LEGION BASEBALL: Pecor helps Northern Lakes wrap up league title

MOSCOW — Ethan Pecor delivered the go-ahead hit in the top of the seventh, then saved the game in the bottom half as the Northern Lakes Mountaineers beat the Moscow Blue Devils 3-2 in the first game of a class A North Idaho League doubleheader Friday at Moscow School District Community Playfields. 

Then, needing a sweep to clinch the league title, Northern Lakes won the second game 13-2 to earn the No. 1 seed to the Area A (district) tournament in Lewiston in two weeks. 

In the top of the seventh, Dane Perkl walked to lead off and scored on a wild pitch for Northern Lakes (17-5, 6-2 NIL). 

With two out and runners on second and third, Pecor, down to his last strike, lined a single over the second baseman’s head to score Gage Tenney and Gage Haines to put the Mountaineers. 

Nate Beardsall, who struck out nine and allowed four hits in six innings, had reached his pitch limit. So Pecor, who had caught the first six innings, took to the mound and got the final three outs on four pitches. 

“It was one of those moments where you just ride the wave,” Northern Lakes coach Bryce Johnson said of the decision to pitch Pecor in the seventh. “We were talking about who to put out there, and he said he’s got it.”

In the second game, Jake Larcher scattered three hits over five innings, and was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Nate Beardsall went 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs. Tenney was 2 for 2 with two RBIs. 

Northern Lakes returns to action at a tournament in Missoula starting Thursday. 

FIRST GAME 

N. Lakes     000    000    3    —    3    4    0 

Moscow    002    000    0    —    2    4    2 

Nate Beardsall, Ethan Pecor (7) and Gage Haines; Sam Rigney, Brady Abbott (7) and Benson Godfrey. 

HITS: NL — Pecor, Junkin, Beardsall, Perkl. Mos — Magallon, Rigney 2, Drollette. 2B — Perkl. 

SECOND GAME  

Moscow     000    11    —    2    3    1 

N. Lakes    02(11)    0x    —    13    13    0 

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

Huckleberry O’Donnell, Connor Perry (3), Brady Abbott (3), Walker Morris (4) and Benson Godfrey; Jake Larcher and Gage Haines. 

HITS: Mos — Godfrey 2, Poler. NL — Perkl, Pecor, Beardsall 2, Junkin 2, Larcher 2, Byrd 2, Weitz. 2B — Poler, Beardsall, Junkin 2. 3B — Byrd. 

Lums win two to open wood bat tourney 

COEUR d’ALENE — The Lumbermen AA team beat the ATHX Jr. Redhawks 10-8 and the Calgary Premier Blues 3-1 in pool play on the first day of the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Wood Bat Classic at Thorco Field. 

In the first game, Coeur d’Alene scored all 10 runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of five walks, two hit by pitches and two errors. Tanner Franklin and Aven Adams each had RBI singles in the inning for the Lums.  

In the second game, Jack Pierce walked to lead off and scored on a ground out, and Justin Fagan singled and scored on a walk for Coeur d’Alene.  

Will D’Orazi, Asa Morton and Evan Huss combined to strike out seven and allow three hits for the Lums. 

Today at Thorco Field, Coeur d’Alene (8-11) plays the Northwest 509 Stars 18U at 4:30 p.m. and the Spokane Valley Bombers AAA at 7 to wrap up pool play. 

LUMS 10, REDHAWKS 8 

ATHX     012    041    —    8    13    3 

Lums    000 (10)0x    —    10    5    3 

Jace Wagner, Aiden Christensen (4), Jaxon Keeping (5) and Declan Benson; Trevor Booze, Will D’Orazi (6) and Colton Nordman. 

HITS: A — Keeping 3, Pendergast, Zack 3, King 2, Stejskal 2, Wojtas, Evans-Anderson. Cd’A — Morton, Huss, MacNiven, Franklin, Adams. 2B — Keeping, Zack, King, Stejskal, Evans-Anderson. 

LUMS 3, CALGARY 1 

Lums     200    001    0    —    3    3    3 

Calgary    000    010    0    —    1    3    0 

Will D’Orazi, Asa Morton (5), Evan Huss (6) and Colton Nordman; Spencer Lobb, Nolan Brown (3) and Dorian Gray. 

HITS: Cd’A — Pierce, Fagan, Huss. Cal — King, Thill, Gray. 2B — Thill.