Spartans get wins against Newport, Riverside, St. Maries

NEWPORT – The Priest River Spartans got two non-league wins in Newport Tuesday, April 7, shutting out Newport 11-0 and beating Riverside 4-1.

Spartan coach Jeff Best says the games went well for Priest River.

“We started off slow against Riverside but heated up in the Newport game,” he says. “Batting and pitching were excellent; our fielding was solid.”

Riverside scored in the first inning of the Spartans’ first game, leading briefly before the Spartans scored two runs in the second inning. Both scored in the fourth and Priest River again in the fifth inning to get enough to win.

Brayden Elder struck out nine in five innings of pitching.

Against Newport, Spartan pitcher Jacob Best only allowed two hits and struck out a dozen over six innings in the Newport game.

Broden Collins went 2-for-4, including a triple. He had three RBIs and a stolen base. Colton Kuprienko was 2-for-4, with two stolen bases and Layton Goins went 2-for-4 for the Spartans, including a double.

The Spartans suffered their first loss of the season Friday, April 10 at home against an undefeated Orofino team, who won 14-3.

Elder and Kuprienko got the only hits and Goins got on base with a walk.

The next day Priest River played Orofino (6-0, 12-0) again, with the Maniacs winning 14-2.

The Spartans played St. Maries (2-1, 2-2) at home Monday, getting a 7-0 win.

Best struck out 11 in the win, giving up one hit. He also hit a triple. Elder, who was 4-for-4 at bat, hit a double.

Priest River (4-3, 8-3) next goes to Kellogg (0-4, 0-12) for a doubleheader Friday, April 17, with the first game starting at 2 p.m. They then play Kellogg at home Tuesday, April 21 at 2 p.m.