2011 Great Falls Chargers News
May 30, 2011
The Great Falls Chargers are on a roll.
The Chargers won two games Sunday in the 36th annual Tom Taleff Memorial Tournament at Centene Stadium, stretching their victory streak to six and improving to 4-0 in the tournament. Great Falls got a one-hit performance from Tyson Patterson in 1-0 whitewash of the Butte Miners, then defeated the Calgary Redbirds 7-2 behind four singles by Hunter Carlyon.
Patterson took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, when with one out Sean Curran reached on an infield single. He finished with four walks and eleven strikeouts.
Carlyon had a one-out single through the box in the fourth that plated Trevor Johnson, and that was all the offense Great Falls would need. The Chargers stroked a pair of doubles and two singles off Butte’s Bryon Baker, who fanned seven and walked three.
The Chargers settled things early against Calgary, getting two runs in the first and three in second. All 13 of the Chargers’ hits, as well as all four for Calgary, were singles. Taylor Davis had two runscoring safeties, and Destin Wassmann had a pair of hits and an RBI.
May 29, 2011
Tyler Stanich hurled a three-hit gem while his batterymate Taylor Davis rapped a pair of doubles and scored the eventual game-winning run to lead the Chargers to a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Cardinals, ending Day Two of the 36th annual Tom Taleff Memorial Tournament.
The venue for the Chargers-Cardinals game was switched to Olson Field from Centene Stadium earlier in the day after rain most of the night and all morning left the stadium’s infield very soggy.
Stanich was virtually unstoppable on the bump Saturday, giving up just three hits, one walk, a hit batsman, and a lone unearned run in the top of the fifth.
Davis, who was on the receiving end of Stanich’s pitches, said catching him was easy: “He hit all the spots I asked him to hit; I’d call for the corners and he would hit them.”
The Chargers put a run on the board in the first on Hunter Carlyon’s RBI fielder’s choice, then Davis doubled with one out in the second and scored on a single by Spenser Hart.
Cardinal righthander Mitch St. Laurent had a marvelous outing as well in spite of the loss, allowing six hits and an earned run with no walks while fanning eight Chargers.
May 28, 2011
Trevor Johnson drove in two runs with a double and two singles Friday night to lead the Great Falls Chargers past the Vauxhall Baseball Academy Jets 6-4 as the 36th annual Tom Taleff Memorial Tournament got under way at Centene Stadium.
Right-hander A.J. Griffith allowed nine hits and one walk while striking nine, going the distance for the win. It was the first Chargers’ appearance of the season for Griffith, who played this spring at Miles Community College.
Spenser Hortick also had three safeties for the Chargers.
Great Falls took a 5-2 lead after two innings.
May 22, 2011
VAUXHALL, Alberta — Kristian Allison threw a fivehit gem and Taylor Davis scored the game winner on a fielding error Sunday as the Great Falls Chargers claimed the championship of the Haven Agencies Vauxhall Baseball Academy wood bat tournament with a 3-2 victory over the host Jets on Sunday evening.
Earlier in the day, behind 14 strikeouts by Trevor Johnson, the Chargers defeated the Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs 5-2. The victory vaulted Great Falls into the title game.
The Chargers had a 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning of the championship game, when Davis reached on a fielding error, advanced to second on another error and scored on another miscue. As things turned out, the Chargers needed it, as Jeremie Fagnan belted a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to get the Jets within a run.
“Things started getting a little hairy after that homer, but Kristian came out in the seventh, made some great pitches and induced the double play that ended the game,” Chargers manager Aaron Johnson said.
Allison gave up just five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. He was working on four days’ rest.
“We threw him on Wednesday in Helena against the Senators,” Johnson said. “And today we ran him out to the bump against one of the best offensive teams we’ll face all year.
“Kristian did a great job keeping them off-balance and changing speeds.”
The Chargers produced eight hits off two VBA hurlers, with Hunter Carlyon stroking two singles and a double. All three runs scored by the Chargers were unearned.
In the earlier game against Medicine Hat, Trevor Johnson had everything working in a game that was absolutely necessary for the Chargers (11-8) to win, if nothing else than to give them momentum going into this week’s Tom Taleff Memorial Day tournament at Centene Stadium.
“Trevor came out and threw a game that we had to win,” Johnson said. Trevor Johnson struck out 14 Monarchs while allowing three hits and three walks and no earned runs.
The Hat took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Chargers tied the game with a run in the first and one in the third. Tanner Watson singled in the first, but the Monarchs booted the ball, allowing Chad Barrett to score from third, then Davis singled home Carlyon in the third with the tying run.
Barrett scored the go-ahead run in the fourth when he and Tanner Watson stroked back-to-back singles with two out; Barrett scored on a fielders choice.
Cayden Napierala scored on a balk after doubling in the fifth, then Dusty Popham drove home Spenser Hortick with a scoring fly ball.
