Thompson single in ninth lifts Lums

COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen coach Kevin Dunton believes his team is starting to play some exciting baseball.

With Saturday’s result, it’s hard to argue with the first-year coach.

Brady Thompson singled to score Riley Alley with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the Lumbermen past the Helena Senators 3-2 in a nine-inning game on Saturday at Thorco Field.

“We’re doing the little things right now to win games,” Dunton said. “Riley (Alley) did a great job getting on base with a single to lead off the inning, Bennett (Cunningham) got a big hit and Brady stepped in and got a clutch hit to win it.”

The teams opted to play one nine-inning game, rather than the scheduled two seven-inning tilts.

Alley hit a solo home run leading off the bottom of the fifth inning for Coeur d’Alene (10-9), which opens the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July Wood Bat Classic on Thursday, hosting Great Falls at 8 a.m., and Bellingham at 6 p.m. at Thorco Field.

Helena 100 100 000 — 2 6 0

Coeur d’Alene 000 020 001 — 3 9 0

1 out when winning run scored.

Payton Pappas, Eamonn Bryne (2), Carter Pappas (6) and Jackson Maynard; Brett Stapleton, Brady Thompson (8) and Conner Conigliaro, Hunter Wabs (6). W — Thompson (1-1). L — C. Pappas.

HITS: Hel — Ahrston 2, Sassano, P. Pappas, Carlson, Jacobs. Cd’A — Alley 2, Conigliaro, Cunningham 2, Gjevre, Thompson. HR — Alley (1).

Northern Lakes 12

Cranbrook 4

LIBBY, Mont. — The Mountaineers advanced to the championship game of the Libby Big Bucks tournament by beating the Bandits in a semifinal game.

Northern Lakes (13-5) will play in the title game today at 2:30 p.m. PDT.