NI Lakers 19U still in hunt for championship game
Koch throws out a pitch against the Glacier Twins during the Whitefish tournament in Whitefish, Montana.
(Photo courtesy KC MACDONALD)
LEWISTON — The NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team is still alive for a Class A Area A (district) championship.
The Lakers won back-to-back games on Friday at Harris Field in Lewiston against the Camas Prairie Zephyrs 18U and the Orofino Merchants.
They took down the Zephyrs 10-5 in game one and defeated the Merchants 12-5 in the nightcap.
The Lakers brought home nine runners during the first two innings in its opener against Camas Prairie.
Cameron Garcia scored the first run of the game after walking home in the first inning.
During the second frame, the Lakers scored eight runs to extend its lead to 9-1.
The Lakers scored six runs on RBI knocks.
Garcia led the Lakers at the dish going 3-for-5 with three RBI.
Zeke Roop got the start on the mound during the opener and pitched the first inning and ⅔ he gave up one run on no hits, striking out four.
Butler finished out the remaining five innings giving up four runs on two hits, striking out four.
In the nightcap against Orofino, the Lakers once again took advantage of a big early lead.
The Lakers scored seven runs in the bottom of the second to take a 7-0 lead.
The spurt began after Butler stole home and Trevor Brackett put up a sacrifice fly that scored Mick Koch.
The next two runs for the Lakers came from walks with loaded bases.
Butler made his presence known again in the second after scoring two runners following a double into left field.
The final run of the rally was an RBI single by Koch that scored Finn Mellander.
The NI Lakers 19U scored five more runs during the fourth for the game's final 12-2 margin.
Avery Bocksch notched a triple down the left field line to score Ethan Butler during the inning to give the Lakers a 9-2 lead.
The final run of the inning was scored by Kody MacDonald following an RBI single into center field that scored Brackett.
Koch got the start on the mound, pitching three full innings. He gave up two runs on six hits, striking out zero batters.
Bocksch closed out the game allowing no runs on no hits and striking out one.
The Lakers are still alive and well in the hunt for a district championship. Following the win, the Lakers will play Northern Lakes today at 1 p.m. at Harris Field with the winner advancing to the championship game at 4 p.m. against the LC Cubs.
For the Lakers to be crowned champions, they'll have to beat the cubs twice.