But Lytle's two-out, two-run single started a six-run Missoula rally in the bottom of the sixth and lifted the Mavs to the 8-4 win, snapping the Mavericks' three-game losing streak.
Lytle stroked Devon Hedin's 0-1 offering just past the diving reach of Royals third baseman Jeremy Bailey, plating Trevor Bourquin with the tying run. Travis Johnsen then slid around the tag of Billings catcher Robert Stabio, scoring the go-ahead tally from second while beating the throw from center fielder Mo Burrough.
The Mavs' late-inning heroics improved their overall mark to 27-12.
“This was a step in the right direction as far as easing the growing pains,” said Mavericks manager Brent Hathaway, whose squad is still searching for its first Klaudt title since 2000. “But we're disappointed that we're not playing in the championship game.”
Missoula starting pitcher Brendan Brown was stellar for all but one inning. Through four frames Brown faced the minimum, allowing one hit on just 29 pitches.
But the Royals caught up to Brown in the fifth, taking the lead on a two-run single by left fielder Tony Lagaly.
“Brendan threw the ball pretty well today,” Hathaway said. “For the most part, he was throwing all three pitches down in the zone. But he lost his focus in the one inning.”
Kelly Vannoy blasted a one-out triple off Brown in the seventh and scored on a Jeremy Schmaing ground out to short. But Brown rung up Bailey on a 3-2 pitch to close out the complete-game four-hitter. Overall, Brown (6-2) fanned six and walked none.
After the Royals struck for three in the top of the fifth, Missoula cut Billings' lead to 3-2 on Bartenhagen's first of two doubles. He finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs.
Conor Dwyer had a pair of singles and Burgmeier added a 2-for-4 outing with two RBIs for the home team.
“It was a good eye-opener for us,” Hathaway said of the Mavs' weekend. “It showed the guys what they have to do to beat some of the better teams in the region.”
In the day's earlier pool play, the Spokane, Wash., Bandits blanked the Twin City, Wash., Titans 10-0 and the Prairie Cardinals defeated the Lewis-Clark Twins of Lewiston, Idaho, 3-2 in eight innings.
The Twin City Titans took the tourney title game with an 8-3 victory over Lewiston.
Missoula Mavericks 8, Billings Royals 4
Billings 000 030 1 - 4 4 1
Missoula 000 116 x - 8 9 0
Devon Hedin, Josh Link (6) and Robert Stabio. Brendan Brown and Sean Dwyer. W - Brown (6-2). L - Hedin.
BILLINGS - Matt Edwards 0-3, Mo Burrough 0-3, Link 0-3, Hedin 0-2, Stabio 1-3, Kelly Vannoy 1-2, Jeremy Schmaing 0-3, Jeremy Bailey 1-3, Tony Lagaly 1-2.
MISSOULA - Taylor King 0-3, Drew Lytle 1-1, Dan Belet 1-3, Conor Dwyer 2-2, Chris Bartenhagen 2-2, Cody Burgmeier 2-4, Mike Ponton 1-3, Trevor Bourquin 0-1, Travis Johnsen 0-1, S. Dwyer 0-2, Max Smith 0-2, Mike Spritzer 0-1.
2B - Bartenhagen 2, 3B - Stabio, Vannoy. RBIs - Stabio, Schmaing, Lagaly 2, Lytle 2, Bartenhagen 3, Burgmeier 2.
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