THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Thursday, April 21, 2016

Like the slogan for the old insurance commercial — “life comes at you fast” — so do the 5A Inland Empire League baseball and softball seasons.

With the four league teams playing all doubleheaders these days in league play, each team plays just six league dates — two twinbills vs. each team.

In the past, Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Post Falls could spread out their league games into four single games — or two singles and a doubleheader.

But the league changed its scheduling last year to all doubleheaders for uniformity’s sake — all of Lewiston’s league games in baseball and softball were doubleheaders, because it made little sense for the Bengals to come all the way up here — and for the three other teams to make the long trek to Lewiston — for just one game.

Also, especially in baseball, playing single games gives teams a chance to use their top pitcher(s) in league games.

And since league results determine home-field advantage for the state qualifying regional tournaments …

ANYWAY, ONE of the unintended consequences of all-twinbill scheduling is that Coeur d’Alene and Lake City have yet to meet this season, in baseball and softball.

That will change next Tuesday, with baseball and softball doubleheaders at Lake City. The four teams meet again the following Tuesday at Coeur d’Alene.

In softball, next Tuesday’s matchup will feature the top two teams in the league in Coeur d’Alene (11-0, 6-0 5A IEL after Wednesday’s sweep of Lewiston) and Lake City (11-2, 4-0).

Coeur d’Alene has had its way with Lake City of late, beating the Timberwolves 12 times in 12 meetings over the last two seasons — starting just after Lake City won the state 5A title in 2013.

After Coeur d’Alene and Lake City, there’s a gap in the 5A IEL softball standings down to Lewiston (5-6, 0-4) and Post Falls (6-6, 0-6).

Regionals begin May 10. The regional champion advances to state, and twhe runner-up has to go the state play-in game route.

The 5A IEL baseball standings are a little more jumbled, though Coeur d’Alene (11-3 4-0 5A IEL) opened up a bit of a cushion after sweeping Lewiston (10-3, 1-3) on Wednesday. Lake City is 8-5, 2-2 and Post Falls is 11-5, 1-3.

Earlier this season, Coeur d’Alene swept Post Falls, and Lake City split with Post Falls and Lewiston.

Two of the four baseball teams out of 5A Region 1 advance to state.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.