Lakers looking to start another streak

SANDPOINT — Facing a balanced Lewiston team loaded with depth, the Riley Creek Lakers’ four-game win streak came to an end last Sunday, when they lost 11-1 and 16-8 in an American Legion doubleheader in Lewiston.

In the opener, David Dishong (2-1) pitched his third complete game of the season, but the Lakers (4-4) committed six errors behind him and only managed one run offensively.

The Lakers bats came alive in the second game, as Scott Snow went 4-5 with two runs and three RBIs, and Joel Cramer went 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Tevin Hamilton, Nick Halpin and Joel Cramer each made their season pitching debuts in the second game, and Tyler Gordon also pitched.

“They’re mostly young kids with two to three years of elegibility left. If we can keep this cohesiveness, they’re going to be great players in a couple years,” said head coach Mike Givens. “They’re all pretty versatile; I have 12 utility players.

On the season, Cole Tonnemacher leads the Lakers with a robust .562 batting average, to go with five runs and five RBIs. Snow is hitting .545 on the year, and leads the team with 11 RBIs. Halpin is hitting .379, with a team-high 10 runs, nine RBIs and four stolen bases. Cramer is batting .385 with nine runs and three RBIs.

Givens said the team is willing to learn, and have three current college players who are coaching for the summer.

“The wealth of info that Ricky (Klontz), Zak (Manor) and Tyler (Lichty) have brought in is amazing,” Givens said. “They can really relate to the players.”

The Lakers play a doubleheader in Moscow on Sunday at 3 p.m., and don’t have another home game until June 25.