Following a thrilling come-from-behind victory Monday night over the Billings Royals at the “AA” American Legion State Baseball Tournament, the Kalispell Lakers are in the tourney’s final four for the first time since 1988. The Lakers play tonight at 7 p.m. against Bozeman. If they win that loser-out game, they will play the winner of the Missoula Mavericks and Billings Scarlets tomorrow for a chance to play in the state title game, also held tomorrow. The tournament is being held in Miles City.
The Lakers opened up the tournament on Saturday with a 6-0 loss to the Scarlets. In their next game, Mario Venturini struck out 12 and allowed only two hits in an 11-0 win over Miles City. Then yesterday, the Lakers were trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning. They rattled off three runs before Zach Brosten hit a two-out single to score the winning run.
If the Lakers lose tonight, they will finish in third place. I will update their progress for the rest of the tournament.