“We’re starting to get better and better as the season progresses,” Aaron Johnson said. “Our pitching staff was outstanding this weekend; they didn’t give away any free at-bats, threw a lot of strikes, and kept us in every game of the tournament. I’m very happy.”
May 21, 2011
VAUXHALL, Alberta — The Great Falls Chargers will have at least one game on Sunday’s schedule at the Haven Agencies Invitation wood bat baseball tournament.
The Chargers earned a split of their two games Saturday, winning the opener 4-0 over the Lethbridge Spitz Elks on a three-hit masterpiece by Tanner Watson, but losing their nightcap to the host Vauxhall Baseball Academy Jets 6-1.
Watson gave up just three singles and struck out 10 batters in going the distance against the Electrics’ foe in the Western Division of Montana- Alberta Class AA Legion Baseball. Elks starter Chris Stodolka worked the first four innings and gave up four runs on four wins for the loss. Stodolka struck out seven and walked four, Dusty Popham had two of the Chargers four hits and drove in a run. Spenser Hortick had an RBI double, and Chad Barrett drove home a run with a safety.
The Jets’ Hodges scattered eight hits and fanned seven while walking two for the victory. Robbie Schwenck, who had a 2-for-4 night, tallied the only Chargers’ run in the third on a passed ball. Hortick added three hits, including a pair of doubles, to the Chargers’ attack.
May 20, 2011
VAUXHALL, Alta. — Tanner Watson and Cayden Napierala each had an RBI double Friday to lead the Great Falls Chargers past Calgary's Pro Baseball Force 5-4 during opening day action at the Vauxhall Baseball Academy wood bat tournament.
The Chargers took a 4-1 lead after one and were up 5-1 after two, but manager Aaron Johnson said from that point on, the Chargers went flat.
"I'm happy we got the win; that's all that matters," Johnson said. "But we really need to stay focused and locked from the first inning through the seventh. We weren't tonight."
The Chargers pitching tandem of Tyler Stanich, who worked the first four, and Garrett Cornwell, who got the win, held Pro Force to just a half-dozen singles, with only one batter having more than one hit.
Trevor Johnson stroked a pair of doubles for the winners, who improved to 8-7 on the season. Hunter Carlyon and Napierala each added a pair of hits.
"Our defense seems to be coming around," Johnson added. "It's something we've been lacking lately so I am impressed there.
"Now we need to put it all together."
May 18, 2011
Spenser Hortick drove in six runs and the Great Falls Chargers took advantage of 13 walks en route to a 19-4 rout of the Helena Senators Wednesday night in a Class AA Legion baseball game at Centene Stadium.
Right-hander Kristian Allison pitched six effective innings for the Chargers to earn the victory.
Hortick had a two-run double in the fourth and a bases-loaded triple in the fifth as the Chargers broke the game open.
Great Falls fell behind early after Helena’s Colter Sternhagen drilled a two-run home run in the top of the first. But the Chargers answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame — without benefit of a hit – and cruised thereafter to the victory.
Destin Wassmann mopped up in the seventh as Great Falls won by the 10-run rule.
“Allison’s pitching performance was the key to get us going and the defense behind him was outstanding,” said Chargers’ manager Aaron Johnson. “We kind of put everything together. It was our best game of the season.”
Trevor Johnson, Tanner Watson, Taylor Davis and Hortick each had two hits for the Chargers. Manager Aaron Johnson’s team improved to 7-7 on the season.
“Hortiuck showed up and did a great job at plate, and in addition to that played very well at shortstop,” said Johnson.
Helena was led by Sternhagen, who went 2-for-4.
May 15, 2011
BILLINGS — The Great Falls Chargers exploded for 12 runs in the final three innings to earn a 14-6 victory and a split of a nonleague American Legion doubleheader against the Billings Royals on Sunday.
The Chargers fell 16-6 in the first game, their third loss in as many starts against the Royals in weekend action at Dehler Park.
Great Falls scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. Then, after Billings tied it up in their half of the inning, the Chargers pushed across two runs in the sixth and six in the seventh.
Trevor Johnson led a ninehit attack for Great Falls, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs. He had two singles and a double.
Hunter Carlyon had a triple and three RBIs in a 2-for-5 effort.
Garrett Cornwell, who relieved starter Tyson Patterson in the fifth inning, earned the win.
Great Falls earned the win despite committing four errors for the second straight game.
The Royals collected 15 hits in the opener, with all nine starters getting at least one each. Brady Henan went 4for-4 a double, a triple and two home runs. He had three RBIs.
Carlyon had three of the Chargers’ nine hits.
Dusty Popham hit an apparent home run in the second inning, but the blast was ruled a double. “He hit it out of the park,” Johnson said.
