Hard-hitting Braves down Butte
BUTTE — Liam Rech and Jacobe Sullinger drove in three runs each as Flathead raced past Butte 11-6 in Western AA baseball Friday. Eli Coopman and Hunter Fann helped the offensive explosion, combining for five doubles and three RBIs. Rech got the Braves’ (6-9) scoring started in the first, sending Fann and Dillon Wink home for an early 2-0 lead.
Coopman then sent Rech home with his first two-bagger of the game. After Butte (3-6) answered with two runs in the first, Fann restored a three-run lead with an RBI double to center. Sullenger then extended the lead with a three-run triple in the third to make it 8-2 Flathead.
Calvin Cunningham and Evan McEwen sent home runs for Butte to make it 8-4, but Flathead’s bats were too much. Fann hit a 2-RBI double in the sixth that Rech followed with a single to send Fann home and give Flathead an 11-5 lead. Rech added a complete game on the bump, allowing eight hits and striking out four batters.
Flathead now prepares for the second Crosstown matchup of the season, Thursday at 5 p. m. at Griffin Field.
Flathead 324 002 0 - 11 10 0 Butte 202 101 0 - 6 8 4 Liam Rech and Leum Carter Wigginton. Evan McEwan, Noah Powers (3) and Gunner Bushman. FLATHEAD — Dillon Wink 0-3, Hunter Fann 3-4, Liam Rech 2-4, Eli Coopman 2-4, Leum Saisbury 1-3, Miles Arrowsmith 0-3, Micah Engle 1-4, Jacobe Sullenger 1-3, Carter Wigginton 0-4.