Carr pitches Lakeland past Kellogg

David Carlisle didn’t want to pitch Wednesday.

The Lakeland High junior right-hander wasn’t frightened, mind you. Not after throwing a no-hitter Saturday in the first day of the 3A District I baseball tournament.

Carlisle wanted to save his arm so he could be as fresh as possible when the Hawks play their most important game of the season Saturday.

Lakeland will get that chance after the Hawks handled Kellogg 11-1 in a run-rule shortened five innings in a loser-out game at Post Falls High School.

The Hawks (15-11) advance to take on District III runner-up Fruitland (18-6) in a play-in game to decide a state berth Saturday at Orofino at noon.

Intermountain League champion Timberlake (20-3) topped IML runner-up Lakeland 10-5 in the district final Tuesday. Timberlake will take on the still-to-be determined District V runner-up when the state tournament begins next Thursday at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.

Kellogg concludes with a 13-13 record, its best season in the five-year history of its program.

Lakeland first-year coach Jason Bradbury was tempted to send Carlisle (6-3) to the mound Wednesday, But Bradbury figured his pitching depth was better than Kellogg’s and he was right.

Junior left-hander Lance Carr, in just his second start of the season after working through rotator cuff problems, held Kellogg to one hit. And that hit never made it out of the infield when Kevin Nansel reached base to lead off the second.

Carr struck out six and overcame a jittery start by his defense in the first inning when Kellogg scored an unearned run.

The Hawks wasted no time establishing control when they answered Kellogg’s run with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. First baseman Andy Kifer had a two-run single and Ryan Stewart followed two batters later with a two-run single.

The game ended with one out in the fifth when Carlisle knocked in two runs with his third hit.

“If we come out and hit the ball and field the ball, we’ll have a great shot at going to state,” Carlisle said of the play-in game. “In the games we’ve played the best, we’ve hit the ball and made the fewest errors. We were a lot more relaxed today. That has a lot to do with winning and losing.”

Bradbury was tickled to get such a solid outing from Carr. That puts Lakeland in the best shape going into the play-in game.

“I probably could have went with (Carlisle), but he’s still a little bit sore from his no-hitter Saturday,” Bradbury said. “But I figured if I could save my best pitcher for Saturday that would be good. I’m very proud of Lance. He threw strikes. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Kellogg coach Steve Twidt praised his team.

“This game was no indication of how these kids played this year,” Twidt said. “I take great satisfaction in them getting the full potential out of themselves. But if you asked each one of them (his players), they’ll tell you they could have done more. That’s what makes it special. They just had a lot of character.”

All-league team

The complete list of the coaches’ all-league team, which was announced Tuesday, was omitted from Tuesday’s newspaper. Here it is in its entirety.

Carlisle was named the most valuable player. Joining him on the team were: Josh Lander (Timberlake) and Seth Foley (Kellogg), pitchers; Kim Kreider (Timberlake), catcher; Alex Fraser (Timberlake), first base; Will Winn (Bonners Ferry), second base; Jesse Baker (St. Maries), shortstop; Casey Deland (Priest River), third base; Korey Kreider (Timberlake), Corey Sweeney (Lakeland), Ryne Eberlin (St. Maries), outfielders; Marshall Huffman (Timberlake), utility.

• Chris Butler pitched a five-hitter, striking out eight and walking one, and Lewiston (19-6) defeated visiting Coeur d’Alene 3-2 in a loser-out opener of the 5A Region I tournament. Rico Picone, who had an RBI double, and Trevor Ball, who added an RBI single, both scored runs for Lewiston. Rob Roth of the Bengals added a sacrifice fly. Dave Holland and Jesse Lenz contributed RBI singles for the Vikings (10-13). CdA’s Jake Haux struck out eight, walked none and threw a five-hitter. Lewiston will travel to top-seeded Lake City (18-6) at 4 p.m. today for a winner-to-state game. The loser will play Saturday in a state play-in game.

Softball

Dana Weaver pitched a three-hitter to lift Moscow (5-22) to a 9-1 win over visiting Sandpoint (2-21) in a loser-out opener of the 4A Region I tournament. Weaver struck out seven and walked none. Stephanie Helbling and Cassie Freer had two hits apiece for Moscow. The Bulldogs will travel to No. 1 Post Falls (10-14) at 4 p.m. today for a winner-to-state contest.