Merchants' pitching gains doubleheader sweep of Coeur d'Alene

   The Orofino Merchants gained a doubleheader sweep over league rival Coeur d'Alene on Sunday on the backs of two strong pitching performances. The scores were 5-4 and 5-0.

   Dylan Midstokke hung around long enough to get the win in the first game, fanning 12 batters while issuing two walks and allowing four runs.

   The Merchants trailed 4-0 in the sixth inning when they received a jump-start courtesy of Cd'A. Three walks and a hit batter got the Merchants on the board and loaded the bases for Ricky Breeden.

   Breeden stroked a two-run single to make it 4-3, and Ethan Gilliam followed with a run-scoring single to tie the score.

Breeden scored the winning run on a double play off the bat of Nick Pomponio.

   Seth Melton pitched a complete-game shutout in the second contest, racking up 10 strikeouts and yielding just three hits.

   Jason Thompson hit two doubles, and Melton, Midstokke and Gilliam also pitched in two hits apiece as Orofino (7-1) cruised to the win.

First Game

   Coeur d'Alene Loggers 000 022 0-4 4 2

   Orofino Merchants 000 005 0-5 7 1

   Ranson Storm, Josh Huttelman (6) and Johnathan Howard. Dylan Midstokke, Seth Melton (7) and Jason Thompson.

   Loggers hits - Devin Burgess, Devin Loy, Zack Osmaski (2B), Sam Fontis.

   Merchants hits - Melton, Midstokke 2, Ricky Breeden, Ethan Gilliam, Nick Pmoponio, Karl Vaage.

Second Game

   Coeur d'Alene Loggers 000 000 0-0 3 1

   Orofino Merchants 120 020 x-5 11 0

   Kyle Parson and Shon Siron. Melton and Thompson.

   Loggers hits - Garrett Caberez, Brett Robbins, Nick Shirona.

   Merchants hits -Melton 2, Midstokke 2, Gilliam 2, Thompson 2 (2-2B), Trevor Bansemer, Tanner, Gilliam.