Northstars 17U Heads to State Competition Following Win Streak

For only the third time ever and first time ever in back-to-back seasons, a locally-based American Legion baseball team has qualified for the state tournament. The Tri-County Northstars 17U squad will be travelling to Kennewick for state tournament play beginning on Saturday, July 25. District competition began on July 15 with a pair of pool play games at Deer Park High School.

In their opener, a sixrun fifth inning proved to be the difference in a 10-5 win over the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen. Deer Park senior Tristen Flugel went the distance on the mound. Ian Olietti was active offensively with three runs scored, two hits, one a double, and two stolen bases. Issac Wadleigh scored twice with two walks. Payton Talmich scored a team high three runs while collecting a pair of hits.

Nikoli Hunsaker also had two hits and Caden Knudsvig walked twice. In their second pool play game, the local squad faced a Cheney Summerhawks team that they had beaten with a late season come-frombehind effort. Pitching was the headlining effort as Payson Hanson and Simon Wood combined to allow only four hits and a single run in a 4-1, bracket play, position-clinching victory. Olietti had two hits, including a double. Unplayable air quality on July 17 forced postponement and re- location of their opening round bracket play matchup with the South Hill Bolts, which was moved to Lakeside High School in Nine Mile

Falls due to their home field being unavailable. Hunter Robb went the distance on the mound in the five inning 13-3 run rule-shortened triumph. He aided his own cause with three runs scored, two hits and drove in a pair. Wadleigh scored three and had two hits. Olietti continued his offensive hot streak with two runs scored, two hits while driving in a pair.

Talmich drove in two while Knudsvig had two hits and Hunsaker scored twice. Tri-County built their lead early with four runs in each of the first two innings for an early 8-2 lead. Action moved to University High School in the Spokane Valley on July 19 for a semifinal pairing with the Shadle Park Bagpipers.

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Northstars delivered their most decisive blow with a seven-run fourth frame and cruised to a 14-1 win. Robb drove in a team best four runs with three hits, including a double. Wadleigh scored twice, stole two bases and had a double. Wood scored twice on a pair of walks and swiped three bags. Levi Olietti drove in three while older brother Ian had two hits and drove in a pair. Results of their district championship matchup against the Mt. Spokane Wild on Monday, July 20, were not available at press time.