LEGION BASEBALL: Classic is on, but with some adjustments
By JASON ELLIOTT
Sports writer
The heat is on, and so is the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Wood Bat Classic, which begins in the area on Friday morning.
A year after having the tournament canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was almost canceled again with temperatures reaching the triple digits over the past week.
The schedule has been altered, with today's games completely wiped out, and more games in the morning and late evening for player safety on Friday.
“The tournament committee had multiple issues regarding the forecasted heat this week,” Coeur d’Alene American Legion Baseball President Mike Thompson said. “Rather than canceling the entire tournament, we decided to cancel all games on Thursday and run an abbreviated tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
Coeur d’Alene opens Senior Division play against Eastside Baseball on Friday at 8 a.m., then faces the Kennewick Outlaws at 8 p.m., before rounding out pool play against the Spokane Expos 2023 on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Northern Lakes will face the Shadle Park Shockers at 9 a.m., then face the Spokane Expos 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Both of Northern Lakes’ games will be played at Al K. Jackson Field in Spokane.
Senior Division semifinals and finals are scheduled for Sunday at Al K. Jackson Field.
In Junior Division play, Coeur d’Alene’s Navy and Red teams will play at Lake City High, and the Northern Lakes 16U team will play at Gonzaga Prep High.
Junior Division semifinals and finals are scheduled for Sunday at Thorco Field in Coeur d’Alene.
SENIOR DIVISION
Friday’s Games
Games at Thorco Field, Coeur d’Alene
Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen vs. Eastside Baseball, 8 a.m.
Eastside Baseball vs. Spokane Expos 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Kennewick Outlaws vs. Spokane Expos 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Kennewick Outlaws vs. Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen, 8 p.m.
At Al K. Jackson Field, Spokane
Shadle Park Shockers vs. Northern Lakes, 8 a.m.
Spokane Expos 2024 vs. Northern Lakes, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday’s Games
At Thorco Field, Coeur d’Alene
Eastside Baseball vs. Kennewick Outlaws, 9 a.m.
Spokane Expos 2023 vs. Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen, 11:30 a.m.
At Al K. Jackson Field, Spokane
Northern Lakes vs. Bellingham, 9 a.m.
Bracket play
Hart Field third place vs. Thorco Field third place at Hart Field, Spokane, 4 p.m.
Thorco Field winner vs. Hart Field runner-up at Thorco Field, 5:30 p.m. (winner to semifinals)
Thorco Field fourth place vs. Hart Field fourth place at Hart Field, Spokane, 6:30 p.m.
Hart Field winner vs. Thorco Field runner-up at Thorco Field, 8 p.m. (winner to semifinals)
Sunday’s Games
At Al K. Jackson Field, Spokane
First semifinal, 9 a.m.
Second semifinal, 11:30 a.m.
Championship game, 2 p.m.
JUNIOR DIVISION
Friday’s Games
Northern Lakes vs. North Spokane Dodgers at Gonzaga Prep, 8 a.m.
Coeur d’Alene (Navy) vs. Cheney Summerhawks at Lake City High, 8 a.m.
Coeur d’Alene (Navy) vs. Hanford Flames at Lake City High, 10:30 a.m.
Coeur d’Alene (Red) vs. Hanford Flames at Lake City High, 3:30 p.m.
Spokane Crew vs. Coeur d’Alene (Red) at Lake City High, 6 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Northern Lakes vs. Apple Valley Blues at Gonzaga Prep, 1 p.m.
Spokane Crew vs. Coeur d’Alene (Navy) at Lake City High, 1 p.m.
Coeur d’Alene (Red) vs. Cheney Summerhawks at Lake City High, 3:30 p.m.
Coeur d’Alene (Red) vs. Coeur d’Alene (Navy) at Lake City High, 6 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
First semifinal, 9 a.m.
Second semifinal, 11:30 a.m.