Coeur d'Alene falls short to Salem

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The road to Williamsport got a little bumpier for the Coeur d’Alene Little League team on Thursday.

But this group has been there, done that already.

Coeur d’Alene was outscored 8-2 in the final three innings, losing 8-5 to Salem, Ore., in a semifinal game in the Northwest Regional tournament at Al Houghton Stadium.

Coeur d’Alene faces Bothell (Wash.) today at noon on ESPN in the tournament’s second semifinal game. Coeur d’Alene beat Bothell 5-2 to open the tournament on Monday.

Coeur d’Alene fell in its best-of-3 state championship series to Southwest Ada of Boise before winning the final two games at Croffoot Park in Hayden.

Cason Miller opened the scoring for Coeur d’Alene with a sacrifice fly to score Jayson Ross in the first inning. Coeur d’Alene extended the advantage to 3-0 as Ross stole home and Travis Usdrowski scored on an RBI single by Kyle Johnson.

Sullivan Puckett had four hits and two runs scored for Salem, which took the lead with a four-run fourth inning.

After falling behind 8-3, Coeur d’Alene scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single by Ross to score Owen Mangini and Owen Field.

Salem 000 422 — 8 12 0

Coeur d’Alene 102 002 — 5 11 1

Cameron Van Kempen, Gavin Price (6) and Riley Wilson; Travis Usdrowski, Kyle Johnson (5), Tyler Voorhees (6) and Cason Miller.

HITS: Salem — Wilson, H. Mhoon, Price 2, Van Kempen 2, Puckett 4, Saele, McNally. Cd’A — Ross 4, Usdrowski 2, Miller, Johnson, Mangini, Franklin, Holecek. 2B — Price 2, Puckett, Van Kempen, Mangini.