U17 North Idaho Lakers extend winning streak to eight games with trio of sweeps

The North Idaho Lakers 17U American Legion baseball team extended its winning streak to eight games after sweeping Ferris, Medical Lake, Rogers and Mead this past weekend.

On Friday, June 14 against the Ferris Saxons, the Lakers (9-1) nabbed the lead late in the game en route to a 7-5 victory.

The game was tied at four with North Idaho Lakers 17U batting in the bottom of the fifth when Avery Bocksch doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run.

Zeke Roop led things off on the pitcher’s mound for North Idaho Lakers 17U. He lasted two innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three and walking zero. Ethan Butler went 2-3 at the plate to lead Lakers in hits.

In game one on Saturday, the Lakers defeated Medical Lake 9-2 thanks to five runs in the fifth inning.

The Lakers took the lead for good with one run in the fourth inning on a single by Greg Belgarde and another five runs in the fifth inning. The rally was led by a triple by Mike Riley, a single by Roop, a fielder’s choice by Butler and an error on a ball put in play by Everett Hannah.

Bocksch led things off on the pitcher’s mound for North Idaho Lakers 17U. He lasted 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out four and walking one.

Roop went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead North Idaho Lakers 17U in hits. Coby Rogers led the Lakers with four stolen bases, as the team ran wild on the base paths with 14 stolen bases.

In game two Medical Lake managed to score three runs in the fourth inning, but the Lakers still won 13-3. The Lakers scored five runs in the third inning from singles by Trevor Meyer and Blake Sherrill, a walk by Riley, a sacrifice fly by Hannah and a ground-out by Roop.

Hannah got the start for North Idaho Lakers 17U. He allowed four hits and three runs over four innings, striking out two.

The Lakers had 10 hits in the game. Meyer, Bocksch, and Hannah all managed multiple hits for the Lakers.

Meyer went 3-4 at the plate to lead the Lakers in hits. The Lakers tore up the base paths, as four players stole at least two bases. Meyer led the way with three.

On Sunday, the Lakers swept the Rogers Pirates with 11-1 and 9-8 wins. A seven-run first inning led North Idaho Lakers 17U to an 11-1 victory. The rally was led by walks by Butler, Riley and Dillon Terry, plus doubles by Hannah and Bocksch.

This time, Jack Ringer was on the hill for the Lakers. He lasted five innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out six. Bocksch led the team with two hits in three at bats and defensively the Lakers were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error.

Then against Rogers, the Lakers earned the victory despite allowing the Pirates to score five runs in the second inning. The Pirates’ big inning was driven by singles from Holcomb, Searls, Stewart and McMillan.

The Lakers took an early lead in the second inning scoring two runs when Hannah doubled. The Lakers tallied two home runs on the day. Avery Bocksch had a homer in the seventh inning. Coby Rogers had a long ball in the third inning.

With the game tied at eight in the top of the seventh, Greg Belgarde of the Lakers doubled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run for a 9-8 lead.

The Lakers scattered eight hits in the game. Hannah and Rogers each managed multiple hits to lead the Lakers. Roop led the Lakers in stolen bases with three, as they stole 12 bases.

Trevor Meyer got the start for the Lakers and allowing five hits and seven runs while striking out four in two innings of work.

The 17U Lakers will be competing in the Border Battle 18U Wood Bat tournament, held in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane throughout this weekend.