Golden Gloves reach title game
<p>Northwest Wildfire Pitcher Jordyn McCracken wheels around to throw to first base after fielding a bunt near home plate during the Wildfire's Saturday afternoon 3-2 win against the Coeur d'Alene Crush.</p>
The Idaho Golden Gloves of Boise advanced to the championship game of the Idaho ASