Mariners topple Helena, win Cloninger Classic
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HELENA — The Mission Valley Mariners fought through nail-biting games before silencing the hometown Helena Reps in Sunday’s championship game to win 13th annual Cloninger Classic Legion A baseball tournament in Helena.
Although the Reps started the first innings strong, the Mariners tied it up in the fourth. After the Reps went up in the fifth, Mission Valley drove in four runs in the top of the seventh that clinched the win.
T.J. Olson drove home three runners while Bradley Pichler, Ryan Pablo, Nick Crawford and Bransen Krebs each added an RBI.
Crawford’s error-free day in the infield put out 10 Helena Reps in the championship game. Pitcher Jared Young replaced starting pitcher Alex Killian in the second inning, striking out three batters to secure the 7-4 win.
The Mariners opened the tournament Friday with a 9-0 shutout against the Tri County Cardinals, followed by a down-to-the-wire win against the Vauxhall Spurs.
Alex Killian, Crawford, Pichler and Quinn Harlen all hit doubles against the Cardinals. Winning pitcher Kellen Hoyt stuck out six before J.T. Probst took over in the fifth and final inning of the mercy-rule win.
Friday evening, the Spurs offered a welcome challenge, but the Mariners shut down the visiting Spurs at the top of seventh to secure the 5-3 victory. Brennen Andrews went 3-4 with an RBI, Killian smacked a double and starting pitcher Crawford struck out 10 batters before Keel came in and earned the win.
Facing the Laurel Dodgers in the semi-final on Saturday, the Mariners found themselves down by 7 in the second inning but didn’t get discouraged. Instead, Mission Valley battled back to grab the 11-10 win against Laurel and move the team into Sunday’s championship game. Aaron Rasmussen batted a double against the Dodgers and sent two runners home. Pichler also added a pair of RBIs.
Sunday
Championship game
Mission Valley Mariners 7, Helena Reps 4
Mariners0003004 - 7
Reps2100100 - 4
WP: Jared Young, LP: Koby Griffin
Saturday
Mariners 11, Laurel Dodgers 10
Mariners010020 1 - 11
Dodgers 4400020 - 10
WP: Bradley Pichler, LP: Austin Cannon
Friday
Mariners 5, Vauxhall Spurs 3
Spurs0002100 - 3
Mariners002102 - 5
WP: Derek Peel, LP: Matt Melnychuk
Mariners 9,
Tri-County Cardinals 0
Cardinals0000 0 - 0
Mariners1233 - 9
WP: Kellen Hoyt, LP: Ryan Clark
