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Top Clubs Have New Strengths

Greg Lee Staff Writer

The defending North Idaho American Legion league and district champions will have to go about winning in very contrasting styles this summer if they’re going to contend for state berths.

The Prairie Cardinals of Post Falls used a strong pitching staff to waltz to a league title last summer while the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen used timely hitting and improved pitching to capture the district title.

If Prairie hopes to contend for either crown, it’ll have to do so largely supported by a batting lineup that appears tough top to bottom.

“We’ll have to win some games 10-9 and 14-13,” quipped Prairie coach Darren Taylor, who lost the services of standout pitcher Ryan Kempton (15-3 last summer). Kempton decided not to turn out for personal reasons.

As for CdA coach Paul Mather’s Lumbermen, they’ll rely heavily on a deep pitching staff and defense to win. With a glaring lack of power, CdA may win most games by scores of 5-4 or 4-3.

Both teams, along with the LewisClark Twins and Trail (British Columbia) Eagles, will compete in what should prove to be one of the most contested league races in recent history.

L-C automatically earns a berth to the state tournament because it will be the host team. Two other league teams may also earn berths to state.

The district tournament will be played July 29-August 2 in Lewiston. State will be Aug. 5-9.

Coeur d’Alene’s pitching staff will be led by left-hander Jeff Anstine and right-handers Mark Scates, Jesse Hoorelbeke and Ryan Scharnhorst.

“I like our experience and our pitching staff,” Mather said. “We’ve got much, much more depth than last year, and 11 of our 17 kids are back.”

