POST FALLS – The North Idaho Lakers opened with a couple of tough losses but bounced back to finish with a win in the 17U Premier Sports Invitational June 11 and 12 in Post Falls.

The team lost to the 17U River City Premier and 16U Spokane Expos on Saturday, but defeated the 17U Generals Baseball Club, 10-6 on Sunday.

In their first game against the Premier, the Lakers were leading 8-0 thanks to a seven-run effort in the top of the third inning. The Lakers recorded four singles, three walks and were able to reach on a couple of errors in the inning. Dallen Williams and Jorden Tyler both hit RBI singles; Tyler’s single scored two runs. The Premier would answer with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. River City would end up scoring a run in the final inning of play to secure a 9-8 victory.

The Lakers’ second game of the tournament against the Expos was a pitching duel. Williams was unstoppable on the mound for North Idaho. Williams pitched all five innings giving up two hits, two runs (zero earned), and struck out eight batters. Williams also batted in the only Lakers run via a single to center field in the top of the third inning. North Idaho had six hits compared to the Expos two, but fell short 1-2.

After a good night’s rest, the Lakers regrouped and rallied to defeat the Generals 10-6 in their last game of the tournament. Nine different players recorded hits in the contest for the Lakers; Williams, Sage Medeiros, and Jayden Kuprienko had two hits each. Parker Reichart contributed in a big way with some great pitching. In relief, Reichart went for 3 ⅔ innings on the mound giving up zero hits, zero runs, four walks, and six strikeouts.

The Lakers (2-4) will be back in action for a doubleheader against Lewiston at War Memorial Field Friday, June 16.