NI Lakers 19U finishes second at district tourney

The NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team went through the wringer during the Class A Area A (district) tournament.

The Lakers lost their opening-round matchup against the LC Cubs on Thursday at Harris Field in Lewiston 5-3.

The Lakers proceeded to go on a three-game win streak to earn a spot in the championship series.

The NI Lakers 19U defeated the Northern Lakes Mountaineers 7-2 on Saturday to advance to the championship game.

The Lakers met up again with the Cubs in the championship game, needing to beat the team from Lewiston twice to be crowned champion.

The NI Lakers defeated the Cubs 4-2 in their first game on Saturday but fell 11-4 in the championship game.

The powerful bats of the Lakers notched 10 hits in its semi finals matchup against the Northern Lakes Mountaineers.

Finn Mellander led the Lakers in hits, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Ethan Butler finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Zeke Roop pitched five and ⅔ innings against the Mountaineers. He gave up just two runs on five hits, fanning 11.

Avery Bocksch took command on the mound during Saturday's game against the Cubs.

Bocksch threw 103 pitches, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out seven.

A two-run rally from the Lakers during the bottom of the fourth put them ahead 3-1.

Mick Koch got the rally started following an RBI single into left field that scored Mellander.

The final score of the inning was a walk home from Cameron Garcia.

Bocksch added another run during the bottom of the fifth to score Alex Leverich to take a 4-1 advantage.

On Sunday, league foes met for the official championship game.

The Lakers scored all of its runs during the top of the second inning.

Bocksch scored the game's first run following an RBI single that scored Roop.

Bocksch finished the championship series 2-for-6 with two RBI.

Butler and Kody MacDonald hit two more RBI singles to put the Lakers up 3-2.

The Cubs went on to score nine unanswered runs in the final five innings for the game's final margin.

The Lakers were once again effective at the plate, notching ten hits. Butler led, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Mike Riley, Koch, and Dillon Terry spent time on the mound. The trio allowed 11 runs on six hits, striking out one and walking eight.