Though Mather hasn’t officially made an announcement, this could be his last summer coaching Legion. He plans to continue coaching at CdA High.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Idaho Legion Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen Coach: Paul Mather Top returners: Jeff Anstine, left-handed pitcher; Todd Hughes, outfielder; Andy Oss, outfielder; Bruce Coppess, second baseman. Newcomers: Mark Scates, right-handed pitcher (didn’t play legion last summer); Jesse Hoorelbeke, pitcher-infielder. At a glance: Lumbermen lumbered through league play, but late-season rally propelled CdA to surprising district championship. Nucleus of team played on CdA High team that fell to Lewiston in the recent State A-1 championship game. Catcher Mike Dorame elected not to turn out, leaving bulk of plate chores to capable Luke Anderson. League schedule: June 13: At Sandpoint (2), 5 p.m.; 20: at Trail, British Columbia (2), 4. July 7: at Prairie (formerly Post Falls), (2), 3 p.m.; 8: At Lewis-Clark (2), 3; 11: Sandpoint (2), 5; 13: Trail (2), 4; 18: Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 20: Prairie (2), noon; 22: at Moscow (2), 5; 25: Moscow (2), 5. Prairie Cardinals Coach: Darren Taylor Top returners: Brett DeBoer, left-handed pitcher; Joel Gorham, outfielder-pitcher; Josh Phelps, catcher; Al Bevacqua, second baseman; Brad Medlock, pitcherinfielder; Ryan Novak, first baseman-pitcher; Kevin Bridge, outfielder. Newcomers: James Ownbey, pitcher-infielder; Chris Olson, outfielder. At a glance: A month ago, Taylor’s prospective team (formerly the Post Falls Cardinals) didn’t have a weakness. But in the week leading up to tryouts, the top returning pitcher, Ryan Kempton (15-3 last summer), decided not to turn out. Even DeBoer, a crafty left-hander, was hedging on whether to play. DeBoer missed tryouts, in fact, and had to earn approval to join the team from the Legion post board. Cards waltzed through league relatively unscathed last year, but were knocked off in the district tourney before qualifying for state. League schedule: June 18: Moscow (2), 1 p.m.; 20: Lewis-Clark (2), 3; 27: at Sandpoint (2), 5. July 5: Trail (2), 2 p.m.; 7: Coeur d’Alene (2), 3; 10: at Moscow (2), 5; 13: at Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 15: at Trail (2), 2; 17: Sandpoint (2), 3; 20: at Coeur d’Alene (2), noon. Sandpoint Lakers Coach: Mike Givens, first year Top returners: Mike Lindgren, pitcher-infielder; Matt Heinrichs, catcher-utility; Ken Fankel, outfielder. Newcomers: Garrett Gosch, pitcher (transfer from Coeur d’Alene); Geordie Osborn, catcher; Casey Banks, pitcher; Bill Kunzeman, pitcher. At a glance: Sandpoint welcomes yet another new head coach, but Givens isn’t all together new to the Lakers. He assisted former coach Dave Martinez at Sandpoint High in the spring. The Lakers, like the high school team, could make some waves this summer. League schedule: 0-2 after being swept by Trail. June 10: at Lewis-Clark (2), 1 p.m.; 11: Moscow (2), 1; 13: Coeur d’Alene (2), 1; 24: at Moscow (2), 3; 27: Prairie (2), 5. July 6: Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 9: at Trail (2), 1; 11: at Coeur d’Alene (2), 5; 17: at Post Falls (2), 3.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Idaho Legion Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen Coach: Paul Mather Top returners: Jeff Anstine, left-handed pitcher; Todd Hughes, outfielder; Andy Oss, outfielder; Bruce Coppess, second baseman. Newcomers: Mark Scates, right-handed pitcher (didn’t play legion last summer); Jesse Hoorelbeke, pitcher-infielder. At a glance: Lumbermen lumbered through league play, but late-season rally propelled CdA to surprising district championship. Nucleus of team played on CdA High team that fell to Lewiston in the recent State A-1 championship game. Catcher Mike Dorame elected not to turn out, leaving bulk of plate chores to capable Luke Anderson. League schedule: June 13: At Sandpoint (2), 5 p.m.; 20: at Trail, British Columbia (2), 4. July 7: at Prairie (formerly Post Falls), (2), 3 p.m.; 8: At Lewis-Clark (2), 3; 11: Sandpoint (2), 5; 13: Trail (2), 4; 18: Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 20: Prairie (2), noon; 22: at Moscow (2), 5; 25: Moscow (2), 5. Prairie Cardinals Coach: Darren Taylor Top returners: Brett DeBoer, left-handed pitcher; Joel Gorham, outfielder-pitcher; Josh Phelps, catcher; Al Bevacqua, second baseman; Brad Medlock, pitcherinfielder; Ryan Novak, first baseman-pitcher; Kevin Bridge, outfielder. Newcomers: James Ownbey, pitcher-infielder; Chris Olson, outfielder. At a glance: A month ago, Taylor’s prospective team (formerly the Post Falls Cardinals) didn’t have a weakness. But in the week leading up to tryouts, the top returning pitcher, Ryan Kempton (15-3 last summer), decided not to turn out. Even DeBoer, a crafty left-hander, was hedging on whether to play. DeBoer missed tryouts, in fact, and had to earn approval to join the team from the Legion post board. Cards waltzed through league relatively unscathed last year, but were knocked off in the district tourney before qualifying for state. League schedule: June 18: Moscow (2), 1 p.m.; 20: Lewis-Clark (2), 3; 27: at Sandpoint (2), 5. July 5: Trail (2), 2 p.m.; 7: Coeur d’Alene (2), 3; 10: at Moscow (2), 5; 13: at Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 15: at Trail (2), 2; 17: Sandpoint (2), 3; 20: at Coeur d’Alene (2), noon. Sandpoint Lakers Coach: Mike Givens, first year Top returners: Mike Lindgren, pitcher-infielder; Matt Heinrichs, catcher-utility; Ken Fankel, outfielder. Newcomers: Garrett Gosch, pitcher (transfer from Coeur d’Alene); Geordie Osborn, catcher; Casey Banks, pitcher; Bill Kunzeman, pitcher. At a glance: Sandpoint welcomes yet another new head coach, but Givens isn’t all together new to the Lakers. He assisted former coach Dave Martinez at Sandpoint High in the spring. The Lakers, like the high school team, could make some waves this summer. League schedule: 0-2 after being swept by Trail. June 10: at Lewis-Clark (2), 1 p.m.; 11: Moscow (2), 1; 13: Coeur d’Alene (2), 1; 24: at Moscow (2), 3; 27: Prairie (2), 5. July 6: Lewis-Clark (2), 5; 9: at Trail (2), 1; 11: at Coeur d’Alene (2), 5; 17: at Post Falls (2), 3.