Rockies capture second

MISSOULA - The Pioneer Daze tournament in Missoula had no shortage of runs scored over the weekend, something the Mission Valley Rockies took advantage of to bring home a second-place trophy.

But first, the Missoula Pioneers handed the Rockies a 9-3 loss to start the weekend off.

"They 10 run a lot of people," Rockies head coach Alan Anderson said.

Eneas Inmee hit a single, double and two-run homer in the game.

The Rockies bounced back and knocked off Camas Prarie from Idaho 5-2. Jeremiah Crawford allowed just four hits, two runs and struck out seven. He also went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double at the plate. Other offensive stars for the Rockies were Riley Grogan, 2-for-4 with a home run, and Justin Hoel, 3-for-4 in the game. The Rockies weren't as lucky in their next game, losing to the Clark Fork Cougars 13-6 after giving up eight runs in the first inning.

"We had opportunities to get those outs and we just didn't do it," Anderson said.

At 1-2, the Rockies were tied with two other teams but run differential gave them the second seed in bracket play.

On Sunday, they once again faced the Clark Fork Cougars, falling down 10-2 in the fourth inning.

"Then in the fifth, that was where things shot up for us," Anderson said.

The Rockies scored nine runs in the fifth to take the 11-10 lead and it was all fireworks after that. They scored 10 runs in the last three innings. Inmee went 5-for-5 with a single, triple and two home runs in the game.

"We could have folded easily," Anderson said. "The big spark was when Eneas got a hold of one."

In the end, the Rockies won with a football score 21-16 victory over the Cougars to advance to the championship game against the Missoula Pioneers.

There was more football scoring in the championship game, but it wouldn't favor the Rockies. The Pioneers grabbed the championship with a dominating 25-1 victory.

The Rockies will play in the Firecracker Tournament this weekend in Polson.