Mariners sweep Salmon River to open conference play
By Trent Makela/Leader Staff
The Mission Valley Mariners opened up conference play with a bang last Saturday, sweeping the Salmon River Savages in a road doubleheader.
The Mariners (11-5, 2-0) needed just six innings in the first game to top Salmon River 11-0, thanks to the 10-run rule. The second game ended with an identical score after Mariner pitcher Eric Locke tossed a one-hitter at the Savages.
"We had 10 hits and scored 11 runs [in the first game] and that is especially encouraging after a long bus trip," Mariners coach Jami Hanson said. "When you start out that way it tends to really get things going for the second game also."
The Mariners' home doubleheader against the Bitterroot Red Sox on Sunday was postponed due to the weather. The games have been rescheduled for July 16.
The team will resume their schedule this weekend at the Great Falls Tournament before hosting Glacier AA at 3 p.m. next Tuesday.
Mariners 11, Savages 0
The Mariners used a bucketful of errors from Salmon River to transform 10 hits into 11 runs and kicked off their conference season with a quick, decisive victory.
A pair of Mission Valley pitchers surrendered just three hits across the game's six innings, and were aided by an error-free game from their own defense.
"It was a great way to get the conference season started with [starter Brandon Roy] striking out 10 batters and not allowing a walk," Hanson said. "Pitching well gets things started."
Beau Nordberg and John Rausch kicked off the offensive charge for the Mariners, both finishing with two hits and a double in the game. Nick Fell added a double and Tyler Linse was the only other Mission Valley player with two hits on the game.
The Mariners needed a four-run rally in the top of the sixth to pull ahead by the final margin and end the game early under the 10-run rule.
MISSION 320 024 — 11 10 0
SALMON 000 000 — 0 3 5
W - Brandon Roy. L - Drnjevic.
MISSION — Nordberg 2-4, Tim Rausch 1-3, J. Rausch 2-2, Austin Moran 0-2, Locke 1-3, Craig Bagnell 1-4, Kyle Brown 0-3, Tyler Linse 2-4, Fell 1-4.
SALMON — Drnjevic 0-2, Oreracker 0-1, Lane 0-2, Ellis 0-1, Barbarick 1-2, Stokes 1-2, Sikes 0-2, Riggan 1-2, Weaver 0-2, Hackett 0-1, Haddon 0-1.
2B — Nordberg, J. Rausch, Fell; Barbarick.
Mariners 11, Savages 0
Eric Locke carried a no-hitter into the top of the fifth inning before accepting a 13-strikeout one-hitter as his consolation prize.
Locke struck out the side in three of his five innings of work, waiting until the third before allowing his first groundout to John Rausch at second base. He did not surrender a walk in the game.
"Starting out the inning with four runs against the other team's best is a confidence booster for any pitcher," Hanson said. "Then Eric comes out in the first inning and strikes out the side."
Derrick Rathe later replaced Locke on the mound, tossing the final two scoreless innings without surrendering a hit.
Linse and Craig Bagnell knocked out three hits, including two doubles, apiece. Locked added the team's third double in aid of his own effort. Kyle Bagnell added a 2-for-3 effort that included a triple for Mission Valley.
MISSION 403 001 3 — 11 14 0
SALMON 000 000 0 — 0 1 8
W - Locke. L - Riggan.
MISSION — Nordberg 1-4, Chris Alfiero 1-4, T. Rausch 1-4, J. Rausch 1-4, Kyle Bagnell 2-3, Locke 1-2, Rocky Reynolds 0-1, C. Bagnell 3-4, Linse 3-5, Rathe 0-3.
SALMON — Drnjevic 0-1, Lane 0-2, Barbarick 0-3, Stokes 0-3, C. Sikes 0-1, Riggan 0-3, Weaver 0-1, Rhodes 0-2, Hull 1-2, Walker 0-2, R. Sikes 0-2.
2B — C. Bagnell 2, Linse 2, Locke; Barbarick. 3B - K. Bagnell.