Still sizzlin'
<p>Although center fielder Zeke Webster-Yaqui came up just short of making this diving catch, the Mariners still topped the Missoula Pioneers 10-8 in Polson on Monday.</p>
POLSON - With one of the season’s marquee events looming in the on-deck circle, the Mission Valley Mariners are charging into next week’s Firecracker Tournament at full bore, after another week of strong play. Still riding high off of tournament championships won in Helena and Dillon the last two weekends, the Mariners went for the trifecta at the Big Bucks Tournament in Libby, held from June 20-23. The third time did not prove to be the charm for the Mariners, as the squad suffered a 13-7 setback to the Moscow Blue Devils on the tournament’s second-to-last day of play. The loss was not enough to douse the team’s recent hot streak, however, as they responded with two more wins to finish the week 4-1. Below is a game-by-game recap of the team’s action over that stretch.
June 21 - Mariners 7, Strathmore Reds 2
Bradley Pichler went the distance on the mound, throwing a complete game while limiting Strathmore to just three hits. Pichler struck out six, and matched the Reds’ offensive output with two RBIs of his own. The top of the Mariners’ batting order wreaked havoc all day, with the lineup’s first three players - Ryan Pablo, Zeke Webster-Yaqui and Alex Killian - each totaling two hits in the contest.
June 21 - Mariners 4, Rainier 1
The Mariners managed only two hits versus Rainier, but one of those proved to be the difference, as TJ Olson connected on a pivotal three-run homer in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Rainier was held to only two hits of their own, as Nick Crawford continued his run of brilliance on the mound. Crawford sent down 12 batters on strikes over the course of a complete game.
June 22 - Moscow Blue Devils 13, Mariners 7
In the Mariners’ only hiccup of the week, they were outslugged by the Moscow Blue Devils in a high-scoring game that went back and forth. Though the Mariners seized an early lead with a four-run first inning, the Blue Devils answered with six in the second, and kept piling it on the Mission Valley pitching staff. Jeremiah Crawford rediscovered his power stroke from last week in the game, hammering a double and a home run while producing three RBIs.
June 23 - Mariners 5, KV Rangers 3
TJ Olson and Zeke Webster-Yaqui managed three hits apiece, while Alex Killian smashed a home run to power the Mariners past the KV Rangers. Olson also worked the final inning to record a save, while Chris Drebes earned the win.
June 24 - Mariners 10, Missoula Pioneers 8
An early lead stood up, as the Mariners staved off a furious Pioneers rally in the final innings to escape with a victory. TJ Olson had another three hit game to go with three RBIs, while Jeremiah Crawford jacked another long ball.