Northstars Keep Bats Alive in Three-Day Competition

The Tri-County Northstars emerged victorious in three of four contests over a three-day span last week as they displayed both clutch hitting and pitching. After a four-day hiatus, the Northstars traveled to Chewelah on June 12 for a matchup with the Northeast 49ers. Incoming Deer Park High School freshman Levi Olietti hit a home run out of the park as part of a three-hit, three-RBI outing. He also scored three runs. Payson Hansen led the unit with four hits, including a double, scoring three and driving in a pair. Caden Knudsvig and Carson Byrd each had two hits with Byrd scoring three times. Nikoli Hunsaker displayed a keen eye at the plate, walking twice. One day later they returned home for a matchup with the West Kootenay Orioles from Trail, B.C. The power display by the Olietti family continued as senior-to-be Ian hit the fifth ball out of Dave Franklin Field at Deer Park High School. Three of the other four hits were made by Deer Park High School players Hunter Dryden, Dylan Hall, and Teagen Tobeck. Hunter Robb had two hits and drove in two runs, scoring twice, and Hunsaker scored twice. Knudsvig, Payton Talmich, and Issac Wadleigh each scored twice. Cody Wilson also had two runs scored in the 17-2 victory. In the second game of their doubleheader, the Orioles held on to win 11- 9. Wadleigh, Robb, and Hansen each scored two runs. Wadleigh and Robb each drew a pair of walks as well. Lakeside made the short trip from Nine Mile Falls for a non-league encounter on June 14. Kai Benevedez got the Eagles on the board first, scoring in the first inning after reaching on a walk. The Northstars would answer in the bottom of the first as Wadleigh walked and Talmich doubled then scored for a 2-1 lead. Lakeside scored the equalizer in the top of the second as Colby Compau singled and scored on a Clay Arkle double. Two hits, combined with two walks and a Lakeside error, would produce four runs for Tri-County in the bottom of the third inning, giving them a lead they would not relinquish at 6-2. Robb connected on a clutch two-out, two-RBI single to push the Northstars’ lead to 8-2 after the fourth inning. Hansen and Justin Sturm would score in the bottom of the fifth, aided by a pair of errors by the visitors, pushing the lead to 10-2. Drake Wood and Compau drew walks to open the top of the sixth inning for the Eagles and the Northstars went to their bullpen, bringing Wadleigh in to relieve starter Ian Olietti. Arkle reached on an error for the final Lakeside run, as Wadleigh retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to preserve a 10-5 win.