19U Lakers wrap up regular season, gear up for districts
Jack Ringer looks to make a throw from second base during Saturday's game against the Glacier Twins.
(Photo courtesy of ANNIE TERRY)
The 19U North Idaho Lakers pose for a team photo at the Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Tournament this weekend in Whitefish. Front row (from left): Koby Barlow, Dillon Terry, Conagher McCown, Mike Riley, Jack Ringer and Everett Hannah. Back row (from left): coach Shane Brackett, Greg Belgarde, Trevor Brackett, Kody MacDonald, Finn Mellander, Avery Bocksch, Zeke Roop, Mick Koch, coach Brian Riley and coach KC MacDonald.
(Courtesy photo)
WHITEFISH, Mont. — The 19U North Idaho Lakers concluded play at the Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Tournament on Sunday with a victory over Billings.
The Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers (14-16) finished with a 2-2 record across the four-day tourney. Now the Lakers are waiting to learn who they will face in their opening game at the class A Area A (district) tournament at Gorton Field in Rathdrum on Friday.
Head coach KC MacDonald said other teams in the North Idaho League still have to play their final games of the regular season today and Wednesday, so the Lakers are still unsure what seed they will be at districts. The Lakers hold an 8-4 league record.
Regardless of what path his team has to take to capture a district title, MacDonald feels the Lakers are in great spot for this point in the season. He said they are really hitting their stride.
"We're playing our best baseball," he said.
On Saturday, the Lakers suffered their second loss at the tourney in Whitefish. They fell to the Glacier Twins 18-0.
MacDonald said the Twins had a loaded lineup and presented quite the challenge for the Lakers.
"They had great hitters all around, great fielding and their pitching was awesome," MacDonald said, "which is great for our kids because I love seeing our kids go against the best competition we can find."
Koby Barlow, Finn Mellander and Trevor Brackett accounted for the three hits the Lakers amassed in the game.
North Idaho shook off the tough loss by capturing an 8-7 win over Billings on Sunday. It was their second victory over Billings. They took them down 8-7 on Thursday.
MacDonald was proud of the resilience his team showed after Saturday's blowout loss.
"That's an impressive thing especially when you're going into a district tournament," he said. "These kids battled."
Jack Ringer was a force on the mound. He allowed six hits and one earned run over six innings. MacDonald said Ringer didn't want to come off the bump.
Dillon Terry entered the game in the seventh to earn the save.
Kody MacDonald was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Avery Bocksch, Barlow and Mellander each drove in a run.
North Idaho 200 042 0 — 8 6 1
Billings 000 101 0 — 2 7 3
Jack Ringer, Dillon Terry (7) and Trevor Brackett; Billings battery unavailable.
HITS: NI — Barlow, MacDonald, Mellander, Bocksch, Hannah, Ringer. B — unavailable. 2B — Hannah. 3B — MacDonald.
North Idaho 000 00 — 0 3 5
Glacier Twins 863 1 — 18 13 0
Mick Koch, Zeke Roop (1), Avery Bocksch (2) and Kody MacDonald and Greg Belgarde; Glacier battery unavailable.
HITS: NI — Barlow, Mellander, Brackett. G — unavailable.
