Badgers splits with Timberlake in chilly twinbill

BONNERS FERRY — Brody Rice hit a two-run double to give Bonners Ferry the lead for good in the sixth inning of a 12-8 win over the Timberlake Tigers in the first game of an Intermountain League doubleheader at Bonners Ferry High on Saturday.

Teigan Banning struck out seven in the opener for Bonners Ferry.

In the nightcap, Raj Olivieri and JT Armes drove in two runs each as the Tigers beat the Badgers 14-12 to get a split.

“It was a couple of uncharacteristic games by both teams,” Timberlake coach Bryce Johnson said. “Both teams kind of struggled to find the zone, but hit the ball really well. Both teams have been pretty pitching dominant the last few years, but it was cold, windy and miserable and we both had to grind through it.”

David Hammons went 5 for 9 with five RBIs on the day for Bonners Ferry (4-6, 1-1 IML), which travels to the Post Falls JV on Tuesday.

“David had a really good game at the plate,” Bonners Ferry coach Tom Turpin said. “Most of his hits were with two outs and he was just really impressive at the plate.”

Cooper Lenz doubled twice in the first game and had two hits and two runs scored in the second game for Timberlake (6-4, 1-1).

The teams, the only two remaining in the Intermountain League, will play another doubleheader on Friday at Timberlake. Should the teams split again, a deciding fifth game for the league title will be played in Bonners Ferry on May 1.

Baseball was scheduled to play Post Falls on Tuesday, but the game was canceled.

FIRST GAME

Timberlake 310 221 0 — 8 6 2

Bonners Ferry 203 034 x — 12 9 2

Caden Robinett, Parker Holly (5), Ryan Geren (6) and Jesse O’Connor; Teigan Banning, Roger Naylor (4) and Trey Bateman. W — Naylor. L — Robinett.

HITS: TL — Lenz 2, Wells, Armes, O’Connor. BF — Tr. Bateman 2, Th. Bateman, Naylor, Hammons 2, Banning, Br. Rice 2. 2B — Br. Rice, Naylor, Lenz 2.

SECOND GAME

Timberlake 106 025 0 — 14 10 5

Bonners Ferry 301 205 1 — 12 9 2