The Camas Prairie Zephyrs lost 7 of their final 8 regular season games. On Tuesday, July 9 they split with Orofino at Cottonwood, losing 13-16 and then winning 16-14. On Friday, July 12, they traveled to Lewiston and were swept by the Lewis-Clark Cubs 6-16 and 1-11. On Saturday, July 13, they traveled to Sandpoint and were swept by the North Idaho Lakers 8-15 and 0-17. Finally on Sunday, July 14, they traveled to Coeur d’Alene and were swept by the LUMS 0-10 and 1-11.
Vs. Orofino
In the first game against Orofino, the Merchants jumped out to a 1-10 lead only to see the Zephyrs come back to send the game into extra innings.
Noah Behler started on the mound and was knocked around by the Merchants. He walked the first two batters then gave up a home run. He gave up a double before getting 3 straight outs to get out of the inning.
Ray Holes led off the bottom of the first with a triple and then scored on a 1-out sacrifice fly by JT Jackson.
In the second inning Behler gave up 3 walks, 3 singles and a double and 5 more runs. The Zephyrs got a 1-out walk by Collin Ray in the bottom of the second but failed to score.
Behler gave up 2 more runs in the third on a triple, double and single as the Zephyrs fell behind 1-10.
In the bottom of the third the Zephyrs got their offense going. Thayne Williams led off with a double to left and Levi McElroy followed with a homer over the right field fence.  Holes walked and stole second. A balk moved Holes to third. Cater Shears then doubled to right to score Holes. Jackson was hit by a pitch. After 2 outs, Ray reached on an error with Shears scoring. Eli Hinds then doubled to score Jackson and cut the deficit to 6-10.
In the fourth Behler gave up a single then got a pair of strikeouts. Behler was then replaced on the mound by McElroy. McElroy gave up a walk then got out of the inning with a groundout.
McElroy then led off the bottom of the fourth with a double. Holes walk and Shears reached on an error that loaded the bases. Jackson then singled to center with both McElroy and Holes scoring. After an out, Behler was hit by a pitch. In a squeeze play, Ray bunted with Shears scoring to cut the lead to 9-10.
In the fifth a single hit batsman and an error led to a run by Orofino.
In the bottom of the fifth Williams led off with a single to short left. Williams stole second and then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by McElroy. Holes doubled to left and then scored hen Shears reached on an error by the shortstop. Shears wound up at second on the play. Jackson groundout to first and Shears advanced to third then scored on an error in an attempt to catch him at third. That gave the Zephyrs and 11-10 lead.
McElroy gave up a walk in the sixth but no runs. Williams singled and McElroy walked in the bottom of the sixth but were left stranded.
In the seventh Orofino was able to tie the score without benefit of a hit. A leadoff walk and fielder’s choice. After a strikeout, 3 wild pitches moved the baserunner all the way to the plate for the tying run.
The Zephyrs went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth McElroy struggled with a single and 3 walks that led to the go-ahead run. Taven Ebert then came in to pitch and a second run scored on a fielder’s choice. After a second out, 2 more runs scored on a single to give Orofino a 12-16 lead.
In the bottom of the eight Williams stroked a 2-out homer to right but that was the Zephyrs only run of the inning as the game ended on a strikeout.
Behler pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs on 10 hits with 4 strikeouts and 5 walks. McElroy pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed 6 runs on 2 hits with 5 strikeouts, 7 walks and a hit batsman. Ebert got the final 3 outs and gave up no runs on 1 hit.
The Zephyrs had 11 hits led by Williams who had a double, a homer and 2 singles with an RBI. Holes had a double and a triple. McElroy had a double and a single and 3 RBI. Shears and Hinds each had a double and an RBI. Jackson had a single and 3 RBI.
The second game was also dominated by offense with the Zephyrs picking up their first win over Orofino in 5 attempts.
Chris Schumacher made his debut on the mound for the Zephyrs to start the game. An error and 2 walks loaded the bases and a hit batsman forced home the game’s first run.
