Mariners take second, head to state

The Mission Valley Mariners had a roller coaster district tourney, taking second place to the Bitterroot Bucs, and will head to state in Billings this week for the first time in four years.

The tourney started off in nice form for the Mariners Thursday, who had no trouble shutting down the Deer Lodge Wrangers, 14-1, behind a nice pitching performance from Brandon "Hobbs" Roy, who pitched five innings before turning the ball over to Robert Wallace and Chris Brown to finish the game.

Up 5-0 after two innings, Hobbs continued to get ahead of batters, finishing with six strikeouts and only issuing one walk.

Wallace caught a line drive at third and doubled off a runner at first in the top of the third inning, and Brandon Thompson had a solo shot to left field for a home run in the fourth inning.

Brown threw a runner out at the plate in the sixth before taking over for Wallace on the mound, who closed out the inning with a strikeout. Brown gave up no hits or walks to finish the game for the Mariners.

On Friday, the Mariners had one of the most unusual games the team has played this season, beating the Bitterroot Red Sox 25-24 in the bottom of the 13th inning, after Jake Whetzel drew the game-winning walk with bases loaded.

In the ninth inning, Jake Bosley legged out an infield single to keep the game alive, and Thompson took the mound for the next five innings, striking out nine and walking three to get the win.

Thompson had another home run, and finished with six RBIs, while John Rausch also homered and went 5-for-9 at the plate, with three RBIs. Tim Gauthier, Tyler Trudeau and Jake Bosley all finished with three RBIs, while Will Gordon finished 2-for-4 and Jake Whetzel finished 3-for-6 on the night.

Brown and Thompson both had doubles on the night, too.

The Mariners then faced the Bitterroot Bucs, losing 8-4 after being tied 4-4 in the eighth inning. Erick Locke had a two-run double, going 1-for-4 at the plate.

The team then beat up on the Red Sox Sunday morning, 16-2, to earn a trip to the championship game against the Bucs later that day.

Gauthier had a home run to lead off the game, and then Thompson had a two-run shot to bring his total to 13 dingers. Locke and Gordon both had two doubles, with Gordon driving in five runs.

Brown went 3-for-4 at the plate, along with Gordon, while Locke and Jake Bosley were 2-for-4, as well.

In the championship game, the team couldn't quite manage to get that crucial run, falling 6-5 against the Bucs Sunday afternoon to take second in the district.

Locke finished with another double to lead the team for the season, and Tyler Trudeau went 3-for-5 on the day, also with a double. Locke had three RBIs to lead the team, with Trudeau and Rausch getting the other two.

Locke took the mound, giving up five hits and four walks, but his team couldn't get that last run over the plate.

The team will open the state tourney in Billings, and will face Belgrade in first round action. Head coach Jami Hanson said Belgrade is usually a tough team, but did not have a more conclusive scouting report at press time.

The second place district finish could hurt the team, though, because the Bucs get the play host Billings Cardinals, who wouldn't have earned a berth otherwise.

"The kids are relaxed. We've accomplished two of our goals this summer so far - winning 50 games and making it to state," said head coach Jami Hanson.

"Our pitching is still where it needs to be," he said.

The Mariners made it to state four years ago, when Hanson was an assistant coach, and won one and lost two. Trudeau will probably take the mound for the first game, Hanson said. The team finished 50-16 so far on the year.