Riley Creek improves league record to 4-0

SANDPOINT — In their American Legion baseball home opener, the Sandpoint Riley Creek Lakers swept Cranbrook 8-6, 7-4 at Memorial Field Friday night.

"Overall, I'm pleased. We have four league wins now," said Riley Creek head coach Rick Klontz. "We have a couple of guys who didn't play high school ball and they are struggling a little bit, but once we get them going I think we will be all right."

Sandpoint opened with a six-run rally in the first game, however, Cranbrook responded by tying things back up with a rally of their own in the fifth.

"It wasn't a great hitting performance by any one guy. Things were kind of scattered out with a base hit here, and a base hit there … but, overall we got the clutch hits when we needed it and when they made a mistake we capitalized on it," he said.

A couple of those clutch hits were recorded in the bottom of the sixth as Sandpoint scored two runs to edge Cranbrook in Game One.

"Brent Scott threw four innings in that first game and he pitched a strong three innings in the second. So he had a great performance," said Klontz. "Then Noah (Hawkins) came in and shut them down in the second game — pitching is looking good."

Sandpoint (4-0) plays host to Coeur d'Alene on Thursday at Memorial Field.

Game One

Cranbrook 105 000 0 — 6 8 1

Sandpoint 600 002 X — 8 9 2

Torgerson, Raugh (1) and Heisler: Tyler Crabb, Glenn Poelstra (3), Brent Scott (4) and Chris Karle.

HITS: Cran — Barry, Heisler 2, Hunter 2, Runner, Sanders, Reid. Spt — Walkington 2, Lichty 2, Scott, Watson 2, Klontz. 2B — Heisler, Walkington, Lichty, Scott, Watson, Klontz.

Game Two

Cranbrook 010 010 2 — 4 6 4

Sandpoint 003 220 X — 7 7 4

Sanders, Barry (5) and Heisler; Brent Scott, Zack Manor (4), Hawkins (6) and Alex Wolfe, Chris Karle (4).

HITS: Cran — Nutghan, Barry, Janzen, Wilson, Flint 2. Spt — Walkington, Scott, Watson, Hodges 2, Howell, Crabb. 2B — Flint, Scott.