Mariners struggle during busy week
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Coach Jami Hanson knew this week would test his team, as they played three doubleheaders against some talented conference competition. The team picked up a win during the first half of their doubleheader against the Missoula Mavericks in Polson on Wednesday, where the second game was postponed due to inclement weather until Saturday.
On Wednesday, the Mariners kept the Mavs in the dugout, keeping the team scoreless throughout the entire game. The Mariners were hot from the start, racking up two runs in the first, followed by four runs in the second and third innings to cinch the win, 6-0.
Jacob Young and Dalton Molzhon both finished the game hitting 2 for 4 to lead the Mariners.
As a large storm approached O’Malley Park, the second game against Missoula was postponed until Saturday. It was much of the same for the Mariners on Saturday, as they built a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, which grew to 7-0 by the end of the fifth inning. Missoula attempted to get back into the game by scoring a run in the top of the sixth, but it was too late as the Mariners pulled away with an 8-1 win.
Justin Evertz went 2 for 2 at the plate with a two-run double in the first inning, while Chris Clary finished 2 for 2.
On Thursday, the Mariners dropped both games during a doubleheader against the Bitterroot Red Sox in Hamilton. The Red Sox swept Mission Valley with a 10-3 victory in the first game and an 11-1 win in the nightcap. The second game was celled early due to the 10-run margin rule.
The Red Sox were hot at the plate from the beginning, as they took an early 5-1 lead in the first inning. The Mariners pulled within two runs during the top of the third, but the Red Sox exploded yet again, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth to lead 9-3.
Leading the Mariners, Jack Humphreys finished the game with a double.
For the Red Sox, Jake Capko finished with five RBIs and a walk off three-run homer, while teammate Trevor Brown added two doubles and three RBIs.
During the second game the Mariners came out to score one run in the first, before the Red Sox regained the lead at 2-1 during the bottom of the inning. The Mariners offense were kept at bay for the remainder of the game, as they went scoreless for the rest of the game, and the Red Sox won big 11-1.
On Sunday, the Mariners played the Bitterroot Bucs in Florence to finish the season and a busy week for the Mariners. Both teams had a slow start, remaining scoreless until the bottom of the third inning, when the Bucs took the lead 2-0. The Bucs added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs to lead 4-0. Mission Valley continued to fight back, scoring one run in the top of the seventh, but it was too late as the Bucs edged Mission Valley 5-1 for the win.
For the Mariners, Evertz led his team at bat, hitting 2 for 2 with a double and RBI, while teammates Jack Humphreys and Austin Von Tom both added a hit for their team.
The Mariners fought back hard during their second game against the Bucs, but lost by a single run, 6-5.
The game was tied at 1-1 after the first inning of play, and things were looking up for Mission Valley as they took a temporary 4-1 lead in the top of the third before the Bucs matched all three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. The game was tied back up after the Bucs scored a run in the fourth, followed a single run by the Mariners in the top of the seventh, forcing extra innings. The Bucs edged the Mariners in the bottom of the tenth to win 6-5.
With the regular season complete, the Mariners head to Libby July 21-24 to compete in the Western district tournament.
