MAC Baseball snaps skid, earns first win
The Mission-Arlee-Charlo baseball team had a rollercoaster week on their home field, bouncing back from a lopsided loss to Frenchtown on Tuesday, April 15, to earn their first win of the season Thursday, April 17, in a 10-2 triumph over Noxon-Thompson Falls.
The win marked a significant turning point for the young MAC squad, which entered Thursday’s matchup 0-6. After struggling in all phases earlier in the week, the Bulldogs responded with clutch hitting and lights-out pitching to secure a long-awaited victory and snap a six-game skid.
Frenchtown 15, MAC 3
Facing a tough Frenchtown squad, MAC was unable to keep up with the Broncs’ offensive output, falling 15-3 in a six-inning affair. Frenchtown scored in five of six innings and capitalized on nine MAC errors to pull away for the comfortable win.
MAC briefly held a 1-0 lead after the first inning and added another two runs in the second, but that would be the extent of their offense. Jason Leishman and Milo Crooks provided the only two hits for MAC, each going 1-for-3 at the plate. Despite the promising start, defensive mistakes and missed opportunities turned the tide.
On the mound, Jake Helser started and worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and eight runs, though only three were earned. Vinny Shepard pitched an inning of relief, giving up three hits and seven runs — also with just three earned — while walking four. Jason Leishman finished the game with 2/3 of an inning of clean relief.
MAC 10, Noxon-Troy-Falls 2
Two days later, a different MAC team took the field. Behind a stellar effort on the mound from Vinny Shepard and Jake Helser, MAC controlled the tempo from the second inning on to collect a much-needed 10-2 win.
Shepard got the start and delivered 3 2/3 innings of dominant work, striking out eight batters while giving up just two hits and no earned runs. Helser took over in the fourth and finished the job, allowing just one hit in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and walking one.
Although MAC only mustered three hits in the win, they made them count — and were aided by 10 defensive errors from Noxon-Troy-Falls. Vinny Shepard, Jake Helser, and Kyle Hammond each recorded hits, with Helser driving in two runs and Shepard adding another. Leishman also contributed an RBI despite going hitless, helping MAC capitalize on misplays to build a lead.
After a quiet first inning, MAC plated a run in the second and added three more in the third to go up 4-1. A four-run fifth inning blew the game open, and the Bulldogs tacked on two more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
The defense was also improved, committing just three errors — a marked improvement over previous outings.
MAC Baseball falls short against Hellgate
The Mission-Arlee-Charlo baseball team showed fight on Saturday, April 19, but came up just short in a 9-7 loss to Missoula Hellgate in a non-conference matchup. Despite the defeat, MAC posted one of its strongest offensive efforts of the season, scoring a season-high seven runs and threatening late.
With the loss, MAC drops to 1-7 on the season, though the team continues to make strides at the plate and on the mound.
The Bulldogs jumped out early, scoring two runs in the top of the first and adding three more in the third to take a 5-4 lead. Hellgate responded quickly, putting up a pair of runs in each of the first two innings and scoring three in the third to reclaim the lead 7-5.
MAC briefly tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Hellgate answered with a go-ahead run in the bottom half and added an insurance run in the sixth to hold off the Bulldogs.
Dylan Lovejoy and Brody Smith recorded MAC’s only hits of the afternoon. Despite just two hits, MAC capitalized on Hellgate’s six defensive errors and several walks to keep pressure on the Knights throughout the game.
On the mound, Jake Helser got the start and worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs — though only four were earned due to defensive miscues. He struck out four and walked four. Vinny Shepard came on in relief and pitched 1 2/3 strong innings, giving up just two hits and one unearned run while striking out three.
While MAC’s defense struggled at times — committing four errors — the team continued to show progress in a competitive matchup against a larger school.
Thursday, April 17
MAC 10, NOXON/THOMPSON FALLS 2
Nox/TF - 0011000 - 2 - 3 - 10
MAC - 103402x - 10 - 3 - 3
MAC HITTING: Jason Leishman 0-4, Milo Crooks 0-2, L Sch 0-1, Vinny Shepard 1-2, Jake Helser 1-3, Dylan Lovejoy 0-4, Mason Evans 0-4, Kyle Hammond 1-4, Brody Smith 0-3, Sage Assiniboine 0-2; RBI: Leishman, Shepard, Helser 2
MAC PITCHING: Vinny Shepard (3 and 2/3IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 1BB, 8SO), Jake Helser (3 and 1/3IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3SO)
Tuesday, April 15
FRENCHTOWN 15, MAC 3
F-town - 032154 - 15 - 10 - 5
MAC - 120000 - 3 - 2 - 9
MAC HITTING: Jason Leishman 1-3, Milo Crooks 1-3, Vinny Shepard 0-3, Jake Helser 0-1, Dylan Lovejoy 0-2, Isadore Mitchell 0-2, Mason Evans 0-1, Brody Smith 0-3, Kyle Hammond 0-3, Sage Assiniboine 0-2
MAC PITCHING: Jake Helser (4 and 1/3IP, 7H, 8R, 3ER, 1BB, 1SO), Vinny Shepard (1IP, 3H, 7R, 3ER, 4BB, 2SO), Jason Leighman (2/3IP, 0H, 0R)
HELLGATE 9, MAC 7
MAC - 2030200 - 7 - 2 - 4
Hell - 223011x - 9 - 10 - 6
MAC HITTING: Jason Leighman 0-3, Mile Crooks 0-3, Vinny Shepard 0-2, Jake Helser 0-3, Dylan Lovejoy 1-4, Kyle Hammond 0-2, Brody Smith 1-3, Sage Asinaboine 0-3, Mason Evans 0-1, Macklen McDonald 0-1
MAC PITCHING: Jake Helser (4 and 1/3IP, 8H, 8R, 4ER, 4BB, 4SO), Vinny Shepard (1 and 2/3IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 3SO)
Mission's Kyle Hammond takes a swing during last week's game against Noxon. (Christa Umphrey photo)