LEGION BASEBALL: Lums 17U win Area A title

MOSCOW — Jack Pierce hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to break open a close game, and the third-seeded Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen 17U went on to beat the top-seeded Northern Lakes Mountaineers 17-3 to win the championship of the Class A Area A (district) tournament Sunday at Bear Field. 

Pierce finished 3 for 4 with six RBIs and two runs scored for the Lums (23-14), who advance to state July 25-29 at Harris Field in Lewiston, joining the host Lewis-Clark Cubs from Area A. Coeur d’Alene won the Area A title for the second straight year. 

Northern Lakes finished 31-11. 

Coeur d’Alene led 3-2 entering the fifth, and Pierce’s slam highlighted a seven-run inning for the Lums. He also had a two-run double in a seven-run seventh.  

Sean Jiminez singled in a run in the fifth for Coeur d’Alene. In the seventh, Tanner Franklin singled in a run, and Will Robson and Baden VanLinge added run-scoring doubles. 

Vinny LaPresta struck out five, walked three and allowed three hits and one earned run in six innings for the Lums. 

Northern Lakes walked six and hit four, and committed six errors. 

Coeur d’Alene    030    070    7    —    17    10    3 

Northern Lakes    010    101    0    —    3    3    6 

Vinny LaPresta, Will Robson (7) and Tanner Franklin; Parker Holly, Caleb Mason (5) and Jace Cooksey. 

HITS: Cd’A — Pierce 3, Franklin 2, Robson, VanLinge, Beckenhauer, Jimenez 2. NL — Taylor, Shanley, Wylie. 2B — Pierce, Robson, VanLinge. HR — Pierce. 

    Photo by MICHAEL COOK Jack Pierce celebrates with his dad, Coeur d'Alene Lums 17U coach Gil Pierce, as he rounds third base after hitting a grand slam against Northern Lakes in the championship game of the Class A Area A (district) tournament Sunday at Bear Field in Moscow.