LEGION BASEBALL: Lums finish third in Nampa
NAMPA — The final results might not show it, but Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen coach Darren Taylor felt this might have been the best AA team in the program’s history.
Even better than that of the 1979 season, when Taylor was a player, and the Lums advanced to the regional tournament.
This year’s team was 34-11, and third in the state again after falling 12-0 to the Idaho Falls Bandits in the semifinals of the Idaho state tournament at Rodeo Park on Tuesday morning.
“This was a quality group of guys,” said Taylor, who led the Lumbermen to third in last year’s tournament in his first season as coach. “I’ve been happy to spend the summer with these guys. It was a lot of fun, with four tournament wins and 34 wins. They really need to be commended for their commitment this summer. To win 34 games, it’s pretty solid for a summer team.”
Kyle Bridge had the lone hit for Coeur d’Alene in the semifinal game, a single to left field in the third inning.
Ryan Horvath hit a three-run home run for Idaho Falls to close out the game. The Bandits (31-9-1), who later beat the Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 9-1 to advance to their third-straight Northwest Regional tournament Aug. 3-7 in Gillette, Wyo., beat Coeur d’Alene 9-1 on Saturday.
Pocatello finishes 29-15.
“Idaho Falls seems to have a voodoo hex on us,” Taylor said. “I don’t think we were the same team against them for whatever reason. We just turned into a different team.”
Coeur d’Alene 000 000 — 0 1 0
Idaho Falls 102 225 — 12 13 1
Game called with nobody out in bottom of sixth inning due to 10-run rule.
Jayden Butler, Owen Benson (5), AJ Currie (5) and Joe DuCoeur; Nate Rose and RJ Woods.
HITS: Cd’A — Bridge. IF — Robinson 3, Luce, E. Jones 3, M. Jones 2, Horvath 2, Woods, Hall. 2B — M. Jones, E. Jones. 3B — M. Jones. HR — E. Jones, Horvath.
CLASS AA STATE TOURNAMENT
At Rodeo Park, Nampa
Friday’s Games
Area C No. 4 Upper Valley Bulldogs 6, Area C No. 1 Twin Falls Cowboys 5
Area A No. 1 Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen 12, Area C No. 5 Blackfoot Broncos 5
Area C No. 3 Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 12, Area A No. 2 Lewis-Clark Twins 4
Area C No. 2 Idaho Falls Bandits 16, tournament host Nampa Chiefs 0
Saturday’s Games
Twin Falls Cowboys 8, Lewis-Clark Twins 1, loser out
Nampa Chiefs 12, Blackfoot Broncos 0, loser out
Pocatello Runnin' Rebels 17, Upper Valley Bulldogs 16
Idaho Falls Bandits 9, Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen 1
Sunday’s Games
Nampa Chiefs 7, Upper Valley Bulldogs 1, loser out
Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen 7, Twin Falls Cowboys 6, loser out
Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 11, Idaho Falls Bandits 3
Monday’s Games
Idaho Falls Bandits 7, Nampa Chiefs 6, loser out
Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen 11, Pocatello Runnin' Rebels 3
Tuesday's Games
Idaho Falls Bandits 12, Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen 0
Idaho Falls Bandits 9, Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels 1
Lums 17U advance to
semifinal round
SELAH, Wash. — Isaac Ziegler, Nolan Christ and Bryce Hall had three hits each for the Lumbermen in a 7-4 win over the Kennewick Phantoms in the Washington state AA tournament.
Coeur d’Alene (45-6-1) advanced to the semifinal round today. Lyden and Yakima Valley also have one loss in the tournament.
Kyle Seman struck out five over 6 ⅔ innings for Coeur d’Alene.