PREP BASEBALL: Timberlake tops Lakeland in 8

RATHDRUM — The go-ahead run scored on a crazy — and painful — play as the visiting Timberlake Tigers beat the Lakeland Hawks 5-2 in eight innings in a nonleague game Monday at Terry Gorton Field.

Jesse O’Connor singled to lead off the top of the eighth for Timberlake (4-3), advanced to second on a sacrifice by Raj Olivieri, and moved up to third when Parker Holly singled to center.

Ty Gallimore hit a foul popup near the first-base dugout, with Lakeland’s catcher, pitcher and first baseman all in full-speed pursuit.

Blaze Day, the first baseman for Lakeland (0-5), and Roan Reilly, the catcher, collided as Day caught the popup, and both went down.

With no one covering home, O’Connor, who had tagged up, took off for the plate.

“I just kinda knelt down and said a prayer,” said Timberlake coach Bryce Johnson, who was coaching third.

Day got up and headed for the plate as well, and O’Connor touched the plate with his hand just before Day could tag him.

“It was a wild sequence,” Johnson said.

A walk and two singles followed, and the Tigers had a three-run league.

Kenny Wells, who went 3 for 4 and scored twice, came on and pitched the final inning, striking out three and walking two, after Caden Robinett, who struck out eight in seven innings, left due to a pitch-count limit.

“Blaze had to be taken immediately to the hospital for a possible hip injury and major concussion,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “Roan actually finished the inning at catcher, but then he had to be taken out of the game because he felt lightheaded and nauseous. It was a big moment in the game, and I think seeing all that happen was very hard for our team to come back from. We didn’t have the same energy at the plate in the bottom half of that inning. Rightly so; it was pretty hard to watch. I’m praying both boys will be OK and can come back quickly.”

Robinett finished with two hits and two RBI for Timberlake.

Timberlake plays host to Kellogg on Thursday.

Lakeland travels to Coeur d’Alene on Saturday for a doubleheader.

Timberlake 001 010 03 — 5 9 1

Lakeland 000 110 00 — 2 8 1

Caden Robinett, Kenny Wells (8) and Jesse O’Connor; Tadgh Ellwood, Raiston Ellwood (3), Hans Pluid (6) and Roan Reilly.

HITS: TL — Wells 3, Robinett 2, Allaway, O’Connor 2, Holly. LL — Mason, Day 2, Taylor, Love, R. Ellwood 2, Wylie. 2B — Taylor.