Mavericks blank Elks on Friday

By Lethbridge Herald on July 25, 2025.

Herald photo by nathan Reiter Lowen Kitagawa of the Lethbridge Elks lines a two out double during American Legion “AA” action at Lloyd Nolan Yard on Friday afternoon.

By Nathan Reiter

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald 

The Lethbridge Elks couldn’t complete a comeback for the second straight day, falling 5-0 to the Missoula Mavericks in “AA” American Legion action at Lloyd Nolan Yard on Friday afternoon.

Head coach Scott Oikawa says one off inning proved to be the difference for the Elks.

“I mean, their arm (Schuyler) Fairchild, he did a nice job. I thought he kept us off balance and got his off speed over. We were solid defensively until the sixth and then things just fell apart. We’ve often talked about that games are often won or lost with the big inning and that hurt us there in the sixth.”

Neither team would strike in the first four innings. Missoula would open the scoring in the top half of the fifth inning as the Mavericks would get a two out RBI double off the bat of Bryce Ostrom coming on a full count.

Missoula would take advantage of four Lethbridge errors in the contest and plated four runs in the top half of the sixth inning to put the game out of reach for Lethbridge.

Offensively, the Elks could only muster four hits off of Mavericks starter Schuyler Fairchild who threw a complete game for Missoula. Fairchild only had one free pass and punched out six on the afternoon.

Oikawa says there were times Lethbridge could have been better at the plate.

“I think we could have made a few more adjustments. Our approach at times wasn’t solid, one through nine, but hopefully we can learn from that and bring a little better offensive performance tomorrow. On the flip side, I thought our pitchers did a nice job. Our defense for six out of seven innings was pretty solid, but lost a little focus there in the sixth.”

Jarret McNeill started the game for Lethbridge, working five innings allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Daniel Kambeitz threw two innings in relief for Lethbridge allowing three unearned runs on one hit, walking one and striking out three.

The Elks return to action on Saturday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game series with Missoula. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

Lethbridge will also honour their graduating players prior to first pitch. Oikawa says the Elks are hoping to send their graduating players off with a victory.

“We’ve got five seniors, and they’ve performed well and represented our program well, and hopefully they can have a great game tomorrow and end their career off with a W.”

In other American Legion action at the Northern District “A” tournament in Lewistown, the Lethbridge Lakers saw their season come to a close falling 15-1 to the Fort Macleod Royals. The Lethbridge Miners were scheduled to take on the Vauxhall Spurs in the nightcap at Ryan Sparks Field with the winner advancing to the A side final. Results of that contest were not available as of press time.