Mariners getting back into ‘swing of things’
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POLSON – The Mariners pushed through a busy week, picking up a conference win and a third place finish at the Cloninger Tournament in Helena.
The Mariners started their week with emotion and excitement June 10 as they toppled Kalispell 16-1, bringing the M’s to 1-2 in conference play and marking a victory for Kellen Hoyt in his last day on the mound for the Mariners. Hoyt was honored by the American Legion with a Color Guard, with handshakes from Montana Highway Patrol, and yellow roses and goodbye hugs from his teammates.
The stands were full and the fans were loud as the M’s mixed solid pitching with hot bats, logging 17 hits as a team. Hoyt threw all seven innings from the mound, striking out six Lakers and allowing only one walk. Jacob Harrod led the way at the plate going a perfect 3-3 with two RBIs. Brennan Andrews added three runs going 2-3 with a bomb over the left field fence.
Cloninger Tournament
In Helena the M’s battled rainstorms, wind, and a few injuries to take third for the tournament, following a first place finish last season. Head Coach Jami Hanson is taking it in stride and believes the M’s are on their way to achievement.
“It’s early in the season and it’s starting all over again,” Hanson said. “We’re trying to figure out some things and then go from there.”
In game one on Thursday the Mariners took on old foes, the reigning State champs Laurel Dodgers, a team the M’s have battle more than once for State titles. Though the M’s were able to keep the Dodgers at bay for most of the game, Laurel took advantage of defensive mistakes and slow bats for the Mariners, leaving the M’s with the 3-1 loss. Bradley Pichler logged the loss on the bump but not without striking out six Dodgers and allowing only two walks. Jacob Harrod was 2-3 while TJ Olson batted in the only Mariner run for the game.
In Friday’s game two, the M’s fell 9-10 to the Libby Loggers in a close game. While Aaron Rasmussen started on the mound and took the loss for the M’s, Trevor Paro showed composure under pressure coming in for relief. Paro struck out eight, allowed one walk and two earned runs. Zeke Webster-Yaqui led at the dish, going 2-3 including a triple and a big home run — a first homer for Webster-Yaqui in his four years of Legion play.
“I was happy I finally got it,” Webster -Yaqui said. “Pumped me up.”
As for the rest of the team, Webster-Yaqui said his team is improving and he believes they will be a force as the season progresses.
Later on Friday, the Mariners faced hosting team the Helena Reps. With only three hits spaced between Mariners bats, the M’s failed to push runs across the plate dropping to the Reps 2-6. Webster-Yaqui recorded the pitching loss. Bransen Krebs, Alex Killian, and Cole Snyder posted the three hits with one apiece.
Saturday the Mariners finally chinned up as they beat Alberta’s Vauxhall Spurs 11-3. Catcher Alex Killian had a big day at the plate going 2-3 with a homerun and two RBIs. Olson also went 2-3, and added a double and two runs batted in. Pitcher Derek Peel grabbed the win on the mound, striking out two and walking three.
Playing for third place on Sunday the Mariners faced Vauxhall once again. Despite falling behind by four runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Mariners took advantage of Spurs’ errors and with solid relief pitching and crafty defensive play, the M’s won their final game 15-6. Killian led the M’s at the dish going 2-3 with four RBIs. Coming in for relief in the first inning, Cole Snyder impressed on the mound, picking up the win and allowing no earned runs for the M’s.
“Cole came in and did a very good job in relief for us,” Hanson said. “Defensively, we had some spectacular plays.”
After losing six games by only one run, Hanson believes the boys are “starting to come back around” and believes there will be good things in the near future.
“I think they’re back in it to win it, they’re coming together now,” he said. “They’re coming back.”
The Mariners will continue conference play hosting the Glacier Twins June 18 and then heading to Libby June 19-22 for the Big Bucks Tournament.
Results
Mariners 0 0 6 2 2 6 – 16 17 2
Kalispell Lakers 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 1 5 3
Ryan Pablo 2-5, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 1-3, Alex Killian 2-5, TJ Olson 1-3, Bradley Pichler 1-4, Bransen Krebs 1-2, Trevor Paro 2-2, Jacob Harrod 3-3, Brennan Andrews 2-3, Kellen Hoyt 0-1, Aaron Rasmussen 0-0, Jared Young 0-0, Raymond Matt 1-1, Derek Peel 0-0, Nyqolas Gillingham 1-1, Micah McClure 0-1.
2B – Killian. 3B – Olson. RBIs – Andrews (3), Pablo (2), Killian (2), Harrod (2), Olson, Krebs, Hoyt, Matt.
Cloninger Tournament
Mariners 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 7 1
Laurel Dodgers 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 3 7 2
Ryan Pablo 1-4, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 0-4, Alex Killian 1-3, TJ Olson 1-3, Bransen Krebs 0-3, Jacob Harrod 2-3, Jared Young 1-2, Trevor Paro 1-2, Brennan Andrews 0-2.
2B – Killian. RBIs – Olson.
Mariners 1 3 0 3 1 0 1 – 9 9 4
Libby Loggers 1 0 7 0 1 0 1 – 10 10 7
Ryan Pablo 2-3, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 2-3, Alex Killian 2-4, TJ Olson 0-4, Raymond Matt 0-3, Jacob Harrod 2-4, Jared Young 1-3, Micah McClure 0-3, Derek Peel 0-2, Bradley Pichler 0-1.
2B – Killian (2). 3B – Webster -Yaqui. HR – Webster-Yaqui. RBIs – Webster-Yaqui (2), Olson (2), Pablo, Killian, Harrod, Young.
Mariners 0 2 3 4 2 – 11 11 3
Vauxhall Spurs 0 0 2 0 1 – 3 6 1
Ryan Pablo 1-4, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 2-2, Alex Killian 2-3, TJ Olson 2-3, Bradley Pichler 1-2, Jared Young 1-3, Jacob Harrod 0-1, Trevor Paro 1-2, Brennan Andrews 1-2, Raymond Matt 0-0.
2B – Webster-Yaqui, Olson, Young. HR – Killian. RBIs – Killian (2), Olson (2), Pablo, Webster-Yaqui, Andrews.
Mariners 3 7 0 3 2 – 15 7 4
Vauxhall Spurs 4 0 1 1 0 – 6 2 4
Ryan Pablo 2-4, Zeke Webster-Yaqui 0-0, Alex Killian 2-3, TJ Olson 0-2, Bradley Pichler 0-3, Warren Wood 0-2, Jacob 1-1, Trevor Paro 1-1, Brennan Andrews 0-0, Raymond Matt 0-0, Derek Peel 0-1, Nyqolas Gillingham 1-1, Brenen Abromeit 0-1.
2B – Pablo, Killian. RBIs – Killian (4), Pablo (2), Webster-Yaqui, Pichler, Harrod, Paro, Andrews.Mariners getting back into ‘swing of things’
