16U Lakers secure No. 1 seed to district tourney
SANDPOINT — The 16U North Idaho Lakers will carry a 12-game winning streak into the district tournament after completing a doubleheader sweep of Gonzaga Prep on Tuesday at Pine Street Field.
The victories allowed the Peak Sand and Gravel Lakers to lock up the No. 1 seed to the class A Area 3 tournament in Washington that starts on Thursday. The Lakers get a first-round bye and won't play their opening game at districts until 11 a.m. Friday at Pine Street Field. If North Idaho wins its first two games at districts, they will secure a spot to the state tourney.
During Tuesday's opener against Gonzaga Prep, the Lakers built a comfortable lead by scoring five runs in the first and third innings. They coasted to a 13-3 win.
Cole Sanroman and Zach Leverich each drove in two runs and Jacob Hansen tallied four RBIs. Chase Sanroman drew four walks.
Alex Leverich started on the bump and allowed five hits and two earned runs over 3 1/3 innings while striking out three.
In the nightcap, the Lakers scored six runs in the second inning and looked to be on their way to an easy victory in their final regular season game. But Gonzaga Prep rallied in the sixth to pull within one run.
Cole ended the comeback attempt with a strikeout to secure the 7-6 win for North Idaho.
Hansen, the Sanroman brothers, Jason Ringer and Kaipoi Wong-Yuen all brought in runs.
The Lakers (17-8-1) finish Spokane League play with a 16-1-1 record.
FIRST GAME
Gonzaga 200 10 — 3 5 1
North Idaho 525 01 — 13 6 2
Sayler, Niblock (3), Dixon (4) and Beaudoin; Alex Leverich, Chase Sanroman (4) and Coleman Inge and Zach Leverich.
HITS: G — Williams 2, Beaudoin, Yost, Sayler. NI — Newhart 2, Z. Leverich 2, Co. Sanroman, Hansen. 2B — Newhart, Beaudoin.
SECOND GAME
Gonzaga 101 013 — 6 4 1
North Idaho 061 00 — 7 5 2
Sarto, Moinette (4) and Strahl; Chase Sanroman, Cole Sanroman (3) and Zach Leverich and Coleman Inge.
HITS: G — Beaudoin, Williams, Yost, Sayler. NI — Ch. Sanroman, Co. Sanroman, Newhart, Inge, A. Leverich. 2B — Inge, Ch. Sanroman.