Despite Strong Arms, Iel Looks For Hit Parade

A baseball axiom says pitching wins games. All five Inland Empire League teams appear to have capable pitching as several of the top throwers from last year return.

But the element that very well could decide the league champion this spring is hitting. None of the teams boast deep lineups.

Weather permitting, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City today will get a jump on the rest of the league in the search for hitters.

Coeur d’Alene will meet Mead at North Idaho College, while Lake City breaks in its new field behind the school when it entertains University. Coeur d’Alene will play most of its home games at NIC as an automatic sprinkler system is installed at McEuen Field.

Lewiston opens Saturday in a single game against visiting Moscow. Also Saturday, Coeur d’Alene goes to Mead and Lake City visits Lewis and Clark. Sandpoint is scheduled to open Tuesday at home against St. Maries, while Post Falls debuts March 24 at North Central.

By virtue of rotating state berths, the IEL receives two invitations to state this spring. State will be held May 25-27 in Boise.

League coaches consider defending champion Coeur d’Alene, regional champion Lewiston and Post Falls as serious contenders for the league championship.

But as Coeur d’Alene can attest, the league championship last year was little consolation after the Viks were eliminated at the state-qualifying regional tournament.

Though Sandpoint isn’t considered a serious challenger, first-year coach Dave Martinez is optimistic.

“We couldn’t wait to get going (this spring),” said Martinez, who was an assistant last spring and served as Sandpoint’s American Legion coach last summer. “I see a lot of parity this year.”

Paul Mather takes over at Coeur d’Alene for longtime coach Ted Page. But Mather isn’t new to area baseball, having served as freshman coach at CdA and as AA Legion coach in recent years.

“We’ll contend for the league (championship), but Lewiston and Post Falls will be tough, too,” Mather said.

Post Falls coach John Pettoello doesn’t deny that his team has lofty goals after coming close to advancing to state last year.

“If we don’t get to state, we’d be disappointed,” Pettoello said.

He stopped short of predicting a league title, though.

“It should be a pretty good league,” he offered.