SANDPOINT — North Idaho Post 15 launched its American Legion Baseball season in convincing fashion Wednesday, sweeping a doubleheader against Prairie at War Memorial Field by scores of 11-2 and 8-3 to move to 2-0 on the young campaign.
Lakers Explode for Six-Run First in Opener
The Lakers wasted little time making their presence known in game one. Priest River High rising junior Karsen Garvin got the scoring started with a two-run triple, and Bonners Ferry High rising senior Kordale Burt followed immediately with an RBI double as North Idaho plated six runs in the opening frame. Sandpoint’s Emery Loosier added a two-run single, and Bonners Ferry rising sophomore Brent Worley contributed an RBI single in what became an 11-2 victory shortened to six innings.
Sandpoint High rising sophomore Noah Langlois went 2-for-4 with an RBI single as the Lakers continued to pour it on, tacking on five additional runs in the third and fourth innings to put the contest out of reach.
On the mound, Sandpoint High rising sophomore Cy Marshall allowed two runs in the first inning but quickly settled into a groove, retiring nine of the next 13 batters he faced and finishing with six strikeouts over four innings. Worley came on in relief and was dominant, throwing two hitless innings while fanning three batters to seal the victory.
Comeback Win Completes Sweep in Nightcap
Game two required a bit more resilience from North Idaho. The Lakers trailed 3-2 entering the fifth inning before erupting for five two-out runs to take command and ultimately claim an 8-3 win.
Sandpoint’s Wyatt Buday was the hitting standout of the nightcap, going 3-for-3 with three singles. Marshall sparked the decisive rally with an RBI single, and Loosier came around to score on an error on the same play, putting North Idaho ahead 4-3. Garvin followed with an RBI single, and Worley delivered a two-run base hit to push the margin to five runs. Sandpoint’s Cody Gutierrez added an RBI single in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Burt and Langlois each tripled in the win, while Garvin finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Langlois proved effective on the mound as well, striking out five batters over four innings of relief. The Lakers outhit Prairie 13-7 in the nightcap.
Sandpoint rising sophomore Gunnar Gustafson also contributed an RBI single as North Idaho finished the night with a combined 20 hits across both games.
Coach Sees a Hungry and Unified Squad
Head coach Travis Tyler, who brought back eight of his 14 players from last year’s roster, was encouraged by how quickly the group came together. “The team has gelled amazingly,” Tyler said. “They battled back and collected key two-out hits all night.”
Tyler said he expects the 16U squad to be a factor in the district race and to contend for a state berth. Notably, North Idaho is competing within Idaho’s American Legion Baseball structure this season after spending the previous two years in Washington leagues. “These boys are hungry and want to play ball,” Tyler added. “If we keep playing clean ball, keep the bats active, and play Laker baseball, we’ll be in every game.”
North Idaho Post 15’s roster draws players from across Bonner County, including athletes from Sandpoint High, Bonners Ferry High, and Priest River High — a regional collaboration that gives multiple programs’ top talent a chance to compete together at the legion level through the summer months. Fans who follow local high school baseball will recall Sandpoint’s deep run in the 2026 IDHSAA 5A Baseball Championship, a sign of the county’s growing diamond culture.
What Comes Next
The Lakers are scheduled to host Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls in a non-league contest on June 1 at War Memorial Field. With a dominant offensive showing and strong pitching performances from Marshall, Worley, Langlois, and Garvin already on the books, North Idaho enters the early summer schedule with momentum and clear aspirations for a district title run.