PREP TENNIS: Post Falls boys nab regional title
* 5A REGION 1 TOURNAMENT
LEWISTON - In tennis, it helps to have a little depth on the roster.
Hunter Shertz, who played No. 2 singles most of the season, beat Trevor Reitz of Lewiston in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 to win the third-place match to advance to the state 5A tournament next Friday and Saturday at the Boise Racquet and Swim Club.
More importantly, it also clinched the Trojans' first regional title in tennis, edging the Bengals 47-44 for the title.
"It's just like anything else, when you're trying to break through, the first time is a little tougher," Post Falls coach Kirk Hartzell said. "The kids battled hard and were definitely competing with the goal of taking a step up."
Post Falls senior Lincoln Hill beat Neil Switzer in straight sets in boys singles 6-1, 6-0. The Trojans also got three set wins from boys doubles teams of Seth McLeod and Casey Benton, as well as girls doubles team of Meghan McLeod and America Ellison.
Pierre Schrambach and Kyle Schneider advanced in boys doubles, finishing third for Coeur d'Alene. Lauren Carlsen and Kennan Orlandi also advanced in girls doubles with straight set win.
CC Cates and Zach Weadick advanced in mixed doubles for Lake City.
BOYS TEAM SCORES - 1, Post Falls 52. 2, Lewiston 50. 3, Coeur d'Alene 28.5. 4, Lake City 9.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES - 1, Lewiston 76. 2, Post Falls 26. 3, Coeur d'Alene 21.5. 4, Lake City 16.
BOYS SINGLES - Championship: Lincoln Hill, Post Falls, d. Neil Switzer, Lewiston, 6-1, 6-0. Third place: Hunter Shertz, Post Falls, d. Trevor Reitz, Lewiston, 6-0, 6-0.
BOYS DOUBLES - Championship: Seth McLeod/Casey Benton, Post Falls, d. Sanjeev Malakar/Rory Newhouse, Lewiston, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Third place: Pierre Schrambach/Kyle Schneider, Coeur d'Alene, d. Joey Jeske/Garrett Curtis, Coeur d'Alene, 7-6 (13-11), 6-2.
GIRLS SINGLES - Championship: Josey Jagelski, Lewiston, d. Madeline Parkey, Lewiston, 6-3, 6-3. Third place: Gabriella Santana, Lewiston, d. Sydney Jackson, Lake City, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0.
GIRLS DOUBLES - Championship: Meghan McLeod/America Ellison, Post Falls, d. Cassidy Burrup/Rayanne Kirk, Lewiston, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Third place: Lauren Carlsen/Kennan Orlandi, Coeur d'Alene, d. Natalie Vogel/Jessica Vogel, Lewiston, 6-0, 6-4.
MIXED DOUBLES - Championship: Gavin Hewett/Kristin Reitz, Lewiston, d. CC Cates/Zach Weadick, Lake City, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Third place: Ross Clark/Sara Walker, Coeur d'Alene, d. Denver Drake/Kelsey Boyd, Lewiston, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4.
*4A REGION 1 TOURNAMENT
Search, Kyllonen team up to claim doubles title
SANDPOINT - Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen had to work for three sets, but downed Moscow 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 to win the girls doubles title at the 4A Region 1 tennis championships on Saturday at Travers Park.
Search, who made the 4A state finals last year with her senior sister Kennedy, teamed with fellow sophomore Khloe Kyllonen to punch their ticket to state in the final.
"The more pressure the girls faced, the tougher they got. The volley exchanges and exceptional ball placement was beyond belief by both teams," Sandpoint coach Kent Anderson said. "Khloe stepped her game up for the finals, hitting with power and consistency throughout. Laney's finishing overheads were reminiscent of her sister Kennedy."
Lakeland's Colin Burkhalter and Sandpoint's Broc Storro waged an even battle that came down to a super tie-breaker, played in lieu of a third set.
