Cardinals edge Sandpoint Legion team

RATHDRUM — Prairie Cardinals reliever Jarod Ball got Vinny D'Orazi to hit into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to dodge a bullet.

The Cardinals scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch and the game winner in the eighth on passed ball to beat Sandpoint 3-2 in class AA North Idaho League action Thursday at Lakeland High School.

"That sixth inning was huge, because they really could have broken it open," said Prairie coach Al Bevacqua. "They had bases loaded with no outs. Ball struck out Zac Manor and (shortstop) Scott Carr started the double play to get us out of the inning."

Tyler Lichty stroked a two-run double in the fourth inning to give Sandpoint a 2-1 lead.

"Anytime we can beat a high-quality team, it's a feather in our cap," Bevacqua said. "Sandpoint's on the same level as Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston with several players that played in the (high school) state tournament. So it's nice to see we can play with anybody."

The two will play again tonight at 5 at Lakeland High.

Sandpoint 000 200 00 — 2 6 0

Prairie 001 000 11 — 3 64

Cory Hawkins, Ross Peterson (4), Zac Manor (7), Tyler Lichty (8) and Cody Reichart; Cory Rohrenbach, Jarod Ball (4) and Nick Snider. W — Ball (1-0). L — Lichty.

HITS: Spt — Hawkins 2, Reichart, Lichty 2, Manor. Pra — Carr, Aker, Haas, Garcia, Douglas, VanDever. 2B — Aker, Haas, Lichty.