Coeur d'Alene out in two at state
LEWISTON — Coeur d’Alene had its chances facing elimination to extend the season.
However, the Lums failed to cash them in at the right time.
Coeur d’Alene fell 3-2 to the Rocky Mountain Avalanche in a loser-out game at the state class AA American Legion baseball tournament at Harris Field on Saturday, finishing the season 31-17-1.
“It was a pretty evenly matched game,” first-year Coeur d’Alene coach Erik Karns said. “It was the third time we’d faced them (Rocky eliminated the Lums from the state class A tournament in 2018 and beat them July 13 in the Boise Summer Classic), and for us, it really came down to missed opportunities.”
Coeur d’Alene lost 8-5 to the Boise Capitals in the first round Friday.
Against Rocky Mountain, Coeur d’Alene loaded the bases in the first, fifth and sixth innings, striking out with less than two outs six times.
“We left a lot of runners on base and had some miscues that led to their runs,” Karns said. “Our guys gave a great effort and came out ready to play. We just didn’t get that big hit when we needed it. In situational hitting, we just weren’t there today.”
Jake Brown singled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning for the Lums, and Riley Smith tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2.
Emilio Bengoechea had two hits for Rocky Mountain (27-17), which faces Nampa in a loser-out game today at 1 p.m.
Rocky Mountain 000 101 01 — 3 8 0
Coeur d’Alene 000 011 00 — 2 6 3
Campbell, Kirkpatrick (6) and Roberts; Zach Mackimmie, Alex Karns (6) and Landen Thompson. W — Kirkpatrick. L — Karns.
HITS: RM — Hines, Franklin, Kirkpatrick, Christansen, Banning, Robertson, Bengoechea 2. Cd’A — Brown 2, Manzardo, Coppess, Smith, Conces. 2B — Bengoechea. 2B — Smith.
CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT
At Harris Field, Lewiston
Friday’s Games
Boise Capitals 8, Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen 5
Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 3, Rocky Mountain Avalanche 0
Nampa Chiefs 4, East Idaho Rockies 1
Idaho Falls Bandits 7, Lewis-Clark Twins 5
Saturday’s Games
Rocky Mountain 3, Coeur d’Alene 2, 8 inn., loser out
Lewis-Clark 5, East Idaho Rockies 2, loser out
Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 3, Boise Capitals 2
Idaho Falls 5, Nampa Chiefs 1
Sunday’s Games
Game 9 — Lewis-Clark Twins (23-20) vs. Boise Capitals (22-13-1), 10 a.m., loser out
Game 10 — Rocky Mountain Avalanche (27-17) vs. Nampa Chiefs (23-12), 1 p.m., loser out
Game 11 — Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels (33-17) vs. Idaho Falls Bandits (48-5-1), 7
Monday’s Games
Game 12 — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 4:30 p.m.
Game 13 — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 7:30
Tuesday’s Games
Game 14 — Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 1:30 p.m. (championship game)
Game 15 — Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14, 4:30 (if-necessary game)