SANDPOINT — A four-run first inning from the Prairie Cardinals proved to be too much for the North Idaho Lakers 16U to overcome as they dropped the second game of the Battle at the Beach tournament, 5-4, on Saturday.

First baseman Kordale Burt was the standout for the Lakers, opening the game with an RBI single and finishing the game 2-3 from the plate. Burt’s second hit was a towering double to left field, which ignited a two-run fifth inning, giving the Lakers a chance late in the game. 

Unlike in Friday’s game, offense was hard to come by for North Idaho, racking up 10 strikeouts as a team to seven hits. Despite this, the Lakers made the most of their time on base, Brent Worley, Cody Gutierrez, Noah Langlois and Burt all stealing three bases each. 

Langlois’ electric baserunning played a key role in the fifth inning rally, executing a double steal, allowing Burt to steal home for the first of the innings' two runs.   

“I am proud of the boys for going out there and battling for seven innings,” Lakers Head Coach Travis Tyler said. “The boys brought energy, brought the bats, brought everything they could to this game.” 

Karsen Garvin got the start for the Lakers and battled through the rough first inning to hold the Cardinals scoreless for the next three innings. He was helped by some impeccable fielding, including a missile from right fielder Gunnar Gustafson to help turn a double play at home in the bottom of the second. Garvin finished the day, allowing 11 hits, two walks and striking out three. 

Late in the game, Cy Marshall came in with the bases loaded and induced a groundout to get the Lakers out of a jam and keep the game in reach. Marshall finished off a quick inning in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to another fantastic fielding play, this time by Worley, to land another double play.  

With a chance in the top of the seventh, the Cardinals landed two quick outs, but a single from Max Thompson gave the Lakers a breath of hope for a potential comeback. Those hopes were quickly dashed, however, as a hard-hit fly ball from Worely was caught. 

“When you play a team five different times, already in the season, you kind of know what to expect from each other,” Tyler said. “All in all, the boys played with heart and emotion, it was a great game.” 

The Lakers will wrap up the Battle at the Beach tournament on Sunday with two games. They’ll first face the Calgary Premier Blues 16U at 9 a.m. and close out against the Tri-County Northstars A 15U at 11:20 a.m. 

North Idaho 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 — 4 7 1 

Prairie 4 0 0 0 1 0 X — 5 11 1 

PITCHING 

NI — Garvin: 4.2IP, 11H, 5R (5ER), 2BB, 3K. Marshall: 1.1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K. PC — Holding: 6.2IP, 6H, 4R (4ER), 1BB, 10K. Still: 0.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K. 

BATTING 

HITS: NI — Burt 2, Worley 1, Langlois 1, Wholschlager 1, Gutierrez 1. 2B — Burt 1. PC — Veith 2, Still 2, Anello 1, Holding 1, Fitzpatrick 1, Roberts 1, Trueman 1, Jenkins 1. RBI: NI — Burt 1. PC — Roberts 2, Anello 1, Trueman 1, Vieth 1.