Timberwolves sweep rival Vikings

Forgive the Lake City and Coeur d’Alene baseball teams if they felt like their Inland Empire League doubleheader Friday was much like a season opener.

Games have been few and far between in what has been a too-wet spring as far as the teams are concerned.

The Timberwolves swung heartily at the plate and were efficient on the mound as LC swept the Vikings 10-4 and 5-3 at CdA under gorgeous skies.

The doubleheader was moved up a day because the weather forecast for today called for rain.

The T-Wolves (6-1 overall, 2-0 league) used an eight-run sixth inning in the opener to rally from a 4-2 deficit, and followed with similar success in the sixth inning of the second game as LC broke from a 1-all tie with four runs to secure the sweep.

Senior Beck Roan, the starting pitcher for LC in the opener, helped his cause immensely in the big uprising when he belted a grand slam. Roan teed off on a 3-1 fastball, planting the ball well over the center-field fence.

In the second game, Roan’s run-scoring double broke the 1-all tie in the sixth.

Roan’s heroics came despite the fact he didn’t feel well. He woke up with a scratchy throat, figuring he was just starting to come down with a cold.

“I’ve thrown better. I’m just glad I could contribute,” Roan said. “I was glad I was put in a position to help us out. We played well. The team energy was there.”

Roan stopped short of saying the T-Wolves’ sweep made a statement.

“I wouldn’t put it like that,” he said. “It’s just always nice to take two here. We threw well and played well today.”

All of the starting pitchers were on pitch counts because of the lack of innings.

LC’s defense wasn’t as sharp as it needs to be. The T-Wolves made three errors in each game, but LC picked off several Vikings (5-2, 2-2), who were overly aggressive running the bases.

The sweep was more than LC coach Cory Bridges envisioned after a difficult week of practice hindered by weather.

“This was real nice,” Bridges said. “We didn’t practice on our field all week. It was just a pit. I don’t think we’ve had a handful of practices outside (all season).”

Although it’s still early in the season, Bridges was pleased with what his team can draw out of the sweep.

“This was a good sweep because I think Coeur d’Alene’s been on a roll,” Bridges said. “They’ve been playing well. So, coming in here and sweeping them on their home field is quite a remarkable feat.”

CdA starters Bryant Sampson and Andy Seaman threw well. But the Vikings’ bullpen fell apart late in both games.

But CdA coach Brian Holgate – who first emphasized he didn’t want to say anything that would detract from how well LC played – said the losses were a team effort.

“Give them all the credit,” Holgate said. “They were better than us physically, mentally, effortwise – that’s my fault. We didn’t show up ready to play.”