Cunningham sparks Lums to another win over Prairie
Coeur d’Alene Lumberman Justin Bates delivers a pitch against Prairie on Thursday evening at Post Falls High School. LOREN BENOIT/Press
LOREN BENOIT/PressLumberman third baseman Brady Thompson fields a ground ball during a game against Prairie Thursday evening at Post Falls High School.
POST FALLS — Leadoff hitter Bennett Cunningham went 3 for 3 and scored three runs as the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen thumped the Prairie Cardinals for the second time in two days, this time 9-1 on Thursday in class AA North Idaho League play at Post Falls High.
Coeur d’Alene beat Prairie 9-2 at home on Wednesday.
“Bennett has been en fuego since the wood-bat tournament,” Coeur d’Alene coach Kevin Dunton said. “In fact, he’s still swinging wood. He’s been a spark. He had a couple stolen bases too. You can’t ask for much more from your leadoff hitter.”
He’s still swinging a wood bat?
“Why not?” Dunton said. “There’s magic in that bat.”
Brady Thompson went 3 for 4 with three RBIs for Coeur d’Alene (9-9, 3-1 NIL), including a two-run single that triggered a three-run fifth inning that boosted the Lums’ lead to 6-1.
“We played a little small ball,” Dunton said, noting Kallen Langley’s bunt single with runners at first and second and nobody out to load the bases, setting up Thompson’s key hit. “We played good defense; we ended game with a double play. We don’t have one superstar, it’s got to be a team effort, and that’s what we’ve done the last week. We’ve got a young team, and they’re leaning how to play together. It’s fun to see.”
Jacob Elliott went 2 for 3 for Prairie (7-7, 1-3).
“I felt like we hit the ball better today; we just didn’t get anything to fall when we needed it,” Prairie coach Pat Call said. “I like what Elliott did today on the mound and at the plate. He did enough to win a game on most days. The Lums did a good job defensively; they made every play.”
Coeur d’Alene plays host to Helena on Saturday in a noon doubleheader at Thorco Field.
Prairie returns to action Tuesday with a 5 p.m. league doubleheader at Lewis-Clark.
Lums 201 032 1 — 9 12 0
Prairie 001 000 0 — 1 4 3
Justin Bates, Levi Haen (7) and Kallen Langley; Jacob Elliott, Brock Zeller (6) and Sam Schulze. W — Bates. L — Elliott.
HITS: Cd’A — Bates, Cunningham 3, Gjevre, Haen, Keesee, Thompson 3, Langley 2. Pra — Porter, Schulze, Elliott 2.