Lums surrender two in 9th, fall to NW Premier

COEUR d’ALENE — A late rally by visiting Northwest Premier 18U denied the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen a chance at their first win of the season, as the Lums fell 7-5 on Monday night in class AA American Legion baseball at Thorco Field.

A two-out double by Northwest’s C.D. Sharples sparked the ninth-inning rally, and he scored the go-ahead run after stealing third and scoring on an error. Two walks, a hit batsman and passed ball resulted in another run, putting the visitors ahead 7-5.

The Lums (0-4) began the ninth with Landen Thompson’s leadoff double, but he was caught stealing and winning pitcher Jake Rutherford — a former Post Falls High standout — closed out the game for Northwest.

Coeur d’Alene opened the game with a flourish. After Northwest took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Lumbermen responded with a four-run frame. Dylan Brum’s leadoff single started the rally, as he eventually scored on a balk. Jackson Scherr’s 2-RBI double scored teammates Marcus Manzardo and Alex Karns, and Scherr crossed the plate on Breyson Coppess’ RBI groundout.

Karns had a leadoff double in the third inning and scored on Thompson’s sacrifice fly to put the Lums ahead 5-3, but Northwest tied it in the top of the fifth with two unearned runs, and the game remained tied into the ninth inning.

Liam Paddack, CDA’s fourth pitcher, took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out six.

Coeur d’Alene returns to action today, hosting the Spokane Cannons in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at Thorco Field.