Lakers bounce back to beat Moscow

SANDPOINT — Staff ace Cole Tonnemacher provided exactly what his team needed to put a tough doubleheader sweep on Sunday behind them, pitching eight effective innings to lead the Riley Creek Lakers to a somewhat unusual 8-7 win over Moscow in extra innings Monday afternoon at sun-soaked War Memorial Field.

After the Lakers lost 14-3 and 23-2 to North Idaho power Lewiston on Sunday, Tonnemacher (6-3) helped them bounce back in style, pitching all eight innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out six Moscow batters.

“It was kind of a moral win,” explained Tonnemacher after the game. “We got destroyed by Lewiston and that win gets us back playing our baseball.”

Tied 7-7 in the top of the eighth inning, Joel Cramer made a diving gem at short stop, saving a run and keeping the game tied. In the bottom half of the frame, Nick Halpin laced a double over the Moscow outfielder’s head, then scored the winning run in the most unusual of ways.

With Halpin on second, two outs and first base open, Moscow opted to take the bat out of Tonnemacher’s hands and intentionally walk the dangerous left handed hitter. However, the first pitch squirted away from the Moscow catcher, who then tried to nail Halpin at third, instead throwing the ball well over the third baseman’s head for the final play of the game.

Halpin was a spark plug at the top of the order all game, going 3-3 with two doubles and three runs scored. Scott Snow went 3-4 with an RBI, Tyler Gordon ripped two doubles and Tonnemacher added two hits and two RBIs for the Lakers (17-13).

The second half of the doubleheader was in progress at press time.