Mission Valley Mariners get ready for District play

The Mission Valley Mariners’ baseball team is getting ready for its first-ever postseason under their new manager Tim Rausch.

When Rausch took over, he inherited one of the youngest American Legion teams in the district, and his young team has continued to fluctuate during the 48-plus game schedule.

“We are still very much a young team but we have made a lot of improvements defensively, offensively and in all aspects of the game,” Rausch said. “I am excited to see what the boys do and there is a chance of upsetting a couple of our teams. I think we have a chance of moving on.”

As expected with a young team, they’ve also taken a few steps back in their maturation process, Rausch said. Rausch said they took a step back in their recent regular season game last Wednesday.

“Before the game on Wednesday, we were playing really good baseball,” Rausch said. “It just depends on which team shows up: the team earlier in the year or the experienced team that has played so many games.”

The M’s were dealt another blow when they lost one of their key players: centerfielder Tyson Petticrew to injury. Rausch said he currently doesn’t know the nature of the Petticrew’s injury. Petticrew, as of press time, is currently questionable on his availability for the district tournament.

“The team is hurt not having (Petticrew’s) leadership there,” Rausch said. “I am not sure if he is going to play in Districts. We’ve had to have some younger kids step in and play with the expectation of filling voids, especially on the mound.”

One of the Mission Valley M’s biggest strength as they prepare for district play is their pitching rotation, according to Rausch.

“In terms of developing a rotation, we have a very solid four or five guys that throw really well,” Rausch said. We are excited when they get on the bump. Obviously towards the end of the year, some of their arms are a little bit tired.”

The M’s have overcome the challenge of having an inexperienced roster to compile a 23-20 record as they prepare for Districts.

“It’s a double-elimination tournament and it’s a really tight conference race,” Rausch said. “Currently, who we play in Districts is very up in the air. We could get a seed as high as three or as low as five or six depending on how we do in the last conference games.”

Rausch knows when his team gets into District Tournament play that anything can happen.

“Once we get into Districts, our record really goes out the window,” Rausch said.

The following are some statistics from recent Mission Valley Mariners games:

Bitterroot Bucs 4, MV A Mariners 1

MV A Mariners (23-22)

Dylan Wisniewski and Izyk Gillingham

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (7H,5E) – Bryant Hales 1-4, Gillingham 1-4(FC,ROE), Wisniewski 1-4, Corbin Davis 1-4, Eric Dolence 1-3, Xavier Fisher 2-3.

BITTERROOT BUCANEERS (2H,3E) – Jake Scully technically hit a home run, but allegedly missed third base. Mariners threw the ball to third, appealed the play and scrubbed the home run off the board.

(Sa14Jul18gm2)

Bitterroot Bucs 13, MV A Mariners 2

James Bennett, (4) Nate Ziegler and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (3H,4E) – Keyan Dalbey 0-3(FC,RBI), Bryant Hales 1-3(RBI), Gillingham 1-3, Gabe Mergenthaler 1-3.

BITTERROOT BUCANEERS (8H,2E) – (Sa14Jul18gm1)

Red Sox 18, MV A Mariners 1

MV A Mariners (23-20)

Eric Dolence, (2) Bryant Hales, (3) Corbin Davis, (4) Dylan Davis and Izyk Gillingham.

BITTERROOT RED SOX (8H,0E) – Garrick Richardson (2B,HR,4RBI).

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (4E) – Dolence 1-2(2B,1R), James Bennett 0-1(BB,RBI).

(W11Jul18gm2)

Red Sox 8, MV A Mariners 5

Xavier Fisher, (4)Espn Fisher and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – Gillingham 2-4(2RBI), Corbin Davis 0-23(HB), Dylan Wisniewski 1-3(SF,3RBI), Gabe Mergenthaler 1-3, X.Fisher 1-3.

(W11Jul18gm1)

Senior Night for Bryant Hales and Tyson Petticrew.

MV A Mariners 13, Loggers 3 (gm2)

MV A Mariners (9-13, 25-22), Loggers (4-25)

Libby 000 21 – 3 5 4

Mission Valley 113 62 – 13 11 3

Jeff Offenbecher, (4) Caden Williams and Garrett Gallahan. Eric Dolence, (5) Tyson Petticrew (2K) and Izyk Gillingham.

LIBBY LOGGERS – Tim Carvey 0-2(SH), Shayne Walker 2-3(2B,RBI), Quade Anderson 1-3(ROE,2B,2RBI), Caden Williams 0-1(ROE,SF,RBI), Moxley Roesler-Begalke 0-1(BB), Chris Auge 0-1(BB).

