NI Lakers 19U splits DH with league foe

The NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team split its doubleheader with its league foe the Northern Lakes Mountaineers on Wednesday.

The Lakers fell in the opener 12-7, but rebounded in the nightcap with a 6-4 victory.

The Lakers began to come alive during the top of the third inning in the nightcap, scoring four runs to take a 4-0 lead.

The first run of the inning was scored following a Mick Koch walk with loaded bases. Kody MacDonald crossed home plate to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.

The next at bat, Alex Leverich brought two more runners home following a two-run RBI single into left field to put the Lakers ahead 3-0.

Koch scored the final run of the inning following a Mountaineers error, resulting in him stealing home.

The Mountaineers scored their first run of the ball game in the bottom of the sixth inning after Avery Bocksch walked a batter with loaded bases.

The Lakers padded their lead in the top of the seventh, adding two more runs to give them a 6-1 advantage.

Leverich reached home following another Mountaineers error, its second of the ball game.

The Lakers final run came from the bat of MacDonald.

He hit a line drive back to the pitcher, reached first base, and scored Ethan Butler.

Zeke Roop was on the hill for the first five innings during the nightcap, notching a no-hitter, walking two batters, and striking out seven.

The Lakers gave up just two hits as a team during the second game.

In the opener, the Lakers again hopped out to an early lead following the top of the second.

The NI Lakers 19U scored three runs in the opening frame, starting with back-to-back RBI singles from Roop and Leverich.

Mike Riley scored the final run of the inning with another RBI single into center field to score Leverich.

During the bottom of the sixth inning was when the Mountaineers stepped on the gas, however, scoring six runs.

Northern Lakes would add three more runs during the bottom of the third inning to take a 9-4 lead.

The Lakers tried to fight their way back during the top of the sixth, scoring three runs to make it a two-run ball game.

Both Koch and Riley notched RBI doubles, with Riley going on to score soon after following a Northern Lakes error.

Northern Lakes matched their run total during the bottom half of the inning for the game’s final margin.

The NI Lakers 19U cycled through four pitchers during the ball game, with the hurlers giving up 12 runs on 12 hits, striking out nine.

Following the doubleheader, the Lakers improved their record to 12-10 overall.