LEGION BASEBALL: Northern Lakes falls short; two Lums teams qualify for state

RATHDRUM — Rallying in the late innings twice along the way, the Northern Lakes Mountaineers battled their way into the championship game of the Idaho American Legion Class A Area A (district) tournament Sunday.

In the title game, the Mountaineers’ run came to an end in a 16-7 loss to the Moscow Blue Devils at Lakeland High’s Gorton Field.

Moscow (21-9), the top seed in the five-team tourney, advances to state in Lewiston beginning Thursday.

The Lewis-Clark Cubs, who finished fourth at districts, also advance as the home team at state.

Northern Lakes, comprised of players from Lakeland and Timberlake high schools, finishes 20-17.

“I’m certainly proud of our effort,” second-year Northern Lakes coach Bryce Johnson said. “While we’re not happy (losing), it’s the best finish this program has ever had.”

Northern Lakes, in its seventh year as a Legion program, had never reached the district title game before, Johnson said. Last year’s district tourney was canceled due to COVID-19.

“I wish we got two seeds (to state),” he said. “I’m just proud we got to the district championship game. It’s a step in the right direction for this program.”

Hayden Thompson hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and finished with five RBIs for Moscow. Tristan Clift drove in three runs for Northern Lakes, two on a fifth-inning double.

Earlier Sunday, Northern Lakes rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to eliminate the North Idaho Lakers of Sandpoint 5-4. The Lakers finished third.

Louis Powell hit a three-run triple in the sixth to give the Mountaineers their first lead of the game.

“That kid’s clutch,” Johnson said. “He just has a knack of getting us what we need.”

Wyatt Kitchin allowed one hit in 6.2 innings — and nothing after the first inning — and overcame some early issues with walks.

“I can’t say enough about Wyatt Kitchin,” Johnson said. “He just pitched his butt off. We were running low on pitching and that kid, after the second inning, was dominant.”

MOSCOW 16, NORTHERN LAKES 7

Northern Lakes 130 030 0 — 7 8 4

Moscow 191 230 x — 16 12 3

Payden Wysong, Addison Balavage (2), Scott Pote (3) and Sam Pemberton, Caleb Knight (3); Chad Redinger, Dylan Andrews (2), Ryan Delusa (7) and C.J. Anderson.

HITS: NL — Powell 2, Clift, Horn, Vandever, Schaffner, Knight, Wysong. Mos — Redinger 2, Delusa 2, Thompson 2, Hagenbaugh, Boyer 3, Andrews, Stazkow. 2B — Powell, Clift, Redinger, Boyer 2. HR — Thompson.

NORTHERN LAKES 5, NORTH IDAHO LAKERS 4

N.I. Lakers 310 000 0 — 4 1 2

Northern Lakes 020 003 x — 5 7 2

Avery Bocksch and Trevor Brackett; Wyatt Kitchin, Payden Wysong (7) and Sam Pemberton.

HITS: NI — Roop. NL — Powell 2, Pemberton, Horn, Knight 2, Schaffner. 3B — Powell.

WASHINGTON CLASS AA AREA 3 TOURNAMENT

Both Lums teams

qualify for state

SPOKANE — Both Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen Class A teams qualified for the Washington state Class AA Legion tournament by placing in the top three at the Washington Class AA Area 3 (district) tournament Sunday at Shadle Park’s Jackson Field.

The Coeur d’Alene Red team finished second after losing 4-0 to the Mt. Spokane Wild in the championship game.

The Coeur d’Alene Navy team finished third after beating the Gonzaga Prep Navy team 12-3 in the third-place game.

The top three teams from districts advance to state July 26-30 at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane.

The Coeur d’Alene Red will open July 26 at 3 p.m. The Coeur d’Alene Navy will play July 26 at 9 a.m. in the tourney opener.

Against Gonzaga Prep Navy, Cooper Reese went 4 for 5 with three doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Lums Navy. Aidan Blanco was 4 for 5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Nate Weatherhead struck out six in five innings, and also went 2 for 3.

Against University, Jayden Butler struck out seven in a complete game, and hit a two-run double to trigger an eight-run seventh inning for the Lums Navy. Blanco drove in three runs, and Cooper Smith was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Coeur d'Alene American Legion opted to have its two Class A teams compete in the Washington Class AA league and postseason this year.

MT. SPOKANE 4, LUMS RED 0

Cd’A Red 000 000 0 — 0 4 4

Mt. Spokane 101 020 x — 4 7 0

Bryce Hall, Kyle Seman (5) and Jesse Brown; E. Dezotell and N/A.

HITS: Cd’A — Brown, Smart, Chris, Davey. MS — Lefler, Schuerman 2, Olson 3, Tillett. 2B — Brown.

LUMS NAVY 12, GONZAGA PREP NAVY 3

Cd’A Navy 131 210 4 — 12 17 1

G-Prep Navy 000 010 2 — 3 8 3

Nate Weatherhead, Aidan Blanco (6) and Cooper Smith; R. Burnett, Z. Denker (4) and N/A.

HITS: Cd’A — Smith 2, Shepard 2, Dannenberg, Reese 4, Blanco 4, Weatherhead 2, Dixon, Butler. GP — Solorio-Schultz, Burnett, Denker 2, Derr 2, De Leon, Hooper. 2B — Blanco, Reese 3.

LUMS NAVY 10, UNIVERSITY 2

Cd’A Navy 200 000 8 — 10 10 2

University 000 000 2 — 2 5 1

Jayden Butler and Aidan Blanco; Renbold, Morton (6), Minchimiski (7) and N/A.

HITS: Cd’A — Smith 3, Dannenberg 2, Reese, Blanco 2, Weatherhead, Butler. Univ — King, Minchimiski, Haverman, Kline, Frank. 2B — Butler.