PREP BASEBALL: Rest helps wake Viking offense

BASEBALL

COEUR d’ALENE — With a week to prepare for the Inland Empire League regular season finale, Coeur d’Alene coach Erik Karns took advantage where he could.

“We really did a lot of intrasquad practices and our hitters saw a lot of pitching,” Karns said. “We were able to give our guys some days off.”

Senior Trent Elstad had three hits and four runs batted in for the Vikings, who beat the Sandpoint Bulldogs 11-5 at Ted Page Field on Saturday.

Sandpoint took a 5-3 lead after the second inning, keyed by a three-run home run by Cody Newhart in the top of the second inning. Coeur d’Alene regained the lead with a three-run bottom of the third inning.

“Sandpoint has some good kids and they can swing it well,” Karns said. “Alex had a tough couple of innings and then settled down and Liam came in and pitched really well. We ran the bases and executed really well, and just kept coming back. For us, it was a good overall day up and down the lineup.”

“Our kids played with a lot of energy and toughness,” Karns said. “We’ll need that coming down the stretch.”

Alex Karns three hits and two runs scored, Paddack two hits and a run batted and Wade Mallory two hits for Coeur d’Alene.

“Our seniors Trent, Alex, Liam and Wade had a great day at the plate,” Erik Karns said. “They showed up and performed well for us.”

Sandpoint (14-5, 7-5 IEL) hosts Moscow for a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Coeur d’Alene (12-7, 11-7) opens play in the 5A Region 1 tournament on May 10.

Sandpoint 230 000 0 — 5 7 3

Coeur d’Alene 303 212 x — 11 17 2

Evan Williams, Jack Zimmerman (4), Kody MacDonald (6) and Trevor Brackett; Alex Karns, Liam Paddack (5) and Wade Mallory. W — Karns. L — Williams.

HITS: Spt — Newhart 2, Thielbahr, Butler, Lehman, Roop, Garcia. Cd’A — Larson 2, Schneider 2, Al. Karns 3, Paddack 2, An. Karns, Elstad 3, W. Mallory 2, E. Mallory, Bridge. 2B — Newhart, Elstad 2, Al. Karns, E. Mallory. 3B — Paddack, Schneider. HR — Newhart.