Lums' state of mind
<p>Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen pitcher Jordan Anderson throws towards home during the second inning of Sunday's AA District Championship game against the Lewis-Clark Twins at Post Falls High School.</p>
The road to Spokane and the AA regional tournament begins today for the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen as they open the state tournament against the Boise Gems tonight at 6:30 PDT at Timberline High in Boise.
Coeur d'Alene (21-27) qualified for the fifth straight year following a win over Prairie last Saturday in the Area A tournament at Post Falls High.
"It's a nice feeling," Coeur d'Alene coach Lloyd Duman said. "It will be a good experience for the team to get down there and see what state is about. We should compete, but there are a lot of good teams."
Lewis-Clark claimed the top seed from Area A with a win on Sunday over Coeur d'Alene and will face the Boise Capitals at 9 a.m.
Lewis-Clark is the defending state champion.
Coeur d'Alene infielder Mitch Bevacqua, who is in his first season playing for the Lumbermen, has high expectations for this weekend.
"It should be fun," Bevacqua said. "I think we'll do really well. We're starting to play well as a team and I'm expecting us to play well."
Coeur d'Alene's rotation has also improved with the duo of Pete Hoffman and Alex Gunnerson stepping up at districts.
"Pete's had to throw on short rest a couple times lately," Duman said. "Alex has came in and been throwing well. He's not usually a pitcher - but has came in and done a great job to get us to this point. He just does a good job of hitting his spots."
Joe Roletto, who had four RBIs in the Lumbermen's win over Prairie on Saturday, said the pressure of state doesn't bother him.
"I'll just play it like any other game," Roletto said. "I'm really starting to settle into the lineup and just go out and do my job."
Games will be available online at www.kiovradio.com throughout the duration of the tournament.
The state champion advances to regionals beginning Thursday, Aug. 5 in Spokane.
2010 AA STATE TOURNAMENT
Timberline High School
Times PDT
Wednesday, July 28
Game 1 - Lewis-Clark Twins (34-8) vs. Boise Capitals, 9 a.m.
Game 2 - Nampa Chiefs vs. Pocatello Runnin' Rebels, noon.
Game 3 - Vallivue Titans vs. Twin Falls Cowboys, 3:30 p.m.
Game 4 - Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen (21-27) vs. Boise Gems, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 29
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon. (loser out)
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 30
Game 9 - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 9 a.m. (loser out)
Game 10 - Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, noon. (loser out)
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 6:30 p.m.
Game 12 - Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 9, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 31
Game 13 - Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 3:30 p.m. (loser out)
Game 14 - Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 6:30 p.m. (championship game).
Sunday, Aug. 1
Game 15 - Loser Game 14 vs. Winner Game 14, noon (if necessary)