LEGION BASEBALL: Taylor lifts Northern Lakes in opener

RATHDRUM — Jaret Taylor doubled to score Louis Powell with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Northern Lakes rallied to beat the Spokane Expos 19U 2-1 in the first of two games at Lakeland High’s Gorton Field on Wednesday.

The Expos 18U scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning of the nightcap to win 7-1 for the split.

After falling behind 1-0 in the opener, Northern Lakes tied the game on a single by Sam Pemberton to score Trevor Vandever — who broke up a no-hitter with a single earlier in the fifth inning

Jack McDonald allowed five hits and struck out four in the win for Northern Lakes.

“Jack is really finding his groove right now,” Northern Lakes coach Bryce Johnson said. “All nine of those Spokane kids are playing in college somewhere, and they’re one of the better teams in the area, but Jack was dialed in tonight. Playing clean baseball with no errors helped, but having him pitch the way he did tonight was huge. It might have been the best game we’ve played all year. The kids just kept battling and believing.”

Quinton Bunch, a Coeur d’Alene High product had four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Expos Red. Colton Aragon — normally Northern Lakes’ catcher — allowed three runs over six innings on the mound.

“We struggled to get going in that game,” Johnson said. “It looked like we’d been through a rough game before. But that’s one of the best teams we’ll play all year. Colton pitched lights out baseball and battled, but we couldn’t get it going offensively. But I’m happy with a split. We continue to play good, quality teams. I’m happy with how we’re coming out and battling.”

Northern Lakes is scheduled to host the Spokane Crew in a doubleheader today at Lakeland High starting at 4 p.m.

NORTHERN LAKES 2,

SPOKANE EXPOS (WEBB) 1

Spokane Expos 001 000 0 — 1 5 1

Northern Lakes 000 011 x — 2 4 0

Gores and McKenna; Jack McDonald and Colton Aragon. W — McDonald. L — Gores.

HITS: Spo — McKenna, Naccarato, Schuerman, Lawson, Gores. NL — Powell, Taylor, Vandever, Pemberton. 2B — Taylor, Vandever.

SPOKANE EXPOS (RED) 7, NORTHERN LAKES 1

Spokane Expos 101 001 4 — 7 11 2

Northern Lakes 000 001 0 — 1 4 3

Hunter, Demand (3), Bunch (5), Mayfield (7) and Sween; Colton Aragon, Scott Pote (7) and Louis Powell. W — Hunter. L — Aragon.

HITS: Spo — Mayfield 2, Killinger, Bunch 4, Reed, Ivanich, Sween, Johnson. NL — Powell, Taylor 2, Balavage. 2B — Killinger, Bunch, Sween.