Impact Drops Pair to Lethbridge Elks AA and Cranbrook in Canada

CRANBROOK - River Hope hammered two doubles and the Lethbridge Elks AA American Legion team grinded out a six-run fourth inning to come back and beat the Missoula Impact Baseball Club, 12-4. Missoula dropped the opener of the three-team set, falling 15-2 to the Cranbrook Bandits at Confederation Ballpark in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Missoula pounded out seven hits and held serve with the Elks, trailing only 5-4 in the fourth inning, but Lethbridge’s hitters relentlessly worked counts and finally chased Impact starter Nolan Oschell. In the opener, Hunter Johns tossed four solid innings, allowing only four earned runs, but was victimized by shaky defense as Missoula committed six errors.

Marek Hall and Cole Smith, who both went 2-for-4 and were also retired on screaming lineouts, led Impact at the plate. Joey Supola and Landin Ramsey each went 2-for-5. Kody Evans ripped a double and lined out, and Nick Karvandi and Matt Doty also had hits.

Tristan Oriold-Marek had three hits, and Ben Puszker and Wilus Takahashi chipped in two hits each to lead the Elks attack. Lyle Steadman drilled a long double to the gap in left center.

The opener started on a bright note as Smith smoked the first pitch of the game for a line drive single to center off Owen Relkoff, the hard-throwing Big Bend Community College commit. However, Impact didn’t score in the first two innings and made four errors to allow the game to get out of hand early. Karvandi singled, Oschell walked, Ramsay ripped an RBI double down the left field line to score twice in the third, but by then the Bandits were cruising.

In the nightcap, Oschell was effective in spacing four hits in the first two innings, allowing only one run. Missoula jumped ahead in the second. Karvandi worked a leadoff walk, Doty laced a line drive single up the middle, and Supola drilled a line drive RBI single to left center. Madden Hensel followed with a walk and Smith delivered a sacrifice fly to centerfield to put Missoula ahead, 2-1.  

Lethbridge scored four runs in the third on three walks and three hits, keyed by a two-RBI single by Jesse-James Olson, making it 5-2.

Missoula came right back with two more in the bottom of the frame. Dillon Gunlock walked, Evans lined a double down the right field line and Hall smoked a line drive RBI single to left. Doty then laid down a beautiful bunt and the pitcher attempted to make the play at the plate, but Evans slid under the tag to make it 5-4. However, Elks pitcher Cooper Oriold-Cumenhaga escaped the jam with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Sophomore Sawyer Tackett got his first taste of action for Impact and was effective in relief against Lethbridge. Tackett tossed 1 and 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and no earned runs, striking out one.

“Both Cranbrook and Lethbridge were solid baseball teams who competed,” said Ryan Roche, Missoula Impact Manager. “We came out a little flat today and didn’t perform to our abilities.”

Missoula travels down to Polson for a doubleheader with the Mission Valley Mariners on Sunday, first pitch at 1:00.