The Lakeland Hawks(1-9) hosted a doubleheader with their cross-highway 5A rivals, Post Falls Trojans(9-5), on April 19 at Gorton field. The Trojans won game one with ease, 16-4. The Hawks battled hard in game two, led by a two-double game from Garrett Love. They lost 6-3 after the game was tied at three in the late innings. 

On a four-hit day for Hawks senior Cameron Harris, the team was able to string together a solid amount of hits in both games. However, getting hits and getting on base do not necessarily correlate with runs. This was demonstrated in the doubleheader where the Hawks had eleven hits and got on base efficiently but lost both games and only scored seven runs total. 

Lakeland junior Garrett Love said, “I think it is a good sign that we are putting the ball in play and forcing the other team to make plays. Playing against 5A competition, we have to limit mistakes which we did for the most part in the second game but couldn’t do in the first. I think, in general, the fact that our hitting is doing better is a good sign.”

The first game was called after five innings, but the Hawks came out in the second game and scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to even the score. This was a promising moment of the game as the Hawks showed they can answer when a team puts up multiple runs in the top of the inning. 

Hawks Junior outfielder Blaze Day said, “We could have won the second game, but we just need to make sure we keep this energy going into games against league opponents.” 

The Hawks play next at home on April 21 against Sandpoint.