PREP SOFTBALL: Lakeland battles in losses to IEL tri-leader Lewiston

LEWISTON — The 4A Lakeland Hawks put up a fight Tuesday against the 5A Lewiston Bengals, one of three teams who entered the day tied for first place in the combined 5A/4A Inland Empire League.

But in the end, Lakeland came up just short in each game, falling to Lewiston 6-3 and 9-7 at Airport Park.

Junior Alexis Hanna went 4 for 7 with an RBI and three runs scored on the day for Lakeland (6-8, 4-6 IEL). Sophomore Abby Helmholz struck out eight in the opener for the Hawks. 

Jenna Barney struck out 13 in the opener for Lewiston (10-6, 10-2 IEL), which took over first place from idle Lake City and Coeur d’Alene (both 10-4, 8-2).

Hanna had an RBI single, Delilah Zimmerman a run-scoring double and Payton Sterling an RBI single in a three-run third which put Lakeland ahead 3-2. 

Lewiston responded with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

In the second game, Ada Blakemore had three hits for Lakeland. Kiersten Drake hit a two-run single in a four-run fourth inning that put the Hawks up 6-4. Drake’s RBI groundout in the top of the sixth tied the game a 7.

In the bottom half, Barney doubled in the tiebreaking run for Lewiston, then scored on a double by Ashland Schnell. Barney finished the game 4 for 4 with three doubles, an RBI and three runs scored.

Lakeland is now tied with Moscow (7-9, 4-6) for the top seed to the 4A Region 1 tournament.

Lakeland plays host to St. Maries on Thursday for senior night.

FIRST GAME

Lakeland    003    000    0    —    3    6    1

Lewiston    020    022    x    —    6    6    0

Abby Helmholz and Payton Sterling; Jenna Barney and Caitrin Reel.

HITS: LL — Hanna 2, Zimmerman, Sterling, Dewey, Helmholz. Lew — Arrelano, Barney, Shepard, Ready, Hogaboam, Miller. 2B — Helmholz, Arellano, Barney.

SECOND GAME

Lakeland    011    401    0    —    7    13    5

Lewiston    121    122    x    —    9    11    0

Mia Kesner and Payton Sterling; Ashland Schnell and Caitrin Reel.

HITS: LL — Hanna 2, Zimmerman, Sterling, Drake, Frank, Blakemore 3, Kesner 2, Ryckman 2. Lew — Arellano, Thorson, Barney 4, Schnell, Ready, Reel, Nuxoll, Scoville. 2B — Zimmerman, Frank, Barney 3, Schnell.

Timberlake 7

Libby 3

SPIRIT LAKE — Logan Walsh, Acacia Pecor and Marissa Needs each homered as the host Tigers downed the Loggers in nonleague play.

Casey Whaley struck out nine, walked three and scattered six hits for Timberlake (10-6).

Walsh delivered a two-run homer in the first inning, Needs added a two-run shot in the third to make it 5-1, and Pecor hit a solo homer in a two-run fifth. 

Walsh finished with three RBIs, and Needs was 2 for 3.

“Casey was tough on the mound today, and everyone played with great intensity,” Timberlake coach Casi Lupinacci said. “Offensively we hit the ball hard and got her the run support we needed.”

Lyndee McElmurry went 3 for 4 with a run scored for Libby.

Timberlake travels to Post Falls on Thursday.

Libby    100    002    0    —    3    6    4

Timberlake    302    020    x    —    7    6    1

Paislee MacDonald, Syd Clemons (5) and Aleesha Bradeen; Casey Whaley and Logan Walsh.

HITS: Lib — McElmurry 3, Kosters, Bradeen, Vincent. TL — Dykes, Walsh, Pecor, Needs 2, Whaley. 3B — Vincent. HR — Bradeen, Walsh, Needs, Pecor.

Orofino 18

St. Maries 2

OROFINO — The visiting Lumberjacks were held to three hits in the loss to the Central Idaho League-leading Maniacs.

Danika Sloper hit a two-run single in the second inning for St. Maries (3-15, 2-8 CIL). 

Jaelyn Miller hit a three-run homer to highlight a six-run third inning for Orofino (12-7, 7-1). Livia Johnson went 4 for 4 for the Maniacs.

St. Maries travels to Lakeland on Thursday.

St. Maries    020    00    —    2    3    7

Orofino    416    7x    —    18    12    1

Lyssa Watkins, Addyson Stewart (4) and Brenna Elliott; Hanna Johnson and Rilee Diffin. 

HITS: SM — Turner, Elliott, Sloper. Oro — Miller, Zenner, Diffin 2, Deyo, L. Johnson 4, Hanna 2, Coleman. 2B — Zenner, Hanna, Diffin. HR — Miller.