PRIEST RIVER – It has been a rough week or so for the Spartans as Priest River was defeated by Timberlake at home and twice by Bonners Ferry on the road recently.

On April 19, the Spartans suffered a 28-2 loss at home against the Tigers. Merrick Issenberger broke up Timberlake’s Ryan Geren’s shutout in the bottom of the fourth by hitting an RBI single to left field to score Colton Brooks. During the next at-bat, Charles Bennett was able to reach base to score another run for the Spartans.

The biggest blemish for Priest River was allowing Timberlake to score 19 runs in the third inning. The Spartans have struggled this year once the game reaches the halfway point.

“Right now it seems that we have one bad inning per game that’s hindering us. We need to play

better defense,” head coach Mark Schultz said.

Timberlake had seven players with multiple hits in the contest; the Tigers were led by Jesse O’Conner and Caden Robbinett, who each recorded four hits. Geren threw five complete innings on the mound giving up four hits, two runs (one earned), while recording eight strikeouts.

On Saturday, April 22, the Spartans traveled to Bonners Ferry for a doubleheader against the Badgers at Bonners Ferry High School.

In Game 1, The Spartans lost 12-2, but fought hard. Issenberger once again led the Spartans going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Brooks had a solid game on the mound throwing four and two-thirds innings giving up seven hits, five earned runs, and striking out four batters.

For the Badgers, David Hammons was unstoppable, recording eight strikeouts and going 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Brody Rice hit a two-run double in the fourth inning to start a rally for the Badgers. Bonners Ferry scored nine out of their 12 runs in fourth and fifth innings.

“Offensively we put the ball in play, and we had some chances, but we needed that one extra hit. Proud of how the boys fought in this game,” Schultz said.

In Game 2, the Spartans kept it close but were not able to produce much offense, losing 6-0. Priest River had another great pitching performance by freshman Logan Troumbley. Troumbley threw six complete innings giving up six hits, one earned run while striking out two. Offensively, Shayd Wong-Yuen had the only hit for the Spartans in Game 2.

“Offensively, we had base runners in five of the seven innings. We just are not getting the big hit when we need it,” Schultz said.

For Bonners Ferry, Elija Dahl, Brody Rice and Blake Rice pitched the combined on a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts. Offensively, Blake Rice also led the Badgers going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run scored.

The Spartans (0-13, 0-3) will be back in action Friday, April 28 versus Riverside in their last home game of the season.

GAME ONE (Timberlake)

Timberlake 72(19) 00 – 28 15 1

Priest River 000 20X – 2 4 10

Game called in 5th inning due to 10-run rule.

Geren and Armes; Wong-Yuen (3) L. Reynolds (3) Bennett and Isenberger.

HITS: TL – O’Conner 3, Allaway 3, Robinett 3, Armes 2, Huston 2, Gallimore, Olivieri. PR – Brooks 2, L. Reynolds, Isenberger

2B – Armes, Robinett. 3B – Olivieri

GAME ONE (Bonners Ferry)

Priest River 101 000 — 2 6 7

Bonners Ferry 104 502 — 12 11 3

Game called in 6th inning due to 10-run rule.

Colton Brooks, Landon Reynolds (5) and Shayd Wong-Yuen; David Hammons and Jesse Fess.

HITS: PR — Wong-Yuen, Brooks, Reynolds, Isenberger 2, Spangler. BF — Bl. Rice, Th. Bateman, Tr. Bateman, Hammons 4, Dahl 3, Br. Rice, Fess.

2B — Brooks, Reynolds, Hammons, Br. Rice.

GAME TWO (Bonners Ferry)

Priest River 000 000 0 — 0 1 9

Bonners Ferry 123 000 x — 6 6 1

Logan Troumbley and Shayd Wong-Yuen; Elija Dahl, Brody Rice (5), Blake Rice (6) and Jesse Fess.

HITS: PR — Wong-Yuen. BF — Bl. Rice 2, Hammons, Naylor, Tr. Bateman, Fess.

2B — Naylor.