The Zephyrs tied the game in the bottom of the first. Shears drew a walk and moved to second when Jackson reached on an error by the second baseman. Shears advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. The Zephyrs then pulled off a double steal with Shears stealing home but Ebert was put out at second to end the inning.
A walk, stole base and an error put Orofino back on top in the second inning.
In the bottom of the second the Zephyrs put 7 runs on the board to take the lead for good. Behler, Ray and Josh Gardner all walked to load the bases with nobody out. After an out, Schumacher walked to forced home Behler and tie the game. A walk to Holes scored Ray to put the Zephyrs ahead. Shears then hit a grand slam homer to center to make it 7-2. After a second out, Evert, Behler and Ray all walked to again load the bases. Ebert then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-2.
Orofno answered back with 5 runs in the third on 3 walks, 3 singles and an error as they cut the deficit to 8-7. With 2 outs and 4 runs in, Ray came in to relieve Schumacher on the mound. He gave up a walk that led to the fifth run before getting out of the inning with a groundout.
In the bottom of the third Talum Brown reached on an error with 1 out. Schumacher walked and Holes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a second out, Jackson singled to left to score Brown and make it 9-7.
In the fourth Orofino started the inning with a walk and a single. A groundout and a double play got Ray out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the fourth the Zephyrs exploded for 7 more runs to take a 16-7 lead. Behler led off with a single. Behler made it to second on an error and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ray. Behler scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Gardner. Brown was then hit by a pitch and Schumacher walked. Holes doubled to left to score Brown. Shears then singled to left to score both Schumacher and Holes. Shears wound up at second on the throw to the plate. Shears went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Jackson. Ebert doubled to left to score Jackson. Behler walked and Ray reached on an error at third that allowed Ebert to score and make it 16-7.
The Zephyrs needed all those runs as Orofino put on a big rally in the top of the fifth. A walk, double and another walk loaded the bases with no outs. A single to center scored 2 runs. A hit batsman reloaded the bases. A sacrifice fly scored another run. A single and an error led to 2 more runs. Another single scored 2 more runs. Eli Hinds went in to pitch and got the final out. The game was called at that point.
Schumacher pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up 7 runs, only 1 earned on 4 hits with 5 walks and a hit batsman. Ray gave up 7 runs on 5 hits with 4 walks and a hit batsman in 2 innings. Hinds gave up no runs on no hits in 1/3 of an inning.
The Zephyrs had just 7 hits led by Shears who had a homer and a single and 6 RBI. Jackson had a pair of singles and 2 RBI. Holes had a double and 2 RBI. Ebert had a double and an RBI. Behler had a single.
Game 1
Orofino  3 5 2 0 1 0 1 4—16 13 5
Zephyrs 1 0 5 3 3 0 0 1—13 11 2
Game 2
Orofino  1 1 5 0 7—14 9 4
Zephyrs 1 7 1 7 x—16 7 6
Vs. LC Cubs
In the doubleheader at Lewiston against the Cubs, the Zephyrs had a good first 3 innings of the first game. After that it was all Cubs.
Holes walked to lead off the game. He stole second, went to third on a balk and scored when Shears reached on an error. Jackson singled to right. Ebert then reached on an error with Shears scoring. After a second out, Ray walked and Hinds singled to left to score Ebert and make it 3-0.
Jackson started on the mound for the Zephyrs and gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a single and an error after there were 2 outs.
Shears and Jackson each hit 2-out singles in the second but were left stranded.
In the bottom of the second the Zephyrs gave up 5 runs on 3 singles, a double and an intentional walk. The intentional walk loaded the bases but backfired when the next hitter singled to score 2 runs.
The Zephyrs were able to tie it in the third. Behler was hit by a pitch with 1 out. Ray walked and Hinds singled to right to load the bases. Williams was hit by a pitch to score Behler. After a second out, Holes singled to left to score Ray and Hinds to tie the score at 6-6.
