The Lakeland boys baseball team faced a tough loss against Coeur d’Alene on March 22 during their away game, marking another setback in their season. With their record now standing at 0-6.
In the first game, the Hawks fell 16-4. However, the fact that they were able to take a 4-2 lead in the third inning, the first lead since their game against Timberlake.
“After we got the lead they just came back and hit the balls in the right spot,” Austin Hocking said, “We need to hit the ball more. We just need to get in more reps and practice.”
It was a significant moment for the team, showing that they had the potential to compete early in the game. Unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain the momentum, and Coeur d’Alene’s offense took over, eventually extending the lead and securing the victory.
The second game, while another loss, ended with a much closer score of 3-0. The Hawks showed some improvement in their defense and pitching, holding Coeur d’Alene to a smaller lead than in the first game.
Jake Jovick started on the mound and pitched six innings and gave up only three runs. He was able to keep his team in the game, showing determination and skill on the mound.
“I knew that I needed to throw strikes and just trust my defense,” Jovick said, “I think we need to focus on getting our bats going to put up runs. We put up four runs in the first game. We know we can do it, so we just need to put the pieces together.”
Evan Shanley came in for the seventh inning and closed out the game, getting the final out. The pitching performance was solid, and it demonstrated that the team has capable arms to build on.
As the Hawks look ahead to their next matchup against the Sandpoint Bulldogs, they will need to focus on putting together a complete game.
This includes improving both their offense and defense, ensuring that they can build off their positive moments and avoid letting games slip away.
They have the potential to turn things around, and with the right mindset and effort, the Hawks can hopefully begin to get their season back on track against Sandpoint.
