Mariners secure third straight tournament championship
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POLSON – The Mission Valley Mariners continue to play well, as they swept their own Firecracker Tournament in Polson this past weekend to win their third-straight tournament championship.
The Mariners defeated five visiting teams to earn their championship title.
This incredible feat almost fell through the Mariners' grasp, as the Libby Loggers set the tone early on, leading 4-0 after the top of the first. Mariner pitcher Kellen Hoyt started the game for the Mariners and had trouble early, but regained composure and threw until he was relieved in the middle of the seventh inning by Josh Rustad.
The Loggers’ largest lead was 6-0 in the top of the third.
A score from Mariner Justin Evertz in the bottom of the third gave the team a spark that quickly ignited. In the bottom of the fourth the Mariners had the bases loaded when Austin VonTom smacked the ball, driving in an RBI. Moments later Evertz drove in another pair of runners to bring the game to 6-4.
The Mariners’ defense pulled a double play to get a pair of two quick outs in the top of the fifth, keeping the Loggers in the dugout.
During the bottom of the sixth, Evertz stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners, smacking a double to drive home two RBIs, tying the game 6-6. The tie only lasted moments, as Chris Clary followed suit, hitting a double to RBI Evertz and take the lead.
The Loggers wouldn’t lie down though, as Logger Micah Germany hit a double to drive in a run to tie the game and put pressure on the Mariners.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Hagadorn sealed the deal when his single scored the winning run, giving the Mariners their third straight tournament title.
Robbie Gauthier had two doubles and an RBI for the Mariners, while Evertz was 3 for 3, with a double and four RBIs.
To arrive in the championship game, the Mariners first defeated the Deer Lodge Wranglers 6-1 on Thursday. The following day the Mariners beat the Glacier Twins 9-0. On Saturday they played a pair of games, first against the Kalispell Lakers, who the Mariners topped, 11-3. They then defeated the Cranbrook Bandits 6-0.
The Mission Valley Mariner’s B team proved they are an upcoming force to be reckoned with, as they kept up with a few A teams this weekend. The young team held their own against ‘A’ teams, as they kept most games within a few runs.
On Thursday, the Mariners B fell to the Kalispell Lakers 9-7, and defeated the struggling Missoula Pioneers 5-4 on Friday. The following day, the team fell to the Glacier Twins 11-3 on Saturday, and also lost 9-7 to the Deer Lodge Wranglers on Sunday.
Prior to last weekend’s Firecracker Tournament, the Mariners split a pair of Class A games during a doubleheader with the Bitterroot Red Sox in Polson Tuesday, and dropped a game to the Missoula Mavericks on Wednesday. The Mariners took the opening game 11-1, which ended in the fifth inning due to the 10-run margin rule. During the second game the Red Sox rallied during the second half of the game to win 8-5.
For the Mariners, Austin VonTom threw a one-hitter during the first game, picking up the win on the mound. Teammate Robbie Gauthier finished hitting 3 for 3, including a home run and a pair of RBIs, and Jack Humphreys hit 2 for 3, with an RBI.
For the Red Sox, Chris Combs possessed the team’s lone hit during the first game.
The Red Sox rallied at the plate to score three runs in the third, followed by a pair in the fifth and seventh to down the Mariners 8-5.
Red Sox pitcher Rodee Anderson allowed five hits and seven walks, downing Mariner Robbie Gauthier on the mound.
Anderson also led his team at bat, hitting 3 for 4, while Combs added a two-run homer in the win.
On Wednesday, the Mariners fell to the Missoula Mavericks 14-12, after the Missoula exploded with an impressive eight-run fourth inning.
Mariner Justin Evertz led his team, finishing with three hits and three RBIs in the loss.
For the Mavericks, Slede Heggen went 4 for 4, with two doubles and two RBIs.
SUMMARY
June 30
Mission Valley Mariners B 7, Kalispell Lakers 9
Glacier Twins 5, Missoula Pioneers 8
Libby Loggers 8, Kalispell Lakers 1
Cranbrook Bandits 11, Kootenai Valley Rangers 2
Mission Valley Mariners A 6, Deer Lodge Wranglers 1
July 1
Glacier Twins 17, Kootenai Valley Rangers 4
Libby Loggers 8, Deer Lodge Wranglers 2
Kalispell Lakers 8, Cranbrook Bandits 1
Mission Valley Mariners B 5, Missoula Pioneers 4
Mission Valley Mariners A 9, Glacier Twins 0
July 2
Missoula Pioneers,, 7, Libby Loggers 14
Kootenai Valley Rangers 4 Deer Lodge
Mission Valley Mariners A 11, Kalispell Lakers 3
Mission Valley Mariners B 3, Glacier Twins 11
Mission Valley Mariners A 6, Cranbrook Bandits 0
July 3
Cranbrook Bandits 3, Missoula Pioneers 11
Kootenai Valley Rangers 4, Libby Loggers 3
Mission Valley Mariners B 7, Deer Lodge Wranglers 9
Deer Lodge Wranglers 9, Glacier Twins 6
Mission Valley Mariners A 8, Libby Loggers 7
