Controversial home run gives victory to Cd'A

POST FALLS — Cory Kreighbaum's controversial two-run homer in the seventh inning helped Coeur d'Alene rally for a 4-3 victory over Sandpoint in the opening round of the River City Rumble on Thursday at Post Falls High School.

Libby (Mont.) pulled out of the eight-team tourney at the last minute, so a team of Cardinal All-Stars was put together, consisting of past Prairie Legion players, as well as players from the program's younger class A team. Prairie beat the Cardinal All-Stars 15-0, as David Carlile pitched a no-hitter.

Coeur d'Alene 4

Sandpoint 3

The game was played on the junior high field at Post Falls, and officials erected a temporary chain link fence from right-center to left-center field to shorten the distance to the center field fence, some 500 feet from the plate.

After Davey Holland walked to lead off the top of the seventh, Kreighbaum hit a drive to deep right-center field. The Sandpoint right fielder thought the ball skipped over the temporary fence so he put his hands up, signalling a ground-rule double.

But the umpires ruled the ball had cleared the closer fence for a home run, tying the game at 3. One out later, Dan Lau doubled and Tom Barlow doubled him home to put Coeur d'Alene (17-9-1) ahead for good.

Zack Manor's two-run single put Sandpoint up 2-1 in the fourth. The Lakers built a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

Alex Capaul had an RBI single for Coeur d'Alene in the fourth.

Bryant Sampson struck out six and walked three in going the distance for the Lumbermen.

Coeur d'Alene 000 100 3 — 4 12 0

Sandpoint 000 210 0 — 3 4 2

Bryant Sampson and Travis Georgius; Zack Manor, Tyler Lichty (7) and Alex Wolfe. W — Sampson. L — Manor.

HITS: Cd'A — Kreighbaum 2, Lyons, Lau 2, Barlow 2, Al. Capaul 2, Georgius, Estrada, Winter. Spt — Hodges, Poelstra, Manor, Bennett. 2B - Lau, Barlow. HR — Kreighbaum.

Prairie 15

Cardinal All-Stars 0

Carlile was one batter from a perfect game, retiring the first 14 batters before issuing a walk with two outs in the fifth inning. Carlile struck out eight and walked just the one batter.

Ryan Stewart and Kyle Douglas each went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs for Prairie (9-13). Carlile also had two RBIs.

Cardinal All-Stars 000 00 — 0 0 1

Prairie 037 4x — 15 15 0

Kory Kreider, Tim Carlson (3), Shane O'Hara (4) and Jesse Weeks; David Carlile and Kelly Hall, Jayson McMillen (4). W — Carlile (1-2). L — Kreider.

HITS: CAS — none. Pra — Stewart 3, Roth, Carlile, Douglas 3, Brubaker 2, Hall 2, Lander, O'Hara 2. 2B — Roth, Douglas 2, Hall. 3B — Douglas.

RIVER CITY RUMBLE

At Post Falls High School

Thursday's Games

Prairie 15, Cardinal All-Stars 0

Coeur d'Alene 4, Sandpoint 3

Highland (Pocatello) 8, Trail 1

Caldwell 16, University 5

Friday's Games

10 a.m. — Sandpoint vs. University

10 — Highland (Pocatello) vs. Prairie

1 p.m. — Caldwell vs. Coeur d'Alene

1 — Trail vs. Cardinal All-Stars

4 — Coeur d'Alene vs. University

4 — Trail vs. Prairie

Saturday's Games

10 a.m. — Highland (Pocatello) vs. Cardinal All-Stars

10 — Sandpoint vs. Caldwell

1 p.m. — American No. 3 vs. National No. 4

1 — American No. 4 vs. National No. 3

4 — American No. 2 vs. National No. 1

4 — American No. 1 vs. National No. 2

Sunday's Games

10 a.m. — Winners 3 vs. 4 (fifth place)

10 — Losers 3 vs. 4 (seventh place)

1 p.m. — Winners 1 vs. 2 (championship)

1 — Losers 1 vs. 2 (third place)