May 14, 2011
The Billings Royals took advantage of several Great Falls miscues in both games en route to a doubleheader sweep of the Chargers here Saturday in American Legion baseball play at Dehler Park.
The Royals won the nonconference games by scores of 7-6 and 14-8.
The official scorebook had the Chargers with a total of seven errors on the day, although Coach Chris Napierala said there could have been more.
The Chargers were out-hit by the Royals on the day 21-14. Cayden Napierala had two hits in the first game for Great Falls, while Dusty Popham had two in the nighcap. Tanner Watson had four RBIs in the two games, while Hunter Carlyon had three.
The Royals improved to 3-4 on the season, while the Chargers fell to 5-6. Great Falls entered the twinbill having won four in a row.
May 11, 2011
Hunter Carlyon went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and a home run on Wednesday night, powering the Great Falls Chargers to a 16-9 nonleague victory over the Helena Senators.
The third baseman, who needed only a single to hit for the cycle, drove in six runs.
Right fielder Cayden Napierala and shortstop Spenser Hortick also had big nights at the plate, each collecting three hits as Great Falls won its fourth straight game to improve to 5-4. Napierala had four RBIs. Eight Chargers combined for 18 hits off four Helena pitchers. The Senators had 12 hits off a trio of Great Falls hurlers, including eight off Spenser Hart, who earned the victory after working the first five innings.
The Chargers won despite committing six errors. Helena played error-free baseball while suffering its fourth loss against four wins.
Great Falls scored three runs in its half of the first inning and then, after Helena had cut its lead to 4-3 in the third, scored 10 runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh frames to build a 14-4 advantage.
Carlyon tripled in his first atbat, plating Tanner Watson to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead. Watson singled with two outs.
Napierala followed with a single to right, scoring Carlyon from third. Hortick then ripped a triple to right, bringing home Napierala to make it 3-0.
Carlyon drew a bases-loaded walk in the second, scoring Chad Barrett to expand Great Falls’ lead to 4-1.
He led off the fifth with a home run over the left center field wall, making it 5-3. Tyler Stanich proceeded to double home Hortick, who was hit by a pitch with one out.
Trevor Johnson’s single up the middle with one out ignited the Chargers’ three-run sixth inning. Carlyon’s double to left scored both Watson and Johnson to give Great Falls an 8-4 lead. Carlyon scooted home on a single by Napierala.
The Chargers exploded for five runs and five hits in the seventh inning. Carlyon had a one-run double, Napierala had a two-run single, and Watson and Taylor Davis each had an RBI-single.
Davis’ sacrifice fly in the ninth plated Great Falls’ final run.
May 8, 2011
Tyson Patterson kept Lewistown’s bats quiet, allowing one hit, and Hunter Carlyon and Tanner Watson combined for five hits and seven RBIs as the Great Falls Chargers hammered the Redbirds 12-2 in the second game of a Mother’s Day doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Centene Stadium.
Earlier, Trevor Johnson and Kristian Allison combined on a two-hitter and seven different batters drove in at least one run, helping the Chargers earn a 7-2 victory.
The split evened Great Falls’ record at 4-4.
Patterson had a little trouble with his command in the nightcap, but he threw strikes— enough to fan a dozen Redbirds. A two-run single from Chance Corry in the top of the third, along with four walks, was all Lewistown could manage off Patterson.
Carlyon drove in four runs with three hits, missing the cycle by a home run. Watson added a pair of hits and three RBIs. The Chargers scored eight times in the second inning, with a single tally in the third and three in the fourth.
Trevor Johnson struck out the side in the first inning of the opener, but started to lose command of his pitches because of lack of conditioning following knee surgery last month.
Johnson fanned nine batters and walked five over five innings.
Lewistown scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead, but the Chargers answered with four in the bottom half.
Carlyon and Taylor Davis each had a single and a double to lead Great Falls’ eight-hit attack.
May 7, 2011
VAUXHALL, Alberta — Trevor Johnson belted a grand slam home run in the top of the second inning, then reached on an error which allowed Dusty Popham to score the winning run in the eighth inning Saturday as the Great Falls Chargers got back on the winning track with a 6-5 victory over the Vauxhall Baseball Academy Jets.
The Jets got a walkoff single from Tyler Kendall in the eighth inning of opener en route to a 7-6 victory.
Johnson’s slam came in the top of the second inning with two out and was the only hit of the inning. The Chargers loaded the sacks with two walks and a fielders’ choice with one out before Destin Wassmann fanned, setting the stage for Trevor Johnson.
The Jets got one in their half of the second, then scored four in the fourth after the Chargers added one in the top of the inning, and the game when into extras once again. Popham led off with a double and scored two outs later when Trevor Johnson reached on a Vauxhall error.
Garrett Cornwell pitched four innings of effective relief for the win, walking two and striking out one.
