Chargers' late rallies sweep AA Lakers

GREAT FALLS — After holding a 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Great Falls Chargers plated a run to tie the game and scored three more runs in the sixth inning to compete the sweep of the Kalispell AA Lakers in American Legion baseball Sunday.  

Jace Komac tripled with two outs in the sixth before the Chargers (31-24-2) hit three-straight hits, highlighted by Carson Hollern's’ double to take the lead 6-3. 

The Chargers scored nine runs in the final three frames and scored the winning run on a passed ball to take game one, 10-9. 

Chargers 6, Lakers 3 

Ostyn Brennan scored in the first inning on a passed ball for the Lakers (26-17) to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lakers scored again in the fourth inning on Kaeden Kahler’s RBI single, and Luke Nikunen stole home to extend their lead to 3-1.  

Cole Pace was a force on the mound for the Chargers, pitching a complete game, allowing three hits, two earned and striking out six. Pace also went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one. 

Andre Cephers started opposite Pace, lasting four innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs with four strikeouts. Carter Schlegel came in for relief for Cephers for the final two frames, giving up four hits and three earned runs for the loss. 

Hunter Fann tripled for the only extra-base hit for the Lakers; Cole Brink added the other hit. Hollern finished with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBIs.  Roehrich Soldano collected two hits and an RBI. 

Kalispell    520    101    0    -    9    12    2 

Great Falls    001    062    1    -    10    9    2 

Luke Nikunen, Kyler Croft (5), Ostyn Brennan (7), and Brady Buckmaster. Kayden Neil (1), Deuce Nichols, Chase Little (7), and Jace Komac. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Ostyn Brennan 0-3, Hunter Fann 1-5, Carter Schlegel 2-2, Luke Nikunen 3-4, Kaeden Kahler 3-4, Oscar Kallis 1-3, Cole Brink 1-4, Andre Cephers 0-3, Teegan Dixon 0-1, Brady Buckmaster 1-3. 

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS — Liam Sullivan 1-5, Jace Komac 0-1, Cole Pace 1-4, Roehrich Soldano 0-4, Carson Hollern 1-3, Rowan Garten 2-4, Dawson Cook 0-2, Madden Jensen 1-2, Chase Little 3-4. 

2B — Kahler. Garten, Pace. RBIs — Kahler 4, Kallis 2, Nikunen 2, Schlegel. Pace 3, Garten 2, Hollern 2, Jensen, Komac.  

Chargers 10, Lakers 9 

The Chargers used a huge six-run fifth inning to get themselves back in the game and plated two more runs in the sixth before the walk-off win in the final inning to complete the comeback in game one. 

Two errors in the fifth inning proved costly for the Lakers, and Pace hit a three-run double to clear the bases, before Rowan Garten doubled home two runs. Ostyn Brennan came in for relief for Kyler Croft who did not record an out and was able to retire the final two batters to escape the inning with an 8-7 lead. 

Nikunen started for the Lakers, allowing four hits, six runs; two of them earned and struck out seven across 4 1-3 innings. Nikunen added three hits, a run scored and two RBIs at the plate. Kaeden Kahler led all hitters with four RBIs on his way to collecting three hits and a run scored. 

Oscar Kallis capped off a five-run first inning with a home run. Brennan earned the loss after giving up four hits and two earned runs in 2 1-3 innings. After Kayden Neil started recording just one out, Deuce Nichols earned the win allowing eight hits, four earned runs, striking out seven across 6 1-3 innings.  

Kalispell        520    101    0    -    9    12    2 

Great Falls    001    062    1    -    10    9    2 

Nikunen, Croft (5), Brennan (7), and Brady Buckmaster. Neil (1), Nichols, Little (7), and Komac. 

KALISPELL AA LAKERS — Brennan 0-3, Fann 1-5, Schlegel 2-2, Nikunen 3-4, Kahler 3-4, Kallis 1-3, Brink 1-4, Dixon 0-1, Buckmaster 1-3. 

GREAT FALLS CHARGERS — Sullivan 1-5, Komac 0-1, Pace 1-4, Soldano 0-4, Hollern 1-3, Garten 2-4, Cook 0-2, Jensen 1-2, Chase Little 3-4. 

2B — Fann, Kahler. Garten, Pace. HR —Kallis. RBIs — Kahler 4, Kallis 2, Nikunen 2, Schlegel. Pace 3, Garten 2, Hollern 2, Komac, Jensen.