With a berth at state hanging in the balance, the two players went toe-to-toe in front of a large crowd. Anderson called it the match of the day and said it almost felt like a pro-tour event, before Burkhalter won 10-6 in the pressure-packed tie-breaker after the two split 6-3 sets. Burkhalter is the lone Hawk making the trip to state.
"Broc's strokes were smooth and his placement almost perfect in the first set. It was more of the same in the second set but Colin kept returning the ball in long, relentless rallies," Anderson said. "The match could have gone either way, but unfortunately Broc was unable to get that final match point."
The boys doubles consolation final pitted two Sandpoint teams playing for the right to go to state, with Spencer Temple and Daniel Durfee beating Jacob Jackson and Michael Favor 6-2, 7-6. Cassidy Story won in straight sets in the girls singles consolation final, and Caitlyn Cole, a Priest River student who played with Sandpoint all season, finished third in the 3A Regionals in Moscow to also qualify for state.
The state tournament is Friday and Saturday at Timberline High in Boise.
(Top two advance to state)
BOYS SINGLES - Championship - Ian Wendt, Moscow, d. Broc Storro, Sandpoint, 6-0, 6-1. Consolation semis - Colin Burkhalter, Lakeland, d. Neeraj Utgikar, Moscow, 6-0, 6-3. Consolation finals - Burkhalter, Lakeland, d. Storro, 3-6, 6-3, (10-6).
GIRLS SINGLES - Championship - Victoria Wilke, Moscow, d. Cassidy Story, Sandpoint, 6-2, 6-1. Consolation semis - McKenna Sivula, Moscow, d. Amanda Bear, Lakeland, 6-3, 6-3. Consolation finals - Story, Sandpoint, d. Sivula, Moscow, 6-1, 6-2.
BOYS DOUBLES - Championship - Paezenko/Pancheri, Moscow, d. Spencer Temple/Daniel Durfee, Sandpoint, 6-2, 6-1. Consolation semis - Jacob Jackson/Michael Favor, Sandpoint, d. Vassel/Blood, Moscow, 6-4, 6-2. Consolation final - Temple/Durfee, Sandpoint, d. Jackson/Favor, Sandpoint, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
GIRLS DOUBLES - Championship - Laney Search/Khloe Kyllonen, Sandpoint, d. Unger/El'Mansouri, Moscow, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Consolation semis - Lauren Hon/Violet Plummer, Sandpoint, d. Murray/Scoles, Moscow, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0. Consolation final - Unger/El'Mansouri, Moscow, d. Hon/Plummer, Sandpoint, 6-1, 6-1.
State high school baseball tournaments
Times PDT
at Memorial Stadium in Boise
Thursday
Game 1 - Capital (14-12) vs. Lake City (18-10), 9 a.m.
Game 2 - HIghland (20-8) vs. Timberline (23-4), noon
Game 3 - Lewiston (21-5) vs. Meridian (16-12), 3:30 p.m.
Game 4 - Rocky Mountain (27-0) vs. Hillcrest (19-10), 6:15
Friday
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon (loser out)
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m. (semifinal)
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:15 (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 9 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)
Game 10 - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third place game)
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 6 p.m. (championship game)
at Bishop Kelly High, Boise
Thursday
Game 1 - Blackfoot (19-5) vs. Minico, 9 a.m.
Game 2 - Moscow vs. Bishop Kelly (12-14), noon
Game 3 - Twin Falls vs. Caldwell (18-9), 3 p.m.
Game 4 - Skyview (17-8) vs. Preston (17-8), 6
Friday
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m. (loser out)
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon (loser out)
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m. (semifinal)
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 9 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)
Game 10 - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third place game)
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m. (championship game)
at Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Ore.
Thursday
Game 1 - Marsh Valley vs. Bonners Ferry (18-7), 9 a.m.
Game 2 - Shelley (14-4) vs. Emmett, noon
Game 3 - Timberlake (14-9) vs. Snake River (16-5), 3 p.m.
Game 4 - Filer vs. Fruitland (16-8), 6
Friday
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 9 a.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m. (semifinal)
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 9 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)
Game 10 - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third place game)
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m. (championship game)
at Rodeo Park, Nampa
Thursday
Game 1 - St. Maries (12-5) vs. Melba (14-10), 9 a.m.
