Tonnemacher blast, Nikssarian gem helps Lakers to sweep of Lewiston
SANDPOINT — Eric Nikssarian pitched a three-hit complete game, and Cole Tonnemacher hit a tape measure home run to lead the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers to a doubleheader sweep over Lewiston in American Legion baseball Monday afternoon at War Memorial Field.
Nikssarian was in command during his first start of the season for the surging Lakers (7-3), who won the first game 8-1.
“He stayed ahead in the count,” said Lakers coach Mike Givens of Nikssarian. “He threw off-speed pitches for strikes and kept their hitters off balance.”
Joel Cramer hit his first home run of the season to provide some run support, Nikssarian scored two runs and stole two bases, and Jordan Hammack added two hits and two runs to lead a balanced offense.
Tonnemacher hit a mammoth home run in the second game, a 12-3 win keyed by a seven run sixth inning. Tonnemacher scalded a ball that cleared the locker room in right field on the fly, a prodigious blast estimated at 430 feet by the Lakers coaches, giving the left-handed slugger five home runs on the young season.
“What makes him a good hitter is the people behind him,” said Givens of his clean up hitter. “Guys are hitting and teams are forced to pitch to him.”
Nick Halpin scored three runs, Hammack added a bases clearing triple, Nikssarian added two more hits and Cramer and Tyler Gordon each added a double in the win.
Gordon picked up the win in the second game, running his record on the year to 2-1. Givens said the team is playing relaxed, enjoying the game, and learning from their mistakes, all positive attributes for a team.
The Lakers travel to Whitefish, Montana this weekend for the Ed Gallo Tournament.
n Tonnemacher homers twice as Lakers split at Orofino (late)
OROFINO — The Lakers split a doubleheader at Orofino Friday night, handing Orofino its first loss in seven outings. This also was the Lakers first overnight doubleheader, with games being played from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and the team arriving home after sunrise the next morning.
Tevin Hamilton scattered four hits over six innings in the opening 6-5 loss, with Cole Tonnemacher coming in relief for the final inning. Down 5-2, the Lakers surged in the 7th, taking a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the inning. Orofino was down to its final batter and Tonnemacher was ahead in the count when a run down throwing error allowed two runs to score.
Tonnemacher hit a two-run homer and Scott Snow added two hits and two RBIs to lead the Lakers’ offense.
Tonnemacher got the start in the second game and went the distance, striking out nine during a complete game one-hitter. He also helped himself with his second home run of the night. Tonnemacher is hitting over .400 on the year, with a team-high 16 RBIs.
Eric Nikssarian stole three bases and scored three runs, Tyler Gordon added a double, and Ryan Schwartz goton base every at bat, including a perfectly executed bunt which eventually brought in three runs.