District I Brings Legions To State’s Legion Tournament

With three teams from District I in the Idaho State AA American Legion Tournament eight-team field, the odds are pretty good that one will capture the championship.

The Prairie Cardinals of Post Falls, Trail (British Columbia) Eagles and host Lewis-Clark Twins are each capable of capturing a state championship.

Prairie (30-26 overall), for example, brings the most tourney experience as the Cards prepare for a third straight state appearance. The tournament begins a four-day run Saturday at Lewis-Clark State College’s Harris Field.

Post Falls finished runner-up two years ago in coach Darren Taylor’s first season.

Trail (31-9), which is coming off its first district title, will bring a talented pitching and hitting team to state.

Lewis-Clark (32-17) is familiar with state championships. The Lewiston High School team captured a state crown last spring.

Prairie draws the opening game Saturday morning when it meets Pocatello (34-19) at 9. In the other game in the same half of the bracket, Trail takes on Treasure Valley of Ontario, Ore., (22-20) at 12:30.

In the other bracket, Nampa (30-16) meets Idaho Falls (22-29) at 4 and L-C takes on Twin Falls (20-28), at 7:30.

The championship game is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

Taylor wouldn’t be surprised if his team advanced to Tuesday. The Cardinals must overcome a season-long nemesis: walks.

Prairie pitchers have allowed 321 walks in 372 innings while striking out 290. They allowed nearly 10 walks a game at the district tournament.

“If we get strikes our hitting will carry us,” Taylor said. “It’s pretty elementary. We can’t give up walks because it puts too much pressure on the defense.”

Catcher/outfielder Josh Phelps leads the Cards with a .440 batting average. The Cards’ team batting average is .310.

“Our offense is very similar to the team that finished second at state,” Taylor said. “We don’t have dominating pitchers, but we’ve got four good pitchers.”

Golf

Led by individual champion Dustin Brett of Tacoma, Washington won the 16-team Junior America’s Cup in Boise on Thursday.

Washington’s top three players shot a closing-round 3-over-par 216 for a three-day total of 647 and a seven-stroke win over Nevada. Brett shot a 1-under 70 to finish at 5-under 208, four strokes better than Nevada’s Russell Nygard.

Spokane’s Andy Hastings shot a 2-over 73 to finish at 223.

Bob Christensen of Hayden Lake shot a 1-under 71 for fourth place halfway through the Washington State Men’s Amateur tournament at Yakima.

Christensen is at 141, five shots behind leader Ken Rizvi of Redmond.

Spokane’s Jared Jeffries, at 143, and Darren Slackman, at 148, made the cut.

, DataTimes