Mission Valley A Team 6, Cranbrook Bandits 0

Josh Rustad had the Cranbrook Bandits off-balance the entire game, throwing a two-hitter as the Mission Valley Mariners finished scheduled play in the Firecracker Tournament 4-0 with a 6-0 victory.

Rustad went seven innings, and struck out four on seventy five pitches.

Mission Valley scored in the first inning, as Chris Clary drove home Jack Humphreys, then again in the second as Kevin Hagedorn plated Jake Young.

Rustad continued to destroy the Bandits' hearts and minds with his dazzling array of pitches, and the Mariners built on their 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third.

Humphreys was hit by a pitch, Austin Von Tom singled and Chris Clary reached on an infield single to load the bases. With Young at the plate, the Polson state wrestler singled on an 0-1 pitch to center field, which would automatically plate Humphreys. The outfielder couldn't handle the hit ball, giving time for Von Tom and Clary to score.

Young advanced to third base and scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0.

That's how it would stay for the next four innings as Rustad threw just seven pitches in the top of the sixth inning, and eight pitches in the top of the seventh. Austin Von Tom made a great catch in right field to end the game.

Efficiency paid off and the Mariners with play in the championship game of the Firecracker Tournament tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES - Clary and Young both finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. It was Mission Valley's second shutout of the tournament.

CRANBROOK - 000 - 000 - 0 - 0
MISSION VALLEY - 114 - 000 - x - 6

Cranbrook - 2 hits, 2 errors. Mission Valley - 7 hits, 4 errors.

Mariners batting - Jack Humphreys 1-3, Austin Von Tom 2-3, Justin Evertz 0-3, Chris Clary 2-3, Robbie Gauthier 0-3, Jake Young 2-3, Cole McArthur 0-3,  Kevin Hagedorn 0-3, Dalton Mohlzon 0-2.

RBIs - Clary, Young, Hagedorn.

M Pitching - Rustad (7 IP, 4K)