State hopes start here

The Class AA Area A American Legion baseball tournament opens tonight at Post Falls High with the third-seed Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen (19-23) facing the second-seed Lewis-Clark Twins (21-16) in the opening round at 5:30 p.m.

Prairie (24-20), which claimed its first league title in 20 years, will face the winner on Friday at 3 p.m. in a semifinal game.

Games will be nine innings, instead of seven like teams played in the regular season.

The state tournament, which Lewis-Clark has clinched a berth already for hosting the tournament, begins on July 30 at Harris Field in Lewiston.

Tonight's loser moves onto a loser-out game Friday at 6.

Coeur d'Alene has won three of its last four games, all coming in the Baden Invitational last week in the Seattle area.

"This season has had many peaks and valleys," Coeur d'Alene coach Zach Clanton said. "I thought we started off the season very well. We showed early that we could hit with each and every team that we went up against. What held us back most of this season is our defense, but the improvements we've made that phase over the last couple of weeks has been awesome. Our game is so much more rounded now than it was just a couple of weeks ago, between what our pitching has been doing and the defense. We can win the game that ends up 1-0, just like we can come out and win the game that is 10-9."

Prairie will look for its first District title since 1998.

"The big improvement has been in their approaches at the plate," said first-year Prairie coach Ron Mackie. "They have developed a better understanding of what pitches to look for based on the situation called for, whether it be a sacrifice bunt, hit and run or hitting behind runners. Most have developed more patience at the plate."

Coeur d'Alene has advanced to the state tournament in 10 straight seasons.

"I think we need to just keep doing what we're doing," Clanton said. "Anything can happen over a nine inning game, so for our pitching and defense to stay steady will be the deciding factor. I think this team has what it takes."

Prairie has advanced to state in three of the last four years.

"The biggest thing this week is focus on playing clean baseball defensively, doing their jobs and execute offensively," Mackie said. "It is also important to trust in their hard work at practice and relax and play the game with confidence, and at the end of the day, remember this game is supposed to be fun."

CLASS AA Area A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

at Post Falls High

Thursday

Game 1 - No. 3 Coeur d'Alene (19-23) vs. No. 2 Lewis-Clark Twins (21-16), 5:30 p.m.

Friday

Game 2 - Winner Game 1 vs. No. 1 Prairie (24-20), 3 p.m.

Game 3 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 6. (loser out)

Saturday

Game 4 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, noon.

Game 5 - Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m. (if necessary)