Bonners Ferry 11, Timberlake 6 

Bonners Ferry went into their first league game of the season on a four-game losing streak, desperately needing a win. That’s exactly what happened, as the Badgers overcame a four-run deficit early on to beat the Timberlake Tigers at home on April 17. 

Several Badgers had huge offensive performances. Ronin Hanson and Keenan Maas, hitting at eight and nine in the lineup respectively, had identical outputs, with each going two for four with a double and three RBIs.  

Jack Woods tripled, contributing two RBIs and three runs. Colson Baisden went two for four with two runs and an RBI. Stryder Liermann went one for three with two runs and Maddox Mertzweiler also scored twice. 

Timberlake stormed out of the gates, putting across one run in the top of the first and two more in the second. Throughout the game, they comfortably outhit the Badgers 12-8. However, Bonners Ferry starting pitcher Stryder Liermann buckled down for the rest of the game, only giving up two more runs in his last 4.2 innings. 

In the bottom of the third inning, Bonners Ferry responded with one run, after Baisden singled and stole second, scoring on a single from Jake Solt.  

After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, two runs scored from the bat of Woods to make it a one-run game. Liermann worked out of a two-out Tigers rally to keep the game 4-3, before a crucial and game-defining bottom of the fifth occurred for the Badgers. 

After a lineout, a walk and two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Hanson. He delivered with a line drive single that scored Mertzweilier, tying the game. Keenan Maas followed with firepower, hitting a triple to clear the bases and giving the Badgers a three-run lead they would not relinquish. 

Baisden doubled immediately after to bring in Maas, before scoring two batters later on a steal of third base and a passed ball. A strikeout ended the inning with Bonners Ferry up 9-4.  

Timberlake responded with three hits in the top of the sixth inning but could only score one run as Liermann induced a popout and lineout to end the inning. A triple from Hanson in the bottom of the inning brought in two more Badger runs. 

Up six runs with just an inning left to play, the result looked inevitable. However, there was one more twist in the tail as three straight Tigers reached to start the inning. However, Baisden came through in the clutch, throwing out a runner at third base to get the all-important first out. 

After a popout and a walk, the Badgers won the topsy-turvy encounter by getting an out on the basepaths.  

Bonners Ferry moved to 5-11 on the season and will play Sandpoint at home on April 21 in a doubleheader. The games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. 

Bonners Ferry 0 0 1 2 6 2 x — 11 8 1 

Timberlake 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 — 6 12 1 

BATTING 

Hits: Baisden 2, Hanson 2, Maas 2, Woods 1, Liermann 1. 2B: Maas 1, Hanson 1, Liermann 1. 3B: Woods 1. RBI: Hanson 3, Maas 3, Woods 2, Solt 1, Baisden 1. Runs: Woods 3, Baisden 2, Liermann 2, Maas 1, Hanson 1. 

PITCHING 

Liermann (W): 6.2IP, 12H, 6R (5ER), 2K, 6BB. Rider: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB.