0-3, Tait Orme 1-3, Beau Schulz 0-2, Liam Rech 0-2, Brady Buckmaster 0-1, Teagan Dixon 0-2, Lincoln Fisher 0-1, Dillon Wink 0-1. 

MISSOULA MAVERICKS — Ethan Paugh 0-2, Colter Nicolarsen 1-3, Kaden Thennis 1-3, Owen Felton 2-3, Remington Howard 0-3, Stellan Ridley 1-3, Rowan Miculka 0-3, Kieran Cooney 0-1, Gabe Gibbs 1-2. 

2B — Nicolarsen. 3B — Orme. HR — Felton. RBIs — Nicolarsen 2, Felton. 

Scarlets 2, Senators 1

Oliver Prill put the Scarlets (22-17) ahead 2-0 in the third inning with a double that scored Bridger Leland and Jaxon King. 

From there Zach McDonald held serve, allowing one run on six hits. He fanned five. 

Helena (44-19) hit four doubles in the game but only converted one into a run as Tyler Kaiser scored Tanner Steen on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. 

James DeMers went 6 1-3 innings for Helena, allowing two runs on three hits. He sat down seven. 

Bucks 5, Chargers 1

Harvey Kimmel’s two-run blast in the seventh gave some added insurance for Bozeman (20-19) after Rolen Quezada broke a 1-1 deadlock in the sixth. 

Garrett Norick went the distance on the mound for the Bucks, allowing one run on three hits. 

Great Falls (26-10) lone run came on a sacrifice fly from Dawson Cook in the fifth. 

Bozeman battles the winner of Lethbridge and the Billings Royals in the second winner’s bracket matchup Sunday at 7 p.m., while Great Falls will face the loser at 1 p.m. in an elimination game. 

State AA Tournament 

July 25-29 

Spitz Field, Lethbridge 

Saturday

Game 1: Billings Scarlets 2, Helena Senators 1 

Game 2: Bozeman Bucks 5, Great Falls Chargers 1 

Game 3: Missoula Mavericks 3, Kalispell Lakers 0 

Game 4: Lethbridge Elks (30-10) vs. Billings Royals (20-18), late 

Sunday

Game 5: Helena Senators (44-18) vs. Kalispell Lakers (14-19), 10 a.m. 

Game 6: Great Falls Chargers (26-10) vs. Loser 4, 1 p.m. 

Game 7: Billings Scarlets (22-17) vs. Missoula Mavericks (28-13), 4 p.m. 

Game 8: Bozeman Bucks (20-19) vs. Winner 4, 7 p.m. 

Monday

Game 9: Winner 6 vs. Loser 7, 1 p.m. 

Game 10: Winner 5 vs. Loser 8, 4 p.m. 

Game 11: Winner 7 vs. Winner 8, 7 p.m. 

Tuesday

Game 12: Winner 9 vs. Loser 11, 1 p.m. 

Game 13: Winner 10 vs. Winner 11, 4 p.m. 

Wednesday

Game 14: Winner 12 vs. Winner 13, 11 a.m., championship 

Game 15: If necessary, 2 p.m.