Game 3 - Nampa Christian (17-6) vs. Bear Lake (13-9), 3 p.m.
Game 2 - Orofino vs. Wendell, noon
Game 4 - Malad vs. New Plymouth, 6 p.m.
Friday
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 9 a.m. (loser out)
Game 6 - Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4, noon (loser out)
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m. (semifinal)
Game 8 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 (semifinal)
Saturday
Game 9 - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (consolation championship)
Game 10 - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, noon (third place game)
Game 11 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m. (championship game)
BASEBALL
Ross went 4 for 5 and drove in three runs for Lake City, which lost its regional tournament opener, then won three straight to qualify for state.
Ross doubled and scored in the first inning, then hit a two-run double in the second inning. Stephen Vaudreuil hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the third, as Lake City increased its lead to 6-0.
Reilly Cherry went 3 for 4 and scored a pair of runs for the Timberwolves.
Slusser struck out seven, walked two and scattered six hits in a complete game.
"We started off pretty good at the plate, and Sam threw really well," Georgius said. "We were hoping he could give us at least five, and he ended up going the distance. That was huge for us."
Vallivue finished 17-11.
Lake City 132 000 3 - 9 12 1
Vallivue 000 010 0 - 1 6 2
Sam Slusser and Reilly Cherry; L. Laird, reliever unavailable and catcher unavailable. W - Slusser. L - Laird.
HITS: LC - Cherry 3, Conigliaro, Gabrielson, Garza, Ross 4, Vaudreuil, Manzardo. VV - Bowman, Longoria 2, Sutton, Vogt 1, Linder. 2B - Cherry, Gabrielson, Ross 2, Longoria, Linder. HR - Vaudreuil (1).
Moscow 8
Lakeland 5
MOSCOW - Ryan Pote went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the top-seeded Hawks, which lost to the third-seeded Bears in the championship game of the 4A Region 1 tournament.
"It was a tough one to lose today," Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. "I was proud of the way my team battled though. We just couldn't get the hits when we needed them. When we hit the ball hard, it was right at their defense."
Lakeland (11-12) finished runner-up last year at state.
Lakeland 031 000 1 - 5 10 0
Moscow 122 003 x - 8 17 0
Kenny Cooper, Brian Howell (3) and Tyler Utecht; Jake Randall and Alec Martin. W - Randall. L - Cooper.
HITS: LL - Pote 3, Cooper, McDaniel, Howell, Piva, Bodak 2, Zaken. Mos - Richardson 2, Gosse 2, Martin 2, Randall 2, Larson, Redinger, Shears 2, Knott 2, Howard 3. 2B - Richardson, Martin, Randall.
Bonners Ferry 9
Weiser 8
GRANGEVILLE - Kevin Gray went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored, helping the Badgers beat the Wolverines in a state 3A tournament play-in game.
Steve Anzalone went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Jesse Dunham scored three runs for Bonners Ferry (18-7), which opens the state tournament against Marsh Valley at 9 a.m. PDT at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.
"It was a huge win," Bonners Ferry coach Tom Turpin said. "We jumped on them early and they had a big third inning (scoring five runs to take a 6-5 lead), but we found a way. It was a tough game, but our kids played great."
It is Bonners Ferry's first appearance at state since 2011.
Bonners Ferry 302 310 0 - 9 9 3
Weiser 105 100 1 - 8 11 2
Jesse Dunham, Vince Bennett (3) and Kevin Gray; Clandio, Kropp (4), Rowley (4) and Whitehurst. W - Bennett. L - Rowley.
HITS: BF - Bateman, Dunham, Anzalone 2, Gering, Bennett 2, Gray. Weis - Rowley, Loomis 2, Pritchard, Kroop, Hickey, Whitehurst, Tunenie 2, McDaniel, Erlabach. 2B - Bateman, Anzalone, Gray. HR - Kroop.