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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Viks To Play For A-1 Title Sophomores Leads Cda From Behind To 4-3 Win Over Hillcrest In Semifinals

Thanks to a stunning comeback and another rock-solid pitching performance from Mark Scates, Coeur d’Alene High will play for the State A-1 baseball title tonight.

The Vikings used a four-run fifth inning to silence Hillcrest 4-3 on Friday night at Simplot Stadium.

And now the Vikings (16-11), riding a wave of confidence and momentum from a six-game winning streak, will face Inland Empire League rival Lewiston (23-6) for the crown at 6 PDT at Hawks Stadium. Lewiston topped Boise 6-5.

“What a game,” said a beaming CdA coach Paul Mather as he watched the Vikings hug one another near the dugout.

That’s probably an understatement.

Down 3-0, CdA tallied when junior Jesse Hoorelbeke doubled to right to plate senior Bruce Coppess. Sophomore Nick Rook’s fielder’s choice grounder scored junior Todd Hughes.

Sophomore Ben Ziegler lined a two-run double to push CdA in front 4-3.

Scates, also a sophomore, preserved the lead by surviving a hair-raising sixth.

Consecutive hits by Jade Chase and Derek Croft put Hillcrest runners on first and second and a wild pitch moved the pair up 90 feet.

Scates intentionally walked Nate Garn to load the bases with one out. Jace Beattie whiffed and his cousin, Carson, grounded out softly to first baseman Nick Groth to end the threat.

“Unbelievable,” said Mather, issuing his second understatement. “He (Scates) is a pitbull. That’s what I call him. I mean he competes, competes and competes.”

Scates, who pitched CdA past Lewiston in the regional title game last week, shrugged, “Mather kept talking about how we’d come around and get some hits. I just kept pitching and we got some hits. Everybody just picked it up.”

Mather had special praise for his underclassmen - Ziegler, Hughes, Hoorelbeke, Scates, et al.

“They’ve been incredible,” Mather said. “The thing I like is they keep battling, keep scratching away. They did it again tonight.”

Hillcrest (23-3), of Idaho Falls, sprinted in front 2-0 in the first. Garn and Jace Beattie opened with singles and Rod Sandoval whacked a tworun single.

But the Knights butchered a potential big inning in the second. With Adam Bergeson on first, Chase’s soft liner got past Ziegler in right.

Anticipating a possible catch, Bergeson was holding and got a late start running. With Chase following closely, Bergeson tried to score and was gunned out at home plate. Then Vikings catcher Mike Dorame wheeled and tossed a strike to Hoorelbeke at third to get Chase, who had made too big a turn.

From there, Scates settled into a groove. He retired the Knights 1-2-3 in the seventh.

“Great, great pitching,” offered Mather. “And our defense was solid.”

The Viks will be after the school’s first baseball crown. Hoorelbeke will be on the mound.

Elsewhere, Minico (22-7), an 11-6 winner over Idaho Falls (11-14), faces Centennial, which defeated Mountain Home, in today’s consolation final.