Green, Gray come up big as Cd'A advances to play Prairie

By BRUCE BOURQUIN

bbourquin@cdapress.com

COEUR d'ALENE - When the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen needed him the most, Gibson Green came up big.

The cleanup hitter for the No. 3 seeded Lumbermen hit a go-ahead, two-run double to deep center field to highlight a six-run fifth inning Thursday in a 13-10 win over the No. 2 Lewis-Clark Twins in the first game of the Class AA Area A American Legion baseball tournament at Post Falls High.

"I was kind of tired for everyone waiting to do something," Green said. "We were just figuring it out, finally. We were just playing together. We just have to keep doing what we know how to do (to win districts)."

Coeur d'Alene (20-23) will play North Idaho League champion and top seed Prairie today at 2 in the double-elimination tournament. The loser of that game will play in a loser-out game around 5 against Lewis-Clark. Both games will be held at Post Falls High.

The winners of Friday's games advance to play at noon on Saturday in the championship game.

Lewis-Clark has already clinched a berth in the state tournament, because it hosts it starting July 30 at Harris Field in Lewiston. The higher finisher between Coeur d'Alene and Prairie will also advance to state.

Green went 4 for 6 with two RBIs and three runs scored. His big hit came with the Lums trailing 5-4.

"I think it was big time for Gibson to come out like he did," Coeur d'Alene coach Zach Clanton said. "He made our offense click. If we hit and play defense (today), we should be fine."

After being no-hit for the first three innings by sidearming Lewis-Clark starting pitcher Mikel Jensen, the Lumbermen went to work in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on a double by Dominic Conigliaro to tie the game at 3. Conigliaro's base hit bounced past the Lewis-Clark left fielder, clearing the bases.

"They were excited for a big meaningful game like this," Clanton said. "It took them a little while to get accustomed to the guy on the hill. I can relate to that kid (Jensen), that's how I threw (when I played). It takes a few innings, so luckily we didn't give up. Connor (Cardinel) threw six innings after not having his best stuff was big time. For us not to roll over early in the game when we were down 3-0, showed a lot, for sure."

Lewis-Clark (22-15) scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, keyed by a two-RBI single by Josh Moore, to make it a 13-10 ballgame. In the ninth inning, with two runners on and the tying run at the plate, Lums reliever Elliott Sparks induced a double-play grounder, then struck out the next batter to end the game.

The Twins made four errors, two of which led to runs.

In the top of the eighth, Coeur d'Alene's Colton Gray delivered a three-RBI double for a 13-6 lead.

"I think it's something that happened way too late," Lewis-Clark coach Allen Balmer said of the comeback. "If we played defense, it's a different ballgame. We didn't show up to play."

Coeur d'Alene 000 361 030 - 13 13 2

Lewis-Clark 210 210 040 - 10 14 4

Connor Cardinel, Colby Kennedy (7), Elliott Sparks (8) and Colton Gray; Mikel Jensen, Casey Callahan (5) and Jessup Scott.

HITS: Cd'A - Plum, Kluss 2, Green 4, Nault, Conigliaro 2, Gray 2, Vaudreiul. L-C - Scott 2, Blunt 2, Fuller 3, Shandrick, Eggleston 2, Moore 3, Gay. 2B - Green, Nault, Conigliaro, Gray, Vaudreuil, Scott, Blunt, Eggleston, Moore.