Mariners sparkle in Firecracker Tournament

POLSON - Pouring rain doused the grand finale at the Mission Valley Mariners' Firecracker Tournament by canceling Sunday's championship game after the first inning. Leading 3-1 against the Libby Loggers, the Mariners were pronounced the champions with the Loggers finishing second followed by Cranbrook, B.C., Kalispell, and Salmon, Idaho.

The whole tournament was a "great group effort," coach Jami Hanson said.

Pitchers Steve Larson, Max Willet, Jake Bosley and Eamonn Torgison each posted a win over the course of the tournament as the Mariners went undefeated through four games.

Fifteen of 17 players have pitched this season, Hanson said, "and they all are doing pretty well. We're not afraid to send in a relief pitcher."

Add that to a hole-free lineup, and things are looking good for the Mariners as district play rapidly approaches.

Shane Perry nailed a three-run homer in the Mariners' 16-0 shut out against Cranbrook.

Torgison hit two home runs in Saturday's 10-2 victory over Libby, and sent four runners across the plate. Terry Lundeen added a home run and three RBI's.

"The kids are playing phenomenal right now, and everything was so solid for every game," Hanson said.

The team is concentrating on getting a run every inning, and when that happens, you can't help but win, he said.

The Mariners seem to be gelling outside of the diamond as well, strengthening their bond during games.

"The team unity is really starting to come around. They get on each other if somebody makes a mistake, and the coaches don't have to get on them," Hanson said. "And they go down to the lake after practice."

Support provided by the parents was crucial to the tournament's success, according Hanson.

"The overall turnout and support from parents and community, that's the biggest highlight of the tournament," Hanson said. "It has the makings of being a big tournament and a big community fundraiser."

The Mariners played Kootenai on Tuesday, and faced the Bitterroot Bucs Wednesday. They travel north this weekend for the Kalispell Tournament before heading further north July 22-25 for District play at Kootenai Valley in Eureka.

The top two teams from the district tourney will move on to State finals in Havre.

Summary

Mariners 12, Kalispell 4

Kalispell 300 001 0 - 4 3 3

Mariners 160 040 1x - 12 11 2

Steve Larson and Eamonn Torgison. M Venturini and D Dezoft. W- Larson (5-2). L- Venturini.

(Additional statistics were unavailable.)

Mariners 16, Salmon 0

Salmon 000 00 - 0 1 4

Mariners 40(11) 1x - 16 13 2

Jake Bosley and Steve Larson. Smith, Spooner (3) and Spooner, Smith (3). W - Bosley (2-2). L - Smith.

SALMON - K. Gunther 0-2, D. Root 0-2, B. Spooner 0-2, A Pregano 0-2, K. Smith 1-1, A. Walker 0-1, L. Root 0-1, S. Spooner 0-2.

MARINERS - Brandon Larson 1-2, Chris Kukus 1-3, Eric Locke 2-3, Eamonn Torgison 3-3, Joe Locke 1-3, Mac Gordon 1-2, Shane Perry 2-3, Steve Larson 0-3, Terry Lundeen 1-4, Tim Gauthier 0-1, Tyler Trudeau 1-1.

RBIs - B. Larson 2, E. Locke 2, Torgison 3, M. Gordon 2, Perry 3, Lundeen 3. 2B- J. Locke. HR - Perry.

Mariners 10, Libby 2

Mariners 120 030 4 - 10 9 2

Libby 002 000 0 - 2 10 1

Max Willet and Steve Larson. Jake Spencer and Cody Smith, Brady Turk (6).

W- Willet (3-2). L- Spencer.

MARINERS - B. Larson 1-4, Torgison 3-3, Bosley 3-5, J. Locke 0-4, Gordon 0-2, S. Larson 0-2, Lundeen 2-3, Gauthier 0-2, Gordon 2-3.

LIBBY - Jon Herbig 1-4, Cole Spencer 0-2, Jake Schwartzendruber 0-2, Mitch Mohr 3-3, Brandon Laffoon 2-4, Justin Barnes 1-4, Beau Thompson 1-2, Tim Spencer 0-1, England 1-2, Jake Spencer 0-1, Cody Smith 0-2, Brady Turk 0-1.

RBIs - Lundeen 3, J. Locke, Bosely, S. Larson, Torgison 4. HR - Lundeen, Torgison 2.

Mariners 3, Libby 1

Libby 1xx xxx x - 1 3 0

Mariners 3xx xxx x - 3 2 0

Schwartenzdruber and B. Turk. Torgison and S. Larson.

RBIs- Gordon, B. Thompson 2.

(Game called after first inning due to rain. Additional statistics were unavailable.)