The Cranbrook Rocky Mountain Bandits added a new wrinkle to the term 'run it out' last weekend.

The American Legion baseball club was in Polson, Montana for the Firecracker Tournament. While it started out well - with an 11-2 win over the Kootenai Valley Rangers on Thursday - they followed up with their most mistake-ridden game of the year, a 12-0 loss to the Kalispell Lakers.

"I got a little upset, I'm afraid," said head coach Pat Phelan, a.k.a. Coach Grumpy.

"We ran sprints for mental errors, and they should have run 57 sprints based on three sprints per mental error."

He didn't make them atone for all 19 gaffes, showing compassion and stopping them after 22 sprints.

The gambit seemed to work, as the Bandits committed just six mental errors in a 6-0 loss to the host Mission Valley Mariners on Saturday night.

The next morning, they gave up just five in an 11-3 loss to the Missoula Pioneers.

"These guys know that, until the end of the year, they're going to be running sprints for mental errors," said Phelan. "I didn't want to resort to running after games, but being the nice guy hasn't worked. We saw a distinct improvement after two games."

Phelan said 14-year-old third baseman Devin Marra made particular defensive strides over the weekend.

"The Junior Babe (mentality) is: 'Hit it to me and I'll throw you out.' As you get older, you might have to take a step or two - or five. He actually started moving laterally and made some good defensive plays."

Coach Grumpy said the Bandits played well in the tournament opener, but were up against a very young team; in fact, the Rangers had a 12-year-old playing second base.

"The boys hit the ball really well and played some defence," said Phelan.

Taylor Blackburn went the distance on the mound, but earned a new nickname along the way: Balkburn.

He allowed just two hits, but gave up five balks.

"It was only his second game he's pitched for us this year, and he did well," said Phelan.

Kootenai Valley scored both of their runs on hits that followed balks. The first couple of free passes - one for not coming set, another for a restricted throw to first - were a tipping point.

"By then, I don't think it mattered what he did. Look sideways at the umpire was going to be called a balk," said Phelan.

Kouno Okada reached the bases in every at-bat, just as Phelan had told him he would prior to the game.

Greg Wimmer hit three singles, while Jason Berg had a couple of hits including a double.

The next day against Kalispell was a stinker for all the Bandits.

"It was Cranbrook at its worst, magnified," said Phelan. "I can't explain, but it was collective. It's almost like we were brain dead for the day."

An eight-run mercy rule was in effect all tournament, so the game lasted just five innings.

The Bandits are back in action this weekend when they take part in a tournament in Trail.