LEGION BASEBALL: 19U Lakers stir up more late-inning magic in win over Central Alberta

LIBBY, Mont. — Chase Sanroman hit a go-ahead two-run double in the top of seventh, Parker Reichart retired the side in the bottom half of the inning for the save, and the 19U North Idaho Lakers put together a five-run rally to defeat the Central Alberta Wolves 10-9 at Lee Gehring Field on Saturday for their second win of the Libby Big Bucks Tournament.

It was business as usual for the Lakers as Sage Medeiros led a three-run top of the first inning with an RBI single to left field. However, Central Alberta scored seven runs (two earned) on North Idaho’s Alex Leverich over the next 1 ⅓ innings to take a four-run lead. 

That wouldn’t phase the Lakers.

In the third, Reichart hit a two-run single to left to cut the lead to two runs, but the Wolves scored a run in both the third and fifth innings and took a 9-5 lead heading into the top of sixth. In the top of the sixth, Mason Little continued his clutch ways, hitting a two-run double to deep center. After a single by Cole Sanroman, Little would steal home to cut the deficit to one-run.

In the bottom half of the inning, Cole Sanroman, who pitched excellent in relief, gave up a lead-off double before getting three straight outs to keep the Lakers alive. He ended up with a final line of 4 ⅔ innings pitched, five hits, two earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh, that’s where the magic happened.

Gavin Day hit a double to center and Reichart was hit by a pitch, and after a steal of second and third by Reichart and pinch runner Jorden Tyler, Chase Sanroman doubled to deep center to give North Idaho a 10-9 advantage. With two on and one out in the bottom half of the inning, Reichart struck out the Wolves’ Ryder Hammer, who finished the contest 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a two-run home run, and got Walker Overwater to pop up to first to retire the side.

North Idaho (10-4) will face the Bitterroot Bucs in the Big Bucks Tournament championship Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (MST).

North Idaho 302 003 2 — 10 9 5

Central Alberta 341 010 0 — 9 12 3

W — Co. Sanroman: 4.2 IP, 5H, 2ER, 4BB, 2K. L — Polson: 2IP, 4H, 2ER, 0BB, 0K. SV: Reichart: 1IP, 1H, 0ER, 1BB, 1K.

HITS: NI — Co. Sanroman 3, Little 2, Medeiros 1, Reichart 1, Ch. Sanroman 1, Day 1. CA — McGeough 2, Simpson 2, Hammer 2, Feenstra 2, W. Overwater 2, Hoppins 1, P. Overwater 1.

2B — Day, Little, Ch. Sanroman, Simpson, Feenstra, P. Overwater, Hammer, R. Overwater. 3B — Co. Sanroman. HR — Hammer.

RBI: NI — Little 2, Reichart 2, Ch. Sanroman 2, Medeiros 1. CA — Hammer 4, Simpson 2, P. Overwater 1, W. Overwater 1.

SB: NI — Co. Sanroman 1, Tyler 1, Little 1, Reichart 1. NI — McGeough 2, Feenstra 1, W. Overwater 1.

    Gavin Day drives a ball to deep center field for a double during the top of the seventh inning on Saturday.