The Cubs took back the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs on a hit batsman, error, sacrifice fly and single to make it 6-8.
The Zephyrs only had 1 baserunner combined in the fourth and fifth innings, a 2-out hit by pitch for Hinds in the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth Ebert, who had come in to pitch in the fourth, walked the bases loaded. An error scored 2 runs. Williams went in to pitch and gave up a 2-run single. A walk, fly out and another walk 3 walks led to 2 more runs. Gardner then went in to pitch and a run scored on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly scored another run and the game was called on the 10-run mercy rule.
Jackson pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Brown gave up 4 runs on 4 hits with 1 hit batsman in 1 2/3 innings. Williams game up 4 runs on 1 hits with 4 walks in 1/3 of an inning. Ebert gave up 4 runs on 1 hit with 3 walks in 1 inning. Gardner gave up no runs on no hits in 1/3 of an inning.
The Zephyrs had 6 hits led by Hinds who had 2 singles and an RBI. Jackson had a pair of singles. Holes had a single and 2 RBI. Shears had a single and 1 RBI.
In the second game the Zephyrs led 1-0 after the top of the first inning but the rest of the game belonged to the Cubs.
Holes led off the game with a walk. After 2 outs, holes scored on an infield single by Ebert.
In the bottom of the first the Cubs took the lead for good. Hinds started on the mound and 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, a single and a wild pitch led to the Cubs scoring 3 runs.
The Cubs added 6 more runs in the second.
The Zephyrs mounted a threat in the third as Shears walked, Jackson was hit by a pitch and Ebert singled to center to load the bases with just 1 out. A double play then got the Cubs out of the inning.
Gardner went in to pitch in the bottom of the third and got through the third and fourth innings with no runs scored despite lots of traffic on the bases. Shears came on to pitch and get the final out of the fourth inning.
In the fifth 2 walks, 2 errors and a sacrifice fly gave the Cubs the 2 runs they needed to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
Hinds pitched 2 innings and allowed 9 runs on 4 hits with 3 strikeouts, 7 walks and a hit batsman. Gardner pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing 0 runs on 1 hit with 1 strikeout, 1 walk and 1 hit batsman. Shears pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed 2 runs on no hits with 2 walks and a hit batsman.
The Zephyrs had just 2 hits, both by Ebert, who also had the only RBI.
Game 1
Zephyrs   3 0 3 0 0—  6   6 3
LC Cubs 1 5 0 2 8—16 10 2
Game 2
Zephyrs   1 0 0 0 0—  1 2 2
LC Cubs 3 6 0 0 2—11 5 1
At North Idaho Lakers
The Zephyrs went down in order in the first inning of their opener against the North Idaho Lakers at Sandpoint.
Jackson started on the mound and gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a single, stolen base and another single.
Neither team had a baserunner in the second inning.
In the third the Zephyrs took their first lead of the game. Hinds led off with a triple to center. Williams tripled to left to score Hinds. Williams scored the go-ahead run on a single by Schumacher to right. After 2 outs, Jackson singled to right. Schumacher scored but Jackson was put out at second trying to stretch his single to a double.
The Lakers again went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
In the fourth the Zephyrs put together a 2-out rally. Ray walked with 2 outs. Hinds singled and Williams singled to load the bases. Schumacher was hit by a pitch to score Ray. Holes then tripled to center to scored 3 runs for a 7-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth the Lakers answered with 3 runs to cut the deficit to 4-7. A single, triple and double started the inning resulting in 2 runs. After an out and a walk, the runners advanced on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly scored the third run of the inning.
In the fifth Behler singled to left with 2 outs and Ray followed with a walk. However a groundout ended the inning.
The Lakers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. After an out they got 2 singles, a walk, another single, an error, a sacrifice fly and 2 more singles as they put 6 runs on the board to take a 7-10 lead.
