LEGION BASEBALL: Lums open season with two wins at Missoula tourney

| May 30, 2021 1:10 AM

MISSOULA — Jackson Scherr had five of Coeur d’Alene’s 22 hits on the day, and the Lumbermen “AA” squad opened its American Legion season by beating the Bitterroot Red Sox 14-4 in five innings, and the Missoula Mavericks 8-2 on Saturday at Ogren Park on the first day of the Missoula Mavericks Memorial Day Tournament.

Cooper Larson had three hits, including two triples, and drove in four runs for the Lums against Bitterroot. Scherr and Joe DuCoeur each had two hits, and Marcus Manzardo scored three runs.

Owen Benson pitched a perfect fifth as the Lums won via the tourney’s eight-run rule after five innings.

Against Missoula, Troy Shepard struck out nine in 6 ⅓ innings, allowing three hits for Coeur d’Alene.

Scherr went 3 for 5, and Manzardo, DuCoeur and Austin Taylor had two hits each.

First-year Lums coach Darren Taylor said DuCoeur made a couple really nice plays at third base, and first baseman Ryan Schneider ranged into foul territory behind the bag and reached over the fence to snag a pair of foul popups.

“We hit the ball well,” Taylor said. “We have good team speed; we can really run the bases.”

Today, Coeur d’Alene plays the Helena Senators at 11 a.m. PDT and the Missoula Mavericks at 4 p.m., both at Lindborg-Cregg Memorial Field, to conclude round-robin play in the four-team tourney.