Loggers riding hot streak into tourney

COEUR d'ALENE - Two weeks ago, the Coeur d'Alene Loggers were searching for answers as to how to get by the Moscow Blue Devils to advance in the Area A tournament at Morehouse Field in Osburn.

They passed the test on a fifth try and haven't stopped since, winning eight straight games to advance to the Northwest A Regional tournament starting Friday at the Stewart Park Legion Field in Roseburg, Ore.

Coeur d'Alene beat Moscow, then Lewis-Clark twice in Osburn for the district championship, then reeled off an unbeaten run through the state tournament last weekend in Ontario, Ore.

"We're still trying to figure this out as well," Coeur d'Alene coach Tom Barlow said. "Somewhere after beating Moscow, the kids figured out they are good enough to play with anyone. Moscow was already setting up their hotels (before we beat them to advance to state). These kids have tons of confidence right now."

Coeur d'Alene (37-21) opens with the La Grande (Ore.) Subway A's on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

"Our only really close game at state was our first one," said Barlow, who coached the under-16 Lakers program last year before moving to the Loggers. "They had a senior pitcher on the mound and our kids really thought we could do this thing. We've really got no idea what the other teams will be like at regionals, but if they are anything like at state, we have a chance to win this thing."

Regionals marks the end of the road for the Loggers this season, win or lose.

"This was the furthest we could go this year," Barlow said. "Not having McEuen (Field) next year was a big motivational factor for us this season. I told our kids if you couldn't go out with a bang, then you're heads weren't in it. Our last practice on McEuen wasn't really emotional, but we knew we had to get the best out of it. We've never known anywhere else to play in downtown Cd'A. It's going to be a weird experience not to be playing there."

Lewis-Clark (34-14), who finished as runner-up in the state tournament, received a bid after Washington teams opted not to play in the tournament.

Championship games are scheduled for Tuesday.

NORTHWEST A REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

at Stewart Park, Roseburg, Ore.

Friday

Game 1 - Blacksmith (Utah) Fork Trappers (22-6) vs. Wheatland Lobos (Wyo.) (24-23), 9:30 a.m.

Game 2 - South Anchorage (Alaska) Wolverines (18-7) vs. Lewis-Clark Twins (34-14), 12:30 p.m.

Game 3 - La Grande (Ore.) Subway A's vs. Coeur d'Alene (37-21), 4:30.

Game 4 - Laurel (Mont.) Dodgers (46-14) vs. Premier Insurance (Ore.) (18-13), 7:30.

Saturday

Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 9:30 a.m.

Game 6 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, 12:30 p.m.

Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:30

Game 8 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 7:30

Sunday

Game 9 - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, noon.

Game 10 - Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 3 p.m.

Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 6

Monday

Game 12 - Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 9, 2 p.m.

Game 13 - Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 6.

Tuesday

Game 14 - Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, noon

Game 15 - if necessary championship game.