2020 Spokane Hawks Go ‘Back to Back’ to Claim 32+ Division Championship at Inland Northwest Man’s Baseball League
Inland Northwest Men’s Baseball League, 32+ Division
Spokane Hawks 5, Spokane Angels 4 (11 innings)
‘Boyd 11 Inning Complete Game on the Bump Secures Title’
Submitted by Bret Fink, League President
The Spokane Hawks defeated the Spokane Angels Saturday afternoon in what became an instant classic of a game. This eleven-inning contest had the drama and excitement that any roller coaster ride offers. With a final score of 5 to 4, the Hawks won back to back 32+ Championships. The 12-4 Angels started the season hot with a 5-0 record, defeating the Coeur d’Alene Chukars in the second round of the playoffs to advance to the championship game. The 11-5 Hawks started the season at 1-4, and defeated the Priest River Cubs in dramatic fashion as well to get to the Championship game. Both the Angels and the Hawks have played each other for the Championship three years in a row, each team winning once.
The visiting and #2 seed Hawks started in the game with a single and a base on balls, a stolen base from each guy and then a 2-RBI swing by Kevin Lammerding plating Albert Garza and Sean Sullivan. Josh McDonald scored in the second inning after a Sac fly from Nate Naumann, while Sean Sullivan scored again in the third inning after a single by Pat Martin.
For the #1 seed Angels, Abe Nisbet scored off of an opposite field single from Calab Mortlock in the second, while in the third, Abe then drove in two with a single up the middle, scoring Cris Coffield and Matt Liezen. Steve Warren reached base in the seventh after an error by the second baseman, reaching second, then scored on the next at bat by Cris Coffield. The final run of the day came in the top of the 11th. Kevin Lammerding singled and was courtesy run for by the speedy Nate Naumann. After a single by Pat Martin and then an RBI single by Josh McCoy up the middle that hit the second base and popped straight up into the air, which allowed Naumann to score.
Starting pitching was the real story in this game. Jarod Starr for the Angels pitched 10 innings, allowing four runs, only three earned, striking out eight batters, walking only two. Starr had five innings in a row of three up three down innings and one inning he faced four hitters. Starr took the no decision into the 11th, where reliever Lance Rickman surrendered the winning run for the Hawks on what was a sure handed double play ball up the middle to get them out of the inning, but the ball hit the base and popped straight up into the air.
Chris Boyd for the Hawks pitched a complete game with 11 innings pitched giving up four runs with only one earned. He struck out 12 Angel batters, surrendering eight hits and walking two. Boyd had three innings in a row of three up and three down, and three innings of only facing four hitters.
Cris Coffield of the Angels led the way for both teams, going 3 for 4 on the day with an RBI and a run scored. Rickmann, Smith, Nisbet, Stroud and Mortlock all chipped in a base hit while Albert Garza for the Hawks went 1 for 2 before suffering a knee injury that pulled him out of the game in the third inning. Pat Martin went 2 for 5 on the day and Sullivan, Lammerding, McCoy, Wasmund, McDonald and Ryan Odle all added a base hit as well. Chris Boyd was named game MVP.