Larson strikes out 10 in stellar two-hit shutout
(Photo by BILL ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY) Lakers starter Tyrone Larson, pictured earlier in the season, was in peak form on Tuesday night, mowing through the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen in a shutout win.
(Photo by BILL ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY) Conrad Becker, who plays for the Lakers Junior Single A team, slides into third.
SANDPOINT — Tyrone Larson was dealing for the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen on Tuesday night, spinning a two-hit shutout while walking just one and striking out 10 to lead the Lakers in a 13-0 five inning win at War Memorial Field.
The Lakers (13-7) provided plenty of run support, with Billy Brackett and Austin Greene each picking up two hits and two RBIs, Thomas Riley adding a pair of hits and Kerry Johnson and Caleb Edlund each drawing three walks, helping the Lakers plate nine runs in the fourth inning.
Once again, Tyrone Larson mowed through a lineup, featuring plus command of several pitches and a gritty makeup on the bump.
“Tyrone was phenomenal. I’m telling you, if you are a college coach out there or know a college coach, Tyrone Larson needs to be on your radar,” praised coach Ken Oler of his ace. “You want this guy pitching for you, not against you.”
In the opener, the Lakers dug an early deficit and lost 7-3, despite out-hitting the Lumbermen 10-9. Edlund continues to give quality ABs with three RBIs, and Sydney Bottomley added a pair of hits in defeat. Garrett Connolly and Tristan Authier each pitched three innings, but a four-run first inning proved too much to overcome.
“We uncharacteristically gave up five unearned runs on four errors. We got two back in the first but left several runners on base the next five innings and never seemed to get our momentum going,” described Oler. “We have a saying that ‘we gain strength when adversity grows,’ and we showed our SWAG in a game two win.”
The Lakers remain one game ahead of Coeur d’Alene in the league standings, and travel there on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Thorco Field to determine the No. 1 seed at districts.
The Lakers will host the district tournament on July 19-22 at War Memorial Field.