COEUR d'ALENE - Returning one everyday starter from last year's squad, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings baseball team knew they'd have some climbing to do before they could advance to the state 5A tournament in Boise.

But after going unbeaten in the 5A Inland Empire League and beating the Lewiston Bengals 8-2 in Tuesday's 5A Region 1 tournament championship game at Ted Page Field - the Vikings will attempt to pick up where they left off a season ago.

Bubba Duran pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk as Coeur d'Alene advanced to next week's tournament at Boise Hawks Stadium.

It is Coeur d'Alene's second straight regional title.

"The kids have done a really good job of getting their bodies prepared during the offseason," Coeur d'Alene coach Nick Rook said. "We've been working on the concepts of playing as a team and buying into something that's bigger than themselves."

Lewiston will host Post Falls on Thursday at 4 p.m. for the region's second berth to state.

Levi Pereira, who started at first base last year, moved to catcher this year and had two doubles for Coeur d'Alene.

"I was just trying to relax today and let my hands work," Pereira said. "I saw some fastballs early and took advantage of it."

Coeur d’Alene has won 22 straight, following a pair of losses to Rocky Mountain to open the season.

“I’m excited,” said Pereira of getting back to state. “It’s going to be fun to go back down there. Hopefully we can win a few more games and get a state title. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and we can’t make mistakes, but I think we’ve got a good shot.”

Mikey Schmidt and Brett Robbins also had two singles each for Coeur d’Alene, which opens the tournament against the fourth-place team from District 3 next Thursday at 6 p.m. PDT.

“Our kids have really done a good job,” Rook said. “We’ve played from behind several times this season and played in tight games. We’ve played well behind under pressure and the kids don’t let it get to them and when we’ve gotten a chance to put them away — they do it. They’ve done a really good job considering how young they are.”

Coeur d’Alene drew 15 walks from Lewiston (10-12) pitching in the game.

“I think if we could have had some swings earlier in the game and eliminated the free passes, it could have been a closer game,” Lewiston coach Tom Grunenfelder said. “If we could have made something happen in the earlier innings, it could have been a little closer.”

Duran finished with five strikeouts and Ransom Storm struck out three for Coeur d’Alene, which allowed two unearned runs in the seventh inning on a throwing error.

“I was missing my spots early in the game,” Duran said. “I started to settle in the third inning.”

Lewiston 000 000 2 — 2 4 0

Coeur d’Alene 200 024 x — 8 8 1

Aaron Kracke, Vinny Agueda (6) and Tyler Charlo; Bubba Duran, Ransom Storm (7) and Levi Pereira. W — Duran (6-1). L — Kracke (0-2).

HITS: Lew — Charlo, Brooks 2, Martin. Cd’A — Schmidt 2 Roletto, Pereira 2, Robbins 2, D. Sutton. 2B — Roletto, Pereira 2.