Lakers undefeated in Wooden Bat Classic
COEUR d’ALENE — Led by strong pitching and solid defense, the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers emerged victorious at the Junior Legion Wooden Bat Classic held over the holiday weekend at McEuen Field.
Cole Tonnemacher tossed a three-hit shutout as the streaking Lakers (21-6) topped the Snohomish Steel 6-0 in one semifinal on Monday, while Shadle Park held off the Walla Walla Bruins 3-2 in the other.
In the championship, Tevin Hamilton pitched his second complete game gem in 24 hours, tossing a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Lakers took it to the AA Spokane team, beating Shadle Park 5-1 to take the title. The Lakers, winners of nine straight, were clicking on all cylinders from the tournament opener on Friday through the championship game on Monday.
Despite a spate of seven quality wins over a four-day span, the Lakers are back in action at home today, hosting Moscow in a doubleheader at War Memorial Field. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
Tournament recap:
• Lakers 4, Newport 2 — Tonnemacher throws a complete game seven hitter and Tyler Gordon hits a two-run double to get the Lakers started on the right foot on Friday.
• Lakers 6, Latah 1 — The game was rained out after three innings on Friday, and finished on Saturday as the Lakers played a whopping 19 innings of baseball. Tonnemacher and Gordon combined on a one-hitter, Joel Cramer stole two bases and scored twice, and Scott Snow added an RBI double and two stolen bases in the win.
• Lakers 6, University 2 — Cramer continued to be a menace on the base paths, swiping three bases and scoring twice, and also picking up the final out for the save after six-plus innings of quality work by Gordon, who picked up his second win of the tournament. Tonnemacher and Nick Halpin had two RBIs apiece.
• Lakers 8, Coeur d’Alene 6 — Tonnemacher, who has emerged as the most dangerous bat in the lineup, went 3-4 with three RBIs, and Cramer, Luke Pearlstein, and Snow each knocked in a run to back Cramer, who picked up the win with a complete game. It marked the third win on a busy Saturday for the Lakers.
• Lakers 13, Kootenai 0 — Hamilton tossed the first of two one-hit pitching gems on Sunday, striking out nine in a game called after five innings. Cramer hit a lead off home run, Jordan Hammack added an inside-the-park homer, and Gordon drove in four runs with a double and a triple, putting the Lakers into the semis.
• Lakers 5, Snowhomish 0 — Tonnemacher tossed the aforementioned three-hitter, and Ryan Schwartz continued his solid defense at short, putting the Lakers into the championship game.
Lakers 4, Shadle Park 1 — Hamilton was impressive on the mound on just one day’s rest, and Snow and Gordon each had two hits to key a three-run rally in the fourth that proved the difference.