Mariners bring home conference title

POLSON — The Mission Valley Mariners claimed the title of conference champs despite dropping two games to Libby on Sunday, and will turn their attention to the regional tourney in Idaho that starts today.

Last Saturday the Mariners fell to the AA non-conference Kalispell Lakers, 13-8. The game was scheduled to be two seven-inning games but both coaches decided that it would be better to gear their teams up for district play, where teams play nine innings.

Tim Gauthier was on the mound for the Mariners and Tyler Trudeau relieved him later in the game.

"It was one of those games where we were down and kept battling back," said head coach Jami Hanson.

During the fourth inning center fielder Terry Lundeen made it look easy when he went airborne, diving for the ball and making a spectacular catch. It was the final out of the inning with one runner on that could have scored.

"It was a huge play way out in left center," said Hanson.

As a team they walked six and only had four strikeouts. The Mariners have been hurting themselves this season with walks and Hanson hopes to have that fixed come regional tourney time.

"When your not putting the ball in play and you walk people, that is the difference," Hanson said.

The Mariners first run came when Mac Gordon scored on a Lakers error. Then Brandon Thompson connected for his 15th dinger on the season, scoring three. Thompson hit a storage unit across the street from right field on his homer and cut the lead to 9-6.

"It put us back closer," said Hanson.

In the ninth inning Mission Valley added another two runs when Trudeau hit a double, putting himself in position for Nick Fell to bring in Gordon and Trudeau. Fell doubled to left field and scored Trudeau and Gordon.

Hanson was excited how his younger player performed on Saturday against Kalispell. Will Gordon went 2-2 with one RBI and Fell was 2-2 with two runs knocked in.

"They were being aggressive and swinging at strikes," said Hanson.

After Saturday's rainy loss to Kalispell the team traveled to Libby to face the Loggers. In both games Libby got the upper hand but the Mariners had done enough work during the season to remain on top of the conference.

In the first of two close seven-inning games Libby edged out the win, 7-6. Hanson looks at the games as a building block as they head into district action.

Joe Locke pitched game one for Mission and only walked two and struck out 13.

"He was focused that game and got 13 out of 21 batters," Hanson said.

Shane Perry went 1-2 in the game and both Lundeen and Chris Brown were 1-3.

The second game against the Loggers didn't work out the Mariners' way either. Libby topped Mission, 6-4.

Lundeen pitched the entire game for the Mariners, striking out two and walking six.

"We had a few too many walks," said Hanson.

Locke shined in game two by going 2-4 and picked up his second homer by hitting a solo shot to left center. In the sixth inning Thompson smacked a solo bomb to dead center and the next batter, Steve Larson, dialed up the pitcher's number for a solo shot as well. The back-to-back homers by Thompson and Larson got things rolling for the Mariners but they still came up two runs short.

"Thompson hit it really well and then the next person (Larson) comes up and hits one out, too. Wow," Hanson said. "When you look down the line-up there are nine guys or more in the dugout that can hit a homer."

After three Mariners went deep things seemed to be going their way, but it was too little too late.

"We have speed, contact, and power, power, power, " Hanson said.

Even after falling twice to Libby on Sunday the Mariners hard work paid off and they won the conference. With the conference title they also get the No. 1 seed heading into the Western A District tourney in Salmon, ID, where they will play the first place team from the South at 6 p.m. Thursday. If they win their first game they will face the winner of the Kootenai Valley/Bitterroot Red Socks game. The championship game will be held on Sunday.

"We are the best in the conference and our kids deserve it," Hanson said.

The Mariners have won the conference title the past three years and won 47 games last season. This year they are 38-21 and 13-3 in conference play. Hanson added there is plenty of time to win more than 47 games this season. As a team, Hanson looks to improve on the few mistakes that have hurt them and work on batting.

"I give credit to all the kids that travel with us. Without them, the parents and support of coaches' spouses it wouldn't happen. It's really awesome," said Hanson.