Dishong, Gordon lead Lakers past Loggers

SANDPOINT — David Dishong threw a six-hitter, and Tyler Gordon belted the go-ahead home run to lead the Riley Creek Lakers to a 9-5 win over Coeur d’Alene Tuesday in the opening game of an American Legion doubleheader at War Memorial Field.

Tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Gordon drove a towering home run just over the fence in the left field power alley to put the Lakers (3-2) ahead by one. Nick Halpin followed with an RBI double, then Cole Tonnemacher drove an opposite field one-hopper into the fence in left center and hustled in for a two-run triple, narrowly sliding under the tag.

Dishong pitched his second complete game of the year, pounding the strike zone, keeping the hitters off-balance his curve ball and letting his defense work behind him.

“He was spotting up well and his off speed stuff was working,” said Lakers assistant coach Zac Minor, one of two former Lakers players returning to coach for the summer. “He was able to keep them (Coeur d’Alene) on their front foot.”

Lakers head coach Mike Givens said it has been really enjoyable to have two of his former players — Minor and Ricky Klontz — return and give back to the community. Minor went 6-2 with a 2.50 ERA as a sophomore starter this season for Concordia University in Portland, and Klontz, also a sophomore, is starting at second base for Mayville State in North Dakota.

The second game was still in progress at press time. The Lakers are at Lewiston on Sunday.