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – James Bennett 2-2(BB), Dolence 0-1, Tyson Petticrew 1-1(SH,2BB), Dylan Wisniewski 1-4(ROE,2B,2RBI), Corbin Davis 2-2(SF,HB), Gillingham 1-4, Keyan Dalbey 2-4(ROE), Bryant Hales 1-3(BB), Gabe Mergenthaler 1-3(FC), Xavier FIsher 0-3(FC,ROE).

3B – Dalbey. 2B – Walker; Wisniewski, C.Davis, Dalbey. RBIs – Wisniewski 2, C.Davis 4, Gillingham, Dalbey 3, Hales, X.Fisher (M16Jul18gm2)

MV A Mariners 10, Loggers 0 (gm1)

Libby Loggers 000 00 – 0 4 7

Mission Valley 015 13 – 10 9 1

Moxley Roesler-Begalke and Quade Anderson. Xavier Fisher and Izyk Gillingham.

LIBBY LOGGERS – Tim Carvey 0-2(BB), Jeff Offenbecher 1-3, Shayne Walker 0-3(ROE), Quade Anderson 0-2(BB), Garrett Gallahan 2-3, Caden Williams 1-3, Ayden Williamson (FC), Austin McCully 0-1(BB).

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – James Bennett 1-4(ROE), Tyson Petticrew 1-3(2ROE,HB), Dylan Wisniewski 1-3(FC,SH), Corbin Davis 1-4(ROE), Gillingham 1-4(ROE), Keyan Dalbey 2-4, Bryant Hales 0-3(ROE), Eric Dolence 1-3, Gabe Mergenthaler 0-1(HB,BB).

3B – Petticrew. 2B – Bennett, Gillingham. RBIs – Wisniewski 3, C.Davis, Gillingham, Dalbey 3. DP – t3:MVM(6-4-3)

(M16Jul18gm1)

Bitterroot Bucs 4, MV A Mariners 1 (gm2)

MV A Mariners (7-13, 23-22)

Mission Valley 001 000 0 – 1 5 4

Florence 040 000 x – 4 5 2

Dylan Wisniewski and Izyk Gillingham

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (7H,5E) – Bryant Hales 1-4, Gillingham 1-4(FC,ROE), Wisniewski 1-4(RBI), Corbin Davis 1-4, Eric Dolence 1-3(HB), Xavier Fisher 2-3(2B).

BITTERROOT BUCCANEERS – Jake Scully technically hit a home run, but allegedly missed third base. Mariners threw the ball to third, appealed the play and scrubbed the home run off the board.

(Sa14Jul18gm2)

Bitterroot Bucs 13, MV A Mariners 2 (gm1)

Mission Valley 000 02 – 2 3 3

Florence 013 72 – 13 9 2

James Bennett, (4) Nate Ziegler and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (3H,4E) – Keyan Dalbey 0-2(BB,FC,RBI), Bryant Hales 1-2(BB,RBI), Gillingham 1-3, Gabe Mergenthaler 1-2, Xavier Fisher 0-1(BB).

BITTERROOT BUCANEERS (8H,2E) – (Sa14Jul18gm1)

Red Sox 18, MV A Mariners 1 (gm2)

MV A Mariners (23-20)

Eric Dolence, (2) Bryant Hales, (3) Corbin Davis, (4) Dylan Davis and Izyk Gillingham.

BITTERROOT RED SOX (8H,0E) – Garrick Richardson (2B,HR,4RBI).

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS (4E) – Dolence 1-2(2B,1R), James Bennett 0-1(BB,RBI).

(W11Jul18gm2)

Red Sox 8, MV A Mariners 5 (gm1)

Hamilton 014 111 0 – 8 7 1

Mission Valley 101 010 2 – 5 6 2

Xavier Fisher, (4)Espn Fisher and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – Keyan Dalbey 0-3(BB), Bryant Hales 1-2(2BB), Gillingham 2-3(BB,2RBI), Corbin Davis 0-3(HB), Dylan Wisniewski 1-3(SF,3RBI), Gabe Mergenthaler 1-3, James Bennett 0-2(BB), X.Fisher 1-3.

(W14Jul18gm1)

*** — ** — * — ** — ***

The following abridged game specs interact with Mariners stats, whereas opposing team renditions were all that was available last week. This version has been abridged for space conservation.

