THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: May 14, 2014

You never know what to expect when it comes to the postseason.

Sometimes talent has a little something to do with it.

Other times, it's the weather.

On Saturday, it was a little of both.

AFTER EXPERIENCING off and on rain during the opening day of the 5A and 4A Region 1 track meets at Coeur d'Alene High on Friday, the weather was better - as expected - on Saturday when schools competed in running events in an effort to advance to the state meets.

The nicer weather helped for the most part on Saturday, but, in case you haven't noticed lately, most athletes in this area have been running fast times all year long.

This weekend should be no exception either, with the weather expected to be a lot better in the Boise area for state.

Area 3A schools played it safe and ran their events on Thursday and Friday at Timberlake High.

Weather didn't cooperate with the start of Saturday's 4A Region 1 baseball tournament game between Moscow and Lakeland, with a noon start pushed back to 2 p.m. because of early morning rain.

When the teams started playing, it turned into something special.

Lakeland senior Kris Jackson, who has signed to play baseball at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., threw a no-hitter in a 3-1 win to help the Hawks move on to this week's state 4A tournament at Rodeo Park in Nampa.

THE TEAM was so focused on Saturday afternoon, that nobody realized he'd achieved a no-hitter, not coach Jason Bradbury or Jackson.

"His day just keeps getting better and better," Bradbury said following the game. "Man, when he's on, he's going to be a tough kid."

Amazing was just how dialed in he was during the game.

Sure, he had a few walks in the first inning and it wasn't a shutout, but as far as hits go, it wasn't even close.

Only a fly ball in the fifth inning that was misplayed in the outfield was the closest to being registered a hit, and had the player not lost sight of the ball, Moscow doesn't score.

Most of the other outs either came on infield groundouts or strikeouts, of which Jackson finished with seven.

ANOTHER OUTING like that later this week can leave the team in really good position to bring back a trophy from the state tournament.

But this week, everyone will have to be at their best, because this is what they've worked all year to get.

And the weather - hot or cold - won't be the excuse for anything less.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.