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Lums lose heartbreaker in semis

| July 7, 2014 9:00 PM

SPOKANE - A crazy finish put a damper on an otherwise strong tournament by the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen class AA squad.

The Spokane Northstars scored the winning run on a fluke play to beat the Lumbermen 4-3 in nine innings in the semifinals of the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Wood Bat tournament Sunday at Shadle Park High's Jackson Field.

With two out and a runner at third in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied, a slider by Coeur d'Alene starting pitcher Devin Kluss was swung on and missed by the batter. But the pitch hit the front of the plate and bounced over catcher Colton Gray's head and went to the backstop. By the time Gray could retrieve the ball, the winning run had scored.

"We were playing on a turf (in)field, and the plate is raised 2 inches above the field," Coeur d'Alene coach Zach Clanton said. "It was insane; I'd never seen anything like it."

Jonny Plum went 3 for 4 for the Lums (15-21). He led off the eighth with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kluss to put Coeur d'Alene ahead 2-1. The Northstars tied it in the bottom half on an RBI pinch double.

Elliott Sparks also went 3 for 4 for the Lums, with an RBI single in the second inning.

Clanton praised Kluss, who struck out four and walked two in 8 2/3 innings and was the tough-luck loser.

"It was a heartbreaker for sure," Clanton said. "We had the right kid on the mound to get us there (to the title game) ... but I told them how psyched I was to watch them improve over the weekend. It was encouraging to see how they played."

Coeur d'Alene plays host to the Spokane Crew on Tuesday in a 6 p.m. doubleheader at Thorco Field. Little Leaguers attending in uniform will receive a free hot dog, and the Lums will hand out retro Coeur d'Alene Legion hats while they last to spectators.

Coeur d'Alene 011 000 010 - 3 7 2

Northstars 100 000 111 - 4 5 3

Devin Kluss and Colton Gray; Nonden and Dierks. W - Nonden. L - Kluss (2-2).

HITS: Cd'A - Plum 3, Kluss, Sparks 3. NS - Munoz, Hollawask, Fox, Nonden 2. 2B - Plum, Fox.