2018 Harp Tourney

July 6-8 in Kalispell

Vauxhall Spurs 15, MV A Mariners 5

MV A Mariners (23-18)

Vauxhall, AB 720 010 5 – 15 12 2

Mission Valley 010 040 0 – 5 4 1

Eric Dolence, Xavier Fisher, Espn Fisher and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – Keyan Dalbey 1-3(HB), Bryant Hales 0-1(3BB), Corbin Davis 1-4, Dylan Wisniewski 1-2(HB), Dolence 0-2(BB), Gabe Mergenthaler 1-3, James Bennett 1-2(BB).

2B – C.Davis. RBIs – C.Davis 2, Wisniewski, Mergenthaler 2. (Su08Jul18)

MV A Mariners 12, A Lakers 9*

MV A Mariners (23-17)

Kalispell Lakers 101 510 1 – 9 10 5*

Mission Valley 320 502 x – 12 11 1*

Dylan Wisniewski (1K,4W), (5) Gabe Mergenthaler (3H,1W) and Izyk Gillingham. Nate Kelly (6W) and Chad Queen. W – Wisniewski.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – Keyan Dalbey 2-4, Tyson Petticrew 1-3, Gillingham *2-2, Corbin Davis *0-3, Wisniewski 2-4, Eric Dolence 2-3, Bryant Hales *1-3, James Bennett *1-4, Xavier Fisher *0-4.

2B – Wisniewski,*, X.Fisher, . RBIs – Gillingham 2, Wisniewski *4, Dolence 3, X.Fisher 3. SH – Petticrew. BB – Dalbey, Gillingham 2, C.Davis, Dolence, Hales. SB – Dalbey 2, Gillingham, Hales, X.Fisher. (Sa07Jul18gm2)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where Laker scoring criteria featured in DIL differ from MVM specs: KL version in DIL = KL:t4=4H - 8R,11H,4E/ MVM:14H,0E – Petticrew 4ab, Gillingham 1h, C.Davis 1h(FL:H vs MVM:FC), Wisniewski 3rbi, Dolence (FL:2B vs MVL: 1B+E3),Hales 2ab, Bennett 2h, X.Fisher 2h(2H vs 2ROE).

MV A Mariners 13, K of C Knights 6

MV A Mariners (22-17)

Mission Valley 310 044 1 – 13 13 4*

Medicine Hat 103 000 2 – 6 6 8*

James Bennett (5K,5W), (5) Gabe Mergenthaler (1W) and Izyk Gillingham.

MISSION VALLEY A MARINERS – Keyan Dalbey *3-4, Tyson Petticrew 2-4, Gillingham 2-3(HB), Corbin Davis 2-4, Dylan Wisniewski *0-3(ROE,BB), Eric Dolence 0-2(2BB), Bryant Hales *2-4, Mergenthaler 1-3(BB), Xavier Fisher 1-4.

3B – Hales. RBIs – Dalbey *2, Petticrew, C.Davis 3, Gillingham, Wisniewski, Mergenthaler, *Fisher. (Sa07Jul18gm1) Mariner version cites specs for 10th player. Unable to resolve issue prior to deadline.

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where Knight scoring criteria posted on GC differ from MVM specs: MHKGC=MVM:11H,3E - Dalbey 5ab:1H(1rbi), Wisniewski 1H(vs E5), Hales 1H(ROE vs 1B+E1), X.Fisher (0rbi)/Wreth 1H(vs M:FC), Ball 1H(vs M:HB).

MV A Mariners 20, FM Royals 1

MV A Mariners (21-17), FM Royals (15-13-1)

Mission Valley 215 (10)2 – 20 11 3

Fort MacLeod 000 ( 0 )1 – 1 2 4

Nate Ziegler (3W), (4) Dylan Davis (1K,1W) and Izyk Gillingham, (5) Espn Fisher.

MISSION VALLEY MARINERS – Keyan Dalbey 0-2, Trevor Lake 0-1, Tyson Petticrew 1-4, Gillingham 1-3, E.Fisher 0-0, Corbin Davis *3-5, Dylan Wisniewski 2-3, Gabe Mergenthaler 0-0, Eric Dolence 0-1, D.Davis 0-1, Bryant Hales 1-2 (2BB), James Bennett 0-2, Xavier Fisher 2-3.

2B – Gillingham. RBIs – Dalbey, Petticrew, Gillingham 4, C.Davis 2, Wisniewski, Mergenthaler, Dolence, Hales 2, Bennett 2, X.Fisher 3. SH – Gillingham, Bennett. BB – Dalbey, Petticrew, E.Fisher, Mergenthaler, Dolence 3, Hales 2, X.Fisher. HB – Mergenthaler, Hales, Bennett. SB – C.Davis, Hales, X.Fisher. DP – b3:MVM (Fr06Jul18)