NI Lakers 19U falls in district opener

The LC Cubs went on a three-run spurt during the bottom of the fifth inning to knock off the NI Lakers 19U, 5-3 in the first round of the Class A Area A (district) tournament.

Trace Green got the Cubs on the board first following an RBI single in the top of the first inning that scored Guy Krasslet to put them ahead 1-0.

Following a scoreless second inning, the Lakers and Cubs matched run totals in the third, both scoring one run each.

Finn Mellander, who’s been one of the Lakers most reliable hitters in 2022, drove in the tying run during the top of the third.

It was a hard ground ball hit into left field. The single scored Cameron Garcia.

The Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the third following an error by Alex Leverich.

During the top of the fifth, the Lakers tied the game off following a Cubs Error.

Cubs pitcher Toby Elliott committed the error that brought home Mellander.

The Lakers would take their first lead of the game during the next at bat from Walla-Walla Community College commit Ethan Butler.

Butler hit a line drive RBI single into right field that brought home Zeke Roop, which gave the Lakers a 3-2 Advantage.

The Cubs were quick to respond during the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs back-to-back.

It started with an RBI double from Green that scored Krasslet, tying the game at three runs.

Toby Elliott drove in the other two runners following a two-run RBI single that scored both Roberts and Green for the game's final margin.

Leverich pitched a complete game on the mound for the Lakers giving up five runs on seven hits, striking out three.

The NI Lakers 19U will next play the Camas Prairie Zephyrs at 10 a.m. today in a loser-out game.