Legion baseball: Lums finish Montana tourney on a winning note

BOZEMAN, Mont. — After losses in its last two games took Coeur d’Alene out of title contention, the Lums rebounded Sunday, closing out the Treasure State Challenge with a 3-1 victory over the host Bozeman Bucks at Heroes Park.

“Great game, against the two-time defending (Montana) state champs,” Coeur d’Alene coach Darren Taylor said. “Good pitchers’ duel.”

Liam Paddack struck out seven, walked five and allowed two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings for Coeur d’Alene (16-6). Zach Garza came on in relief and allowed one run on four hits over the final 3 1/3 innings, with one strikeout and no walks.

“Twice he came in mid-game, and finished it,” Taylor said of Garza. “He saved us. Those two wins are attributed to him. He’s hitting his spots with all three pitches, and is very effective in that role. We’ll definitely explore that (role) for the rest of the season, and postseason.”

Bozeman starter Rhett Hays struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one.

Marcus Manzardo hit an RBI single in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the third for the Lums, who finished 3-2 at the tourney.

Coeur d’Alene returns to action Thursday in the Senior Division of the 16-team Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Wood Bat Classic. The Lums host a four-team pod at Thorco Field, playing twice on the first day, vs. the Expos 2023 at 1:30 p.m. and vs. the Kennewick Outlaws at 4.

Coeur d’Alene 101 000 1 — 3 4 2

Bozeman 000 000 1 — 1 6 1

Liam Paddack, Zach Garza (4) and Joe DuCoeur; Rhett Hays, Preston Fliehman (6), Kellen Harrison (7) and Andrew Western.

HITS: Cd’A — Schneider, Manzardo, Larson, Bridge. Boze — Rizzo, Hampton, Fliehman 2, Vigen, Harrison. 2B — Larson, Harrison. 3B — Fliehman.

Claremont (Calif.) 8

Northern Lakes 3

LIBBY, Mont. — The Mountaineers struck out 13 times in dropping the third-place game at the Big Bucks Tournament.

Sam Pemberton and Andrew Horn each had two hits and drove in a run for Northern Lakes (14-7).

Northern Lakes returns to action Thursday at the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Wood Bat Classic. The Mountaineers are in the 25-team Junior Division, and are in a five-team pod at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane. On Thursday, Northern Lakes plays the North Spokane Dodgers at 8 a.m. and the Pullman Posse at 10:30.

N. Lakes 000 210 0 — 3 7 5

Claremont 006 101 x — 8 7 1

Payden Wysong, Andrew Horn (6) and Sam Pemberton; M. Romero and K. Wang.

HITS: NL — Powell, Pemberton 2, Hessing, Horn 2, Schaffner. Clare — Camden, Wang, Ross, Sanchez, Ingraham, Ramos, Suckkey. 2B — Pemberton, Ingraham. 3B — Powell.