Championship hopes dashed

BILLINGS - The Mission Valley Mariners (42-18) started the American Legion State Tournament off with a bang, even before any games had their first pitch.

After last week's bus problems left them stranded outside of Arlee before the district tournament in Hamilton, the Mariners found themselves once again victims of mechanical issues.

The Mariners had overcome a broken bus in districts to win four straight games and the tournament. This time, when their bus broke down outside of Columbus en route to Billings, it appeared that history was repeating itself.

The Mariners reinforced that with a 18-6 victory over the Gallatin Valley Outlaws on Thursday, however, they dropped their next two games and were eliminated from the tournament.

"It's disappointing when you finish that way," Mariners head coach Jami Hanson said. "We had hopes to play on Monday [in the championship game] as opposed to being done on Saturday."

It wasn't disappointing for the Mariners in their first game against Gallatin Valley. The team collected 19 hits and won via the 10-run rule in seven innings with eight Mariners notching multi-hit games.

Tyler Linse went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Kyle Bagnell went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

"We came out and were stroking the baseball," Hanson said. "Everybody in the lineup had a hit."

The Mariners jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the second inning, knocking Gallatin Valley starter Chris Boyce out of the game.

They scored four apiece in the fourth and fifth frames before the game was called early.

"I thought the kids played outstanding in that game," Hanson said. "We hit everything that team threw at us."

Runs wouldn't come as easily in the Friday game against Great Falls.

The Mariners fell into a 6-0 hole after two innings before Bagnell came in as a relief pitcher. Causing more burning than relief for the Great Falls' batters, he struck out 19 and held them scoreless for the remaining seven innings.

"Kyle came and did what he was supposed to do," Hanson said. "When you look at Kyle, he's very smooth."

The Mariners couldn't back up the pitching with bats and fell 6-2 in the second game of the tournament.

"We couldn't buy a break," Hanson said.

An infield adjustment by Great Falls may have also played a factor in the game.

"They defended us pretty well," Hanson said. "[The infielders] played it pretty deep and we hit the ball right to them."

The loss moved the Mariners to the elimination bracket where they had to face the Bitterroot Red Sox, a team they had defeated in the championship game of the district tournament.

Trailing 2-1 after six innings, Mission Valley allowed four runs, which essentially sealed up the season for them as the Red Sox won 8-1.

"I can't say enough about all of them," Hanson said of his players. "I love my kids, that's all there is to it."

He was also very appreciative of the many parents that made the trip over to Billings to support the team during the state tournament.

"It was not a hop over and a hop back," Hanson said.

With the season over, the Mariners will now focus on the state tournament next year.

Not to just play in it, but Mission Valley is hosting the State A Tournament on their home field next summer.