Spartans' season comes to end at districts
SPIRIT LAKE — Derek Galloway and Jerrett Plunkett combined on a four-hitter, allowing no earned runs as the Tigers beat the Spartans 7-3 in the 3A District 1 tournament second place game.
Justin Perkins, Nate Petit, Kody Kuprinko and Arran Jeter each had hits in the loss for the Spartans (7-16), whose season came to an end when some early mistakes led to a 5-0 deficit.
Kody Kuprinko struck out five in three strong innings of relief to keep the game close, as the Spartans cut the lead to 5-3 at one point.
“Our pitchers did a good job today. On the offensive side, we couldn’t get the big hit,” said coach Mark Schultz, whose team left nine men on base. “We fought the entire game, never giving up, which I am very proud about this team; they never gave up and always continue to fight.”
Timberlake (11-13) stole 10 bases in the game.
“We ran the bases extremely well,” Timberlake coach Matt George said. “Their pitchers did a great job of settling in and keeping our guys from getting too much going with runners on base. Priest River competed well today and this season.”
Schultz had high praise for seniors Greg Fitzmorris, Justin Perkins and John Campbell, who played their final game as Spartans.
“You have represented Priest River and our program very well and will be missed. I cant say enough of these three young men, they were great leaders on and off the field.”
Priest River 002 100 0 — 3 4 3
Timberlake 230 200 x — 7 6 3
Alex Simpkins, Kody Kuprinko (4) and Greg Fitzmorris; Derek Galloway, Jerrett Plunkett (4) and Seth Villanpando. W — Galloway. L — Simpkins.
HITS: PR — Perkins, Petit, Kuprinko, Jeter. TL — Galloway, Villanpando, Smith, George, Jessen, Wells.
n Priest River 11, Kellogg 0
Nate Petit spun a complete game gem, hurling a five hit shutout to help the Spartans to an 11-0 win over Kellogg in the loser-out game of the 3A District 1 baseball tournament.
Fitzmorris had two doubles among his three hits to drive in three, and Jeter and Kuprinko had two hits each for the Spartans. It was a solid team effort in all phases.
“We came out hitting in this game. We put the ball in play today, scoring in five of the seven innings,” said Schultz. “Nate pitched well for us today and our defense was sharp. We played a complete game today. After a tough loss, we came back and played well.”
Priest River 301 220 3 — 11 13 1
Kellogg 000 000 0 — 0 5 0
Nate Petit and Campbell: Jefferies, Jennings(6) and Fiqueroa. W — Petit, L Jefferies Hits: PR — Perkins, Fitzmorris 3, Petit, Hartwig, Kuprinko 2, Storro, Simpkins, Campbell, Jeter 2. Kellogg — Jerome, Easley 2, Bumgardner, Jefferies. 2B: Fitzmorris 2, Jefferies
n Bonners Ferry 3, Priest River 2
BONNERS FERRY — Greg Fitzmorris and Alex Simpkins combined to hold Bonners Ferry to just three runs, but the Spartans could only plate two, falling 3-2 to the Badgers in the opener of 3A District 1 baseball tournament.
Trailing 2-0, the Spartans rallied to tie the game in the fourth, and the score would stay the same until the Badgers plated the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
John Campbell and Arran Jeter each had two hits in the loss, as each team finished with seven hits.
“We really played a great game, but we left 15 on base and just couldn’t get that hit,” lamented Schultz. “We really played a complete game, I can’t say enough of how they fought in this game.”
Priest River 000 200 0 — 2 7 1
Bonners Ferry 200 000 1 — 3 7 3
Fitzmorris, Simpkins (5) and John Campbell; Dunham, Bateman (5) and Gray. W — Bateman. L — Simpkins.
HITS: PR — Fitzmorris, Pettit, Simpkins, Campbell 2, Jeter 2. BF — Br. Bateman 2, Gering 3, Blackmore,
Ch. Sabin. 2B — Bateman.