Loggers qualify for title game, regionals
ONTARIO, Ore. - With their backs against the wall in the Area A tournament last weekend against Moscow, the Coeur d'Alene Loggers beat the Blue Devils for the first time this season.
They haven't lost since, beating the Lewis-Clark Cubs for the third time in a week, 9-6 on Saturday to advance to the championship game of the state A American Legion baseball tournament tonight at 6 at Treasure Valley Community College.
Kolby DeHaas hit an RBI double in the first inning and Jacob Gonzalez drove in two runs for Coeur d'Alene (36-21), which faces the winner of a loser-out game earlier today between Emmett and Lewis-Clark for the state championship. Suraji Kedia had three hits for Coeur d'Alene, which won its seventh straight game.
Both teams in the championship game qualify for the regional tournament in Roseburg, Ore., starting on Thursday.
"We had four hits in the first inning and kept adding on through the game," Coeur d'Alene coach Tom Barlow said. "Our pitchers got comfortable on the mound and it didn't really get close until that last inning."
If Coeur d'Alene loses the title game, the Loggers will play an if-necessary game at 11 a.m. PDT on Monday.
Coeur d'Alene 412 100 1 - 9 13 3
Lewis-Clark 000 202 2 - 6 6 3
Sean Sutton, Kyle Parson (6) and Kolby DeHaas; Jacob Ralstin and Devin Jones. W - Sutton. L - Ralsten. S - Parson.
HITS: Cd'A - Robbins, Osmanski, DeHaas 2, Krapas 2, D. Sutton, Gonzalez, O'Hagen, Nuttleman, Kedia 3. LC - Wakefield, Martin, Charlo 2, Hasenoehrl 2. 2B - DeHaas, Krapas. HR - Martin.
IDAHO AA AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
at Skip Walker Field, Twin Falls
Times PDT
Saturday
Boise Gems 12, Treasure Valley 6 (loser fourth)
Boise Gems 6, Eagle 3 (loser third)
Sunday
Game 14 - Pocatello vs. Boise Gems, noon (championship)
Game 15 - If-necessary championship game, 3 p.m.
Oak Harbor 8
Cd'A Lumberjacks 2
LACEY, Wash. - Zachary Zimmer struck out seven as the Oak Harbor Wildcats defeated the Coeur d'Alene Lumberjacks in the opening round of the Washington Junior A tournament at North Thurston High.
"Today just didn't seem to be our day," Coeur d'Alene coach Aaron Drake said. "With only four hits on the day, we didn't give ourselves a chance."
Derek Griffin scored on a passed ball in the first inning and Logan Brastrup scored on a fielder's choice in the third inning for Coeur d'Alene (25-12), which left 10 runners on base.
"It's frustrating to leave that many runners on base," Drake said. "Hopefully we can rebound tomorrow."
Coeur d'Alene will face the loser of Mt. Spokane-Tenino today at noon in a loser-out game.
Oak Harbor 022 012 1 - 8 10 3
Coeur d'Alene 100 100 0 - 2 4 4
Zachary Zimmer, Benjamin Etezel (6) and Austyn Walker; Logan Brastrup, Easton Whiteside and Colton Gray. W - Zimmer. L - Brastrup.
HITS: OH - Shrudder, Etezel 3, Richter, Zimmer, Walker, Smarley, Cameron, Stewart. Cd'A - Griffin, White, Kennedy, Bailey. 2B - Etezel 2, Stewart.