Bandits earn split on road

 By Mike brandt • Staff writer

MILES CITY — Belgrade split a doubleheader Saturday, losing to the Emmanuel Lobos 10-0 and beating the Miles City Mavericks 5-4 in two games featuring wood bats. The Bandits (3-7) were scheduled to play Bitterroot Sunday, but a scheduling mix up by the Bucs forced a cancelation of the twinbill.

“In the first game we weren’t real sharp at all,” Bandits manager Brian Ayers said. “We didn’t have a whole lot of energy. We didn’t play well.”

Nine walks, three in a four-run fourth inning, hampered the Bandits in their loss to the Lobos.

“We’re just not executing well and taking care of the baseball,” said Ayers.

He added that his team matches up well with the Lobos and shouldn’t have lost to the Billings team.

But it was a different story in the late game against Miles City.

“When you throw (Kole) Mickolio out there the intensity changes,” said Ayers. “And the kids expect to win. That’s something we need to work on. Our kids executed well.”

Miles City threw Seth Crawford, who has signed to play college ball with Miles Community College.

Belgrade jumped on Miles City early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Daniel Kristensen and Andy Freund drew a walk, then scored on CJ Berberet’s single to center field. The Bandits added another run in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. But the Mavs came back with two in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 3-2.

Miles City had its chances in the seventh inning to take the win, but left the bases loaded when Kevin Peters struck out Nate Dunning for the final out of the game. It was the first loss for the Mavs.

Mickolio had five strike outs in picking up the win. Peters fanned three Miles City batters in picking up the save. Mickolio also went 2-for-3 from the plate, while Berberet was 2-for-4 with a double.

Belgrade will be on the road again this weekend, taking on the Glacier Twins in Whitefish on Saturday at 5 p.m. and the Kalispell Lakers on Sunday at 1 p.m.



Belgrade 5, Miles City 4

Belgrade 200 012 0 - 5 7 4

Miles City 000 021 1 - 4 5 2

Kole Mickolio, Pat Freund (5), Kevin Peters (6), and CJ. Berberet. Seth Crawford and Jimmy Harding.

BELGRADE (3-7) - Peters 0-3, Daniel Kristensen 0-1, Jordan Prester 0-0, Andy Freund 1-2, Mickolio 2-3, Berberet 2-4 (2B), Justin Halvorson 1-4, Matt Thibault 0-4, Lane Berberet 1-3, Pat Freund 0-0, Phil Prickett 0-1, Keldon Graff 0-1.

MILES CITY - Colton Cornwell 0-3, Tanner Crevier 0-3, Harding 1-2 (2B), Crawford 0-3, Chris Bogner 2-3, Jordan Morris 0-4, Isiah Bergman 2-3, Nathan Sprignoli 0-2, Nate Dunning 0-3.



Emmanuel 10, Belgrade 0

Belgrade 000 00 - 0 1 2

Emmanuel 104 23 - 10 9 2

Andy Freund, Halvorson (3), Jeff Hoffman (5), and CJ Berberet. Josh Barnett and Garreth Anderson.

BELGRADE (2-7) - Peters 0-2, Pat Freund 1-2, Andy Freund 0-2, Mickolio 0-2, CJ Berberet 0-2, Halvorson 0-2, Graff 0-1, Thibault 0-1, Hoffman 0-1, Prickett 0-1, LD Severson 0-0.

EMMANUEL - Jake Williams 1-2, Spencer King 2-4, Zach Reidelbach 1-4, Anderson 1-2 (HR), Nathaniel Ray 2-3, Chad Wentling 0-3, Seth Compton 0-1, Bryan Schyler 1-2, Taylor Boyer 1-2, Barnett 0-0.