Vikings down Sandpoint, 12-9

SANDPOINT — Shea Vucinich struck out Kelly Karle with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to register his 10th save on the season, preserving a wild 12-9 Inland Empire League win over Sandpoint Tuesday afternoon at War Memorial Field.

Alex Reyes led the Vikings (14-2, 8-2) with three hits and two RBIs, as they jumped out to an early lead, then steadily built it to 11-5. Sandpoint (8-10, 5-6) was able to hang around, staging a rally and eventually bringing the winning run to the plate in their final at-bat.

"Sandpoint is a tremendous team; they never quit, which is a reflection of the boys themselves, and great coaching," said Vikings' coach Chris Stangle, who said his team's theme all year has been solid team play.

Cory Hawkins and Ben Fisher each had two RBIs as the Bulldogs were able to score five runs in the first two innings. Sandpoint head coach Mike Givens was forced to dip heavily into his bullpen on the day, using five pitchers, and cited an inability to make the routine plays as the difference in the game.

"You have to tip your hat to Coeur d'Alene, they swung the bats," said Givens. "We fought back, but just couldn't make the routine plays on defense, not the great plays, just the routine ones."

Sandpoint is at Lakeland on Thursday.

Coeur d'Alene 161 120 1 — 12 13 3

Sandpoint 140 002 2 — 9 8 3

J.J. Turbin, Jackson Seaman (5), Shea Vucinich (7) and Vinny Lupinacci; Dustin Hawkins, Jake Semones (2), Kelly Karle (5), Cole Tonnemacher (6), Woody Hawkins (7) and Cody Reichart. W — Turbin. L — Semones.

HITS: Cd'A — Vucinich, Lupinacci, Turbin, A. Seaman 2, Reyes 3, J. Seaman, Snider, Cleave 2, Spencer. Spt — C. Hawkins, Semones 2, Lichty, Tonnemacher, Reichart, D. Hawkins, Fisher. 2B — Fisher, Lichty, Reyes 2. 3B — Semones, Cleave.

? Clark Fork and Charter tie in NSL tennis matchup

COEUR d'ALENE — Without their top boys player, Frederico Moreira, Clark Fork played Coeur d'Alene Charter to a tie Tuesday in North Star League tennis action at Cherry Hill Park.

Thomas McMahon moved up to No. 1 singles and beat Charter's top player, Nathan Gencarella, 8-3. Mike Martin lost in a tie-breaker in an unofficial match against Gencarella. Rayna Allen teamed with Thomas McMahon in a mixed doubles exhibition against Charter's best players and were leading 5-4 when darkness stopped their match.

Hannah Hurt (No. 2) and Kandace Daniels (No. 3) both won their matches in girls singles.

Clark Fork is at Libby on Thursday.

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1, Thomas McMahon, CF, d. Nathan Gencarella, 8-3. No. 2, Mike Mitchell, CCA, d. Jonathan Cornwall, 8-4. No. 3, Mike Mitchell, CCA, d. Shawn Oh, 8-0.

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1, Elizabeth Mann, CCA, d. Amy Gannon, 8-2. No. 2, Hannah Hurt, CF, d. Kym Bowlby, 8-3. No. 3, Kandice Daniels, CF, d. Nicole Nixon, 8-3. No. 4, Hannah Hurt, CF, d. Brook Berard, 8-5.

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1, Jackie Fraser/Carolyn Longpre, CCA, d Amy Gannon/Chelsea Macumber, 13-12. No. 2, Anna Coss/Michelle Gustafson, CCA, d. Hanna Hurt/Kandice Daniels, 8-3.

? Snow leads Bulldog girls golfers to fifth place in Lewiston

Bonnie Snow shot a 106 to lead the Bulldog girls at the Moscow Invitational at Bryden Canyon Golf Course in Lewiston Tuesday afternoon.

Michelle Stone shot 110, Morgan Braun 119, and Ella Gentz and Nichole Nevenhoven both carded 132 as Sandpoint shot 467 as a team and finished in fifth place.

Moscow's Kelly Tatham was medalist with an 83, and Lewiston won the overall tournament with a 355.

Sandpoint hosts their own tournament Monday at Stoneridge Golf Course.