BASEBALL: Districts, Timberlake wins Game 1, by 1 run

Timberlake 2

Bonners Ferry 1

SPIRIT LAKE — Caden Robinett of Timberlake and Trey Bateman of Bonners Ferry locked up in another pitchers’ duel Wednesday in Game 1 of a best-of-3 series for the 3A District 1 baseball title

Just like Timberlake coach Bryce Johnson figured.

“These two have done it for the better part of four years,” Johnson said. “When you have those two guys on the mound, runs are going to be at a premium. And you have to score when you get guys on base.”

As it turned out, Robinett allowed just one hit, Bateman scattered five, and Timberlake (11-9-1) scratched out a pair of runs in the fourth inning to beat visiting Bonners Ferry (4-18) 2-1.

“He just was in a zone; the kid has been Mr. Consistent for a long time now,” Johnson said of Robinett, who struck out 12 and walked two. “He’s been looking forward to this for a long time, and I could tell early he was locked in.”

Robinett allowed a one-out single to Brody Rice in the second inning. Rice advanced to second on a passed ball, then moved up to third on a dropped third strike that got away from the Timberlake catcher. The catcher threw to first base to try to get the batter, there was a collision, the ball squirted away, and Rice scored.

Robinett drew a walk to open the fourth, and Cayden Knight entered as a courtesy runner.

The Tigers tried to bunt Knight to second, but a pitch in the dirt got away from the catcher, and Knight took second. 

Junior James Moore lined a triple to left center to score Knight with the tying run, and Zach Blansfield singled up the middle to score the go-ahead run.

“He (Moore) ran into a fastball, and it was huge for his confidence,” Johnson said. “It was a sigh of relief for him, and a giant fist pump for me.”

Bonners had runners at second and third in the fifth with two out. Johnson opted to intentionally walk Bateman to load the bases, and Robinett got the next batter to fly out.

“After we went up there last Friday and got smacked around after we had wrapped up the league title, I was curious how we would respond, and we responded really well today.” Johnson said.

Game 2 is today at 4 at Spirit Lake.

Bonners Ferry    010    000    0    —    1    1    1

Timberlake    000    200    x    —    2    5    0

Trey Bateman and Jesse Fess; Caden Robinett and Nate Beardsall. 

HITS: BF — Rice. TL — Brennan, Allaway, Moore, Blansfield 2. 3B — Moore.