Regional Baseball Action Heats Up
The Palouse Patriots A team have secured a spot in the Washington State American Legion baseball state tournament after a hard‑fought weekend of play. Their campaign began with an 11‑8 victory over the Spokane Valley Bombers, a game in which Carson Thomas collected three hits and two RBI, Cooper Wells added a double with two RBI, and Brody Pfaff contributed three hits and a run scored.
The Patriots then faced the West Kootenay Aces, falling 24‑6, but the experience will serve as a learning opportunity as they prepare for the next round of competition.
Tournament play will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday when the Patriots meet Medical Lake, a matchup that promises another test of their early‑season form and a chance to climb the standings.
In Idaho, the Orofino Merchants captured the state semifinal by defeating the Idaho Falls Tigers. Tovin Lundgren paced the offense with three hits and one RBI, while Riggins Tondevold pitched five innings, striking out five batters and allowing no runs on four hits.
The Lewis‑Clark Twins also saw action, splitting a doubleheader with the Corvallis Marketmen. Zavier McFee threw six innings of one‑run ball in Game 1, and Cody Ells drove in three runs in Game 2, showcasing the team’s depth.
Beyond baseball, Washington State announced that three‑star recruit Jaylen McLaughlin has committed to the Cougars men’s basketball program, while former WSU star Ula Motuga is returning as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team, bringing five years of Pac‑12 Tournament experience to the bench.
These stories reflect a vibrant sports scene across the Palouse and surrounding regions, where baseball, softball and basketball continue to draw community attention and showcase emerging talent.