COEUR d'ALENE - The roller coaster ride for second place in the 5A Inland Empire League baseball standings has begun.

The Post Falls Trojans, who entered the day in fourth place, made their move with a 11-10 and 13-2 sweep of the Lake City Timberwolves on Tuesday afternoon.

With the sweep, Post Falls (6-8, 3-6 5A IEL) moves one game ahead of Lake City (3-8, 2-5) into third place in the 5A IEL, with Lake City trailing second-place Lewiston (7-8, 3-5) by a half game.

"It was a good feeling for the kids to come out and get a couple of league wins," Post Falls coach Dustin Frank said. "The kids are playing some good ball."

With Lake City losing twice, Coeur d'Alene (14-2, 8-0), clinched the 5A IEL championship and will host the No. 4 seed in the regional tournament starting in two weeks.

Post Falls scored five runs in the sixth inning of the first game and held off a late rally by Lake City to open with a win.

"Our kids deserve it," Frank said. "They've been working hard lately and I'm glad to see them get some wins with the work they've put in."

J.J. Winger had a two-run single in the seventh inning of the first game for Lake City.

"You can't ask for anything more out of that situation than how the guys came back," Lake City coach Al Bevacqua said. "We're right there at the end and I won't question the effort. With experience, that will come."

Post Falls and Lake City will play another doubleheader on Saturday at Post Falls.

Freshman Ryan Hunt earned the save for Post Falls in the first game, then hit a two-run single in the first inning of the second game and had a solo home run leading off the third inning.

"He's a special athlete and a good kid," Frank said. "That was his first home run at the high school level. We're expecting a lot of good things from him in the next four years."

Post Falls (6-8, 3-6 5A IEL) travels to Timberlake today.

Hunt added three hits in the first game for Post Falls.

"He's been working us really, really hard," said Hunt of Frank. "It's definitely paying off. He's a good coach."

Zack Reeder struck out the side in the fourth inning, and finished with seven strikeouts for Post Falls.

"He stayed around the zone and really mixed them up and kept their hitters off balance," said Frank of Reeder. "When he starts hitting his spots, he's really tough to hit - especially with his off-speed pitches, he's really tough. When he doesn't rely on his fastball, he's in a different zone."

"He was on today," Bevacqua said. "He's a good pitcher and a good ballplayer. We've got to rise to his level to expect to compete. We're not there yet, but we're gaining headway. But it's a roller coaster and roller coasters are fun. Our kids are gaining the experience that will make them better in the future."

Lake City hosts Sandpoint today for a doubleheader.

FIRST GAME

Post Falls 302 005 1 - 11 13 1

Lake City 101 130 4 - 10 10 1

Dylan Charbeneau, Zack Reeder (5), Taylor Valente (6), Kurtis Wiltse (7), Ryan Hunt (7) and Matt Hammond; Suraj Kedia, Sam Fortis (6) and Ethan Brandt. W - Reeder (2-1). L - Fortis (0-3). S - Hunt (1).

HITS: PF - Givens, Valente, Reeder, Gomer, Bushbaker 2, Hunt 3, Hammond 2, Wiltse, Swift-Olsbie. LC - Burgess, Turrell, Bevacqua 3, Winger 2, Buley, Cooke, Schultz 2, Kedia. 2B - Bevacqua Turrell.

SECOND GAME

Post Falls 333 04 - 13 8 2

Lake City 020 00 - 2 3 5

Game called after 5 innings due to 10-run rule.

Zack Reeder and Nate Gomer; J.J. Winger, Sam Schultz (1) and Ethan Brandt, Reilly Cherry (3). W - Reeder (3-1). L - Winger (1-3).

HITS: PF - Givens 2, Valente, Reeder, Hunt 2, Wiltse, Gomer. LC - Cooke, Bevacqua, Burgess. 2B - Wiltse. 3B - Givens. HR - Hunt (1).