Gordon, Tonnemacher lead Lakers past Cd'A
SANDPOINT — Tyler Gordon was sharp on the mound, and Cole Tonnemacher continued his hot hitting at the plate, leading the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers to a decisive 13-3 win in five innings Tuesday in a home opener at War Memorial Field.
Tonnemacher went 3-3, including a three run shot to right field, and Gordon allowed just two hits in a game called due to the 10 run rule.
Ryan Schwartz added two hits and scored three runs, Corey Neer laced a triple, and Eric Nikssarian and Joel Cramer added extra base hits as the Lakers (4-2) banged out 10 hits.
“All three phases of the game were working,” said head coach Mike Givens of pitching, hitting and defense. “The guys were zeroed in, just a solid all-around performance.”
The Lakers face Coeur d’Alene again today, with first pitch at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Field.
• Tonnemacher nine inning gem leads Lakers past Libby (late)
LIBBY, Mont. — The classic games feature drama, strategy and a clash of wills, and such was the case on Monday as the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers beat Libby 4-3 — a game worth re-creating.
The Lakers sent a skeleton crew, short four players due to impending high school final exams. Pitcher availability was another issue given four more games scheduled this week. Coach Curtiss Brown had a Rubik’s Cube with missing pieces and tasked Cole Tonnemacher to pitch a complete game, if possible.
The Loggers led 3-2 in the fourth, before the Lakers loaded the bases with none out in the fifth, leaving them all stranded. Normally such a thing takes the wind out of a team’s sails and things were looking bleak. Fortunately, Tonnemacher kept getting outs en route to a nine inning, 10 strikeout gem.
Down 4-2 in the seventh inning, with the Lakers down to their last batter, Scott Snow hit a triple to the fence, then scored when the next pitch got past the Libby catcher, sending the game into extra frames.
In the bottom of the 8th Libby put two runners on base and advanced them to scoring position with only one out. Coach Brown brought the outfield in tight and put the infield on the grass. With Libby’s clean-up hitter at the plate, prospects were grim. He hit a towering fly ball to right field and Laker rookie Sean Conlin backed under it, making the catch and throwing a perfect strike to home where Corey Neer blocked the winning run from the plate.
In the 9th inning Snow came to bat again with Tevin Hamilton on 1st base and one out. He slammed his second triple to centerfield and Hamilton wheeled around the bases for what became the winning run.
The game was filled with sub plots. Slick-fielding Ryan Schwarz pulled of clutch play after clutch play at shortstop. Cole Tonnemacher made a diving tag on an attempted bunt which proved critical. Corey Neer held the ball despite being illegally tackled while protecting the plate.