NI Lakers 19U splits DH in Plains over weekend

The NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team split its two games in Plains, Montana over the weekend.

They won 5-2 against the Plains Riverdogs in the nightcap and fell to 12-10 to the Libby Loggers in the opener.

Libby would go on to snap the Lakers five-game winning streak.

Both teams finished the first inning with two runs apiece. The Loggers would take the lead after scoring five runs during the home half of the third.

Following two walks and a lineout, Libby’s Caden Williams hit a two-run RBI triple into center field to score Ayden Williamson and Aiden Rose for the 4-2 advantage.

Williams scored one at bat later following an RBI single into left field, giving the Loggers a 5-2 advantage.

The next two runs to score would come from walks.

During the Lakers half of the inning, Cameron Garcia hit an RBI double that scored Ethan Butler to make the score 7-3.

Following a Kody MacDonald strikeout, Zeke Roop would hit a two-run RBI single to chip into the Loggers’ lead a little more, making the score 7-5.

Both teams added one run in the third inning, making the score 8-6.

After two scoreless innings, the Loggers came alive in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs.

Williamson got things going with an RBI single that scored Caleb Moeller, extending the Loggers lead 9-6.

The Loggers then scored on a walk and passed ball to give them a 12-6 lead.

The Lakers kept fighting in the bottom half of the seventh, scoring two runs.

Zach Leverich got hit by a pitch, which brought a runner home.

Two plays later, Cameron Garcia hit a two-run RBI double to score Mick Koch and Finn Mellander, making the score 12-10.

Garcia had a spectacular day at the dish, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and two doubles.

The Lakers combined for 10 hits throughout the contest. Roop went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

Butler got the start on the hill. He went two innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits, striking out one.

Koch came in relief of Butler in the third inning and went three and a third innings on the mound.

He gave up five runs off of three hits, striking out four.

Garcia closed out the game; he gave up no runs on no hits and struck out three.

In the nightcap, the Lakers quickly opened up to a 3-0 lead over the Riverdogs.

Avery Bocksch hit a one-run RBI double down the right field line in the top of the first to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.

Following a Koch groundout, Roop managed to cross the plate at home to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

The final run of the game was scored after a Jack Ringer hit that caused an error for the Riverdogs.

The error allowed Ringer to reach first base and scored Bocksch.

The Lakers put the game out of reach during the top of the third inning, taking a 5-1 lead.

Butler hit an RBI double into center field to score Ringer.

Alex Leverich got the start on the mound. He finished the game allowing two runs off of two hits, striking out zero.

Following the split, the NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team improved its record to 9-7 overall and has won six out of its last seven games .

The Lakers will next play the Libby Loggers again on Thursday, July 7, at 10 a.m.