SANDPOINT — The North Idaho Lakers 16U couldn't contain a red-hot Prairie Cardinal Legion White offense in two games Wednesday evening. 

Prairie 9, North Idaho 2 

SANDPOINT — Despite another great day at the plate from Bonners Ferry High star Kordale Burt, the North Idaho Lakers couldn't muster up enough offense to overcome a five-run third inning from the Prairie Cardinals in the first game of the night. 

The Cardinals got after starting pitcher and Sandpoint High's Noah Langlois early, scoring a run with the third batter of the game for a lead they would never relinquish. Langlois continued to battle, getting himself out of the first inning jam with a strikeout and only giving up one more run in the second following a triple from Nathan Anello. 

The third inning is where Langlois' day began to fall apart, hitting two batters and giving up a single, which loaded the bases. A groundout and a Brhyson McGillen double drove in three more runs, giving Prairie a comfortable cushion they continued to add to. 

Despite a nice recovery from new pitcher Cy Marshall, by the time all was said and done in the top of the third, the Lakers trailed 7-0.  

In the bottom of the fourth, North Idaho finally found some offensive momentum, starting with an error allowing Marshall to reach first. A sharply hit single from Burt to left field helped Marshall move to third, putting runners at the corners. Priest River High rising junior Karsen Garvin's lone knock of the day drove in Marshall, cutting the Cardinals' lead to 7-1. 

Prairie continued to keep North Idaho at arm's length, scoring another run in the fifth to regain their seven-run advantage. While Burt's second hit of the day and a stolen base, allowed Garvin to score him in the sixth; it wasn't enough to match the Cardinals. 

Garvin finished the day 1-2 with a single and the only two RBIs of the game for the Lakers. Burt's hot bat ended the day 2-3 with two singles, the lone Laker to record a multi-hit game. Both Burt and Garvin stole two bases, as did Bonners Ferry rising sophomore Brent Worley, with Marshall nabbing a bag as well. 

Prairie 1 1 5 0 1 0 1 — 9 11 1 

North Idaho 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 — 2 5 1 

PITCHING 

NI — Langlois: 2.1IP, 5H, 6R (6ER), 3BB, 2K. Marshall: 3.2IP, 4H, 2R (2ER), 2BB, 3K. Burrows: 1.0IP, 2H, 1R (1ER), 0BB, 0K. PC — Anello: 6.1IP, 5H, 2R (1ER), 3BB, 6K. Jenkins: 0.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K. 

BATTING 

HITS: NI — Burt 2, Worley 1, Langlois 1, Garvin 1. PC — McGillen 3, Anello 2, Holding 2, Still 1, Jenkins 1, Orris 1, Roberts 1. RBI: NI — Garvin 2. PC — McGillen 3, Jenkins 2, Anello 2, Trueman 1, Still 1. 

Prairie 11, North Idaho 7 

SANDPOINT — Unlike the first game, the North Idaho Lakers offense roared to life to open this one, but failed to keep pace, falling 11-7 in a time-shortened contest under the lights Wednesday. 

The Lakers showed their trademark resiliency after giving up three runs to the Cardinals in the top of the first due to three walks, as they scored four runs in the bottom of the inning. Both Kordale Burt and Karsen Garvin continued to be the engine for the Lakers' offense, working walks to put the Cardinals' pitcher, Mason Trueman, on his heels. 

After falling behind in the count, Sandpoint High rising sophomore Cy Marshall blasted a ball to center for a triple, knocking in Garvin and tying up the game at 3-3. Another passed ball allowed Marshall to score, giving the Lakers their first lead of the doubleheader at 4-3. 

Prairie didn't go quietly, though, quickly putting a runner in scoring position after Joseph Vaeena-Milam worked a walk. A sacrifice lineout and two more singles put the Cardinals back in front, 6-4. 

In the third, five walks and a hit by pitch gifted the Cardinals base runners that they didn't waste, racking up three more runs to all, but put the game out of reach for the Lakers at 11-4. 

Noah Langlois singled in the bottom of the third, igniting a small rally for North Idaho. Singles from Burt and Marshall kept the inning alive, allowing them to add three more runs and close the gap to 11-7. However, that would end up being the last time the Lakers stepped up to the plate, ultimately falling in both games. 

Marshall was the star of the show, finishing the game 2-2 with a triple and an RBI, while Burt went 1-1 with an RBI. 

The Lakers now sit at 3-9-1 on the season but have the chance to get back in the win column this Saturday against Orofino. North Idaho will host the doubleheader on Saturday, June 20, with the first game starting at 12 p.m. and the next set to start at 2 p.m. 

Prairie 3 3 5 0 — 11 7 1 

North Idaho 4 0 3 X — 7 5 1 

PITCHING 

NI — Loosier: 2.0IP, 5H, 11R (8ER), 8BB, 0K. Gutierrez: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 1K. Bowen: 0.2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K. PC — Trueman: 2.0IP, 4H, 6R (5ER), 5BB, 5K. McGillen: 1.0IP, 1H, 1R, 0BB, 1K. 

BATTING 

HITS: NI — Marshall 2, Burt 1, Langlois 1, Gustafson 1. PC — Veith 2, Anello 1, Still 1, Holding 1, Trueman 1, Orris 1. RBI: NI — Marshall 1, Burt 1. PC — Anello 3, Trueman 2, Veith 1, Still 1, Roberts 1, McGillen 1, Jenkins 1.