COEUR d’ALENE — While the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen were celebrating graduations at Coeur d’Alene and Lake City High last Friday and Saturday, the Prairie Cardinals were on the baseball field.

Learning.

Growing.

Playing.

And it paid off for the Cardinals the opening game of Monday’s Class AA American Legion doubleheader on Monday night.

Preston Benson tripled twice and scored two runs, leading the Cardinals past the Lumbermen 10-5 in the first game at Thorco Field.

“That helped a lot,” Prairie catcher Jerrett Plunkett said. “It helped to get the bad stuff out of the way early so we could focus on these games. I think that will make us better in a long run.”

Against Dominic Conigliaro — who was coming off a perfect game in his previous start — the Cardinals had 12 of their 18 hits and scored eight runs.

“Our coaches gave us a good talk after our last game (Sunday in the School’s Out tournament at Post Falls),” Plunkett said. “It just helped our approach and we were able to swing the bats really well.”

In the second game, Coeur d’Alene scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for an 18-17 win to get a split.

Prairie took advantage of 10 free bases — five walks and five hit-by-pitches — to score nine runs to take a 17-9 lead.

Tanner Call had five hits in the second game for Prairie (3-6, 2-0 NIL), which competes in the Best of the Northwest tournament on Wednesday.

Plunkett, a recent graduate of Timberlake High in Spirit Lake, will continue his playing career at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Ore.

“I like the atmosphere, the coach and the players on the team,” Plunkett said. “I really think I can contribute there a lot.”

Plunkett finished the game with three hits and two runs scored for Prairie in the opener.

“I think if we can play well the rest of the season, we can contend for a spot to go to state,” Plunkett said. “That first win really helps us get the nerves out of the way and know that we can play well.”

Grant Wade hit a two-run double in the first inning for Coeur d’Alene.

In the nightcap, Conigliaro hit a two-run home run to give Coeur d’Alene a 6-3 lead, followed by a solo homer by Jarred Hall to take a 7-2 lead. Prairie (2-7, 1-1 NIL) fought back, keyed by a two-run double by Tanner Call to make it 8-7 in the fourth.

Coeur d’Alene (4-4, 2-2 NIL) hosts the Spokane Expos on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Thorco Field.

FIRST GAME

Prairie 211 402 0 — 10 18 0

Coeur d’Alene 210 101 0 — 5 10 1

Brock Zeller, Matt Fleming (6) and Jerrett Plunkett; Dominic Conigliaro, Tom Robinson (4) and Grant Wade. W — Zeller (1-0). L — Conigliaro (2-2).

HITS: Pra — Benson 2, Weeks 2, Plunkett 3, Buck 3, Busch, Call, Porter, Elliott 2, Lebsock. Cd’A — Hall, Wade 2, Compton 2, Conigliaro, Stapleton 2, Grinde, Stott. 2B — Elliott, Plunkett, Wade 2. 3B — Benson 2,

SECOND GAME

Prairie 211 390 0 — 17 18 4

Coeur d’Alene 341 102 7 — 18 13 3

Sheldon Sloan, Matt Fleming (2), Jared Porter (5), Jerrett Plunkett (7) and Dusty Weeks; Dan Gunnerson, Brett Stapleton (5), McCabe Compton (5), Grayson Baker (5) and Reegan Jacobson. W — Baker. L — Plunkett.

HITS: Pra — Benson, Weeks 2, Call 5, Porter, Elliott 3, Fleming 2, Plunkett 2, Zeller. Cd’A — Conigliaro 4, Jacobson, Reid 2, Hall 2, Compton, Wade, Sensel, Stott. 2B — Weeks 2, Conigliaro 2, Jacobson, Call, Reid. 3B — Benson. HR — Conigliaro (1), Hall (2).