Combos hit right notes

The senior Combo twins were, well, quite the combo Thursday afternoon.

Nick Combo took care of things on the mound and Chris Combo broke through at the plate and made a pair of nice backpedaling catches from his defensive spot at second base as they led defending 5A state champ Lake City to an 8-1 win over Coeur d’Alene in an Inland Empire League baseball game at CdA.

In six innings, Nick (2-0) limited the Vikings to three hits, two of which came in the first inning, while striking out six and walking three. He coaxed seven groundouts and picked off a runner who strayed too far from second. The only balls hit in the air – four – were caught.

Chris Combo, who had just one hit in a handful of plate appearances before the day, knocked in two runs and hit his first homer in his second year as a starter.

Perhaps the best news is that Chris Combo is expected to return to the mound as early as Saturday in relief and next week as a starter. He warmed up in the bullpen late in the game but wasn’t needed. He picked up the victory in LC’s 7-1 win over Lewiston in the state championship game last year, but has battled a sore arm since the end of last summer’s American Legion season. He was projected as LC’s No. 2 pitcher behind senior ace Zach Clanton coming into the season.

“It was a great effort all around,” said Nick, who has emerged as the Timber wolves’ fourth starter behind No. 3 Tucker Anderson, also a senior. “We hit the ball well and played really good defense.”

Chris Combo thought he and his brother had something special working.

“We were on the same page, you could say,” Chris said. “Must have been twin telepathy or something like that. (Nick) threw amazing. He was on his spots all day. He seemed like he hit his locations very well.”

LC (6-0, 2-0) visits Lewiston (8-0, 4-0) in a doubleheader Saturday.

“I was very happy with our approach (at the plate),” LC coach Cory Bridges said. “Second game (in three days), you start to get better timing at the plate.”

CdA (4-7, 2-3) made a number of youthful mistakes.

“Lake City did an excellent job both offensively and defensively,” Vikings coach Chris Stangel said. “Their execution showed the maturity and confidence of their team.”

“Jacob Partridge struck out 11 batters as host Rogers (6-6) defeated East Valley (3-7) 14-0 in Greater Spokane League action. … Chris Allen went 3 for 3 with a solo home run for Mead (9-1) as it beat visiting Lewis and Clark (1-11) 5-4. … Bryan Karwacki struck out nine as Gonzaga Prep (7-5) beat host Mt. Spokane (5-7) 4-0. … Geoff Davis had a three-run double in the top of the ninth as host Central Valley (7-3) outlasted North Central (4-8) 7-3 in extra innings. … Shadle Park (3-7) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh for a comeback win over host University (8-2) 8-7.

“Ryan Burnett had a pair of hits in each game of the Inland Empire League doubleheader as Lakeland (5-3, 4-2) swept Sandpoint (5-4, 2-2) 12-8 and 8-6 at Canfield Middle School in Coeur d’Alene.

Softball

Lynde Peterson had a three-run double, part of an eight-run eighth for North Central (8-1), as it beat host Rogers (1-9) 10-2 in a Greater Spokane League game. … Delaney Zalud struck out 13 to help host Mt. Spokane (5-4) past East Valley (3-4) 3-0. … Lewis and Clark (2-6) had 13 hits as a team to beat host Ferris (0-9) 6-5. … Central Valley’s (6-2) Brooke Ford had a two-out RBI single in the 10th to beat host Mead (6-3) 8-7. … Sam Skillingstad struck out 11 and added two home runs and four RBIs as visiting Shadle Park (7-0) defeated Gonzaga Prep (3-5) 18-0.

“Amy Sterk had three hits, including an inside-the-park home run, to lead host Pullman (6-2, 3-1) to an 11-1, 8-2 sweep of Cheney (3-5, 0-2) in the Great Northern League.

“Lakeland’s (5-5, 2-3) Jamie Klopotek threw a one-hitter and drove in two to beat Sandpoint (0-10, 0-4) 4-0 in Inland Empire League action at Sunset Field in Coeur d’Alene. … Lela Work struck out nine as host Lake City (7-3, 3-1) defeated Coeur d’Alene (6-5, 2-3) 3-1.

Soccer

Mitch Weller scored three goals and had one assist to lead host Cheney (8-1, 7-1) past Riverside (2-6, 2-4) 5-0 in a Great Northern League match. … Pullman’s (8-0, 6-0) David Sharratt and T.K. Hemmi each scored second-half goals to come from behind to beat host West Valley (6-3, 5-2) 2-1. … Brandon Robo, John Daniels and Lee Petra each scored for Medical Lake (4-3) as it defeated host Chewelah (1-7) 3-1. … Jack Robertson scored four goals as Deer Park (4-3) beat host Clarkston (1-6) 5-4.

Golf

Mead’s girls shot a 359 to win the East Valley Invitational at MeadowWood GC. Lewiston’s Allysa Nillson was medalist (78).

Track

The Mead boys beat North Central and Ferris in a Greater Spokane League double dual. Host NC beat Ferris in their dual for the first time in GSL history. Kelly McNamee was a triple winner for Ferris as it swept the girls’ side of the double duals. … Central Valley’s Eden Lake, a double winner, helped the girls beat visiting East Valley. On the boys’ side, triple winner Greg Barnes led the CV to the win. …The Lewis and Clark boys swept the double duals over Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park at Spokane Falls CC. Amy Before and Andrea Nelson were double winners for Shadle as it swept the girls meet. … Mt. Spokane’s boys and girls swept Rogers and host University. Mt. Spokane’s girls swept the relays. Brandon Jared won the long jump and triple jump and placed second in the javelin for Mt. Spokane’s boys.