In the sixth the Zephyrs got a walk and a single but again, didn’t score.
The Lakers added 5 more runs in the bottom of the sixth on 2 hit batsman, 2 doubles a single and a walk as they took a 7-15 lead.
In the top of the seventh Ray walked with 2 outs. McElroy went in to pinch run and scored on a double to center by Hinds. Williams walked but the game then ended on a popup to second.
Jackson pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed 15 runs on 12 hits with 2 strikeouts, 3 walks and 2 hit batsmen. Brown got the final out giving up no runs on 1 hit.
The Zephyrs had 10 hits led by Hinds who had a triple, double and single with 1 RBI. Williams had a triple and a single and 1 RBI. Holes had a triple and 3 RBI. Schumacher had a single and 2 RBI. Jackson had a single and an RBI and Behler had a single.
The Lakers dominated the second game as they scored 17 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings while the Zephyrs could muster only 1 hit, a double by Hinds that broke up a no-hitter with 2 outs in the bottom of the fourth.
Williams started and pitched 4 innings allowing 14 runs on 10 hits with 1 strikeout, no walks and 6 hit batsmen. Brown pitched the final inning and gave up 3 runs on no hits with 2 walks and 2 hit batsmen.
Game 1
Zephyrs 0 0 3 4 0 0 1—  8 10 1
NIL       1 0 0 3 6 5 x—15 13 0
Game 2
NIL       3 5 0 6 3—17 10 1
Zephyrs 0 0 0 0 0—  0   1 5
The Zephyrs closed out their regular season with a pair of lopsided losses at Coeur d’Alene against the LUMS.
In the opener the Zephyrs were allowed just 1 hit for the second game in a row. This time the only hit was by Gardner with 1 out in the third inning.
Meanwhile the LUMS scored 3 in the first inning and 5 in the second. McElroy pitched into the fifth inning. He was able to put up zeros in the third and fourth innings but the LUMS scored 2 with only 1 out in the fifth to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
McElroy pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed 10 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits with 7 strikeouts, 5 walks and 3 hit batsmen.
Behler pitched the second game and pitched into the fifth inning until he hit the pitch limit.
He gave up 2 runs in the first inning on a single, walk and double.
Jackson had a 2-out double in the bottom of the first but a fly ball out ended the inning.
Behler gave up a 2-out triple in the second but got out of the inning on a lineout to third.
The Zephyrs went down in order in the second.
The LUMS scored 9 runs in the third inning on an error, double, walk, fielder’s choice, walk, single, single, single, fielder’s choice, single, single and a double for a 0-11 lead.
The Zephyrs broke their scoring drought in the bottom of the third. Williams led off with a double and Brown followed with a single. Holes hit a short fly ball to center with Brown being forced out at second while Williams scored what turned out to be the Zephyrs only run.
Behler settled down and gave up a double in the fourth and an single in the fifth before being taken out for Gardner.
The Zephyrs had a 1out single by Behler in the fourth and a 2-out single by Shears in the fifth but were unable to score.
The game ended after 5 innings on the 10-run mercy rule.
Behler gave up 11 runs, 6 earned, on 12 hits with 1 strikeout, 3 walks and 1 hit batsman in 4 2/3 innings. Gardner struck out the only batter he faced.
The Zephyrs had 5 hits. Jackson and Williams each had a double. Shears, Behler and Brown each had a single. Holes had the only RBI.
The Zephyrs end their regular season with a record of 12-17-1.
Next up is the Area A Single A District Tournament which starts at Moscow on Thursday, July 18. There are 8 teams in the tournament. The Zephyrs will play the North Idaho Lakers in their first round game on Thursday starting at 10 a.m.
Game 1
Zephyrs 0 0 0 0 0—  0 1 1
LUMS  3 5 0 0 2—10 7 3
Game 2
LUMS   2 0 9 0 0—11 12 0
Zephyrs 0 0 1 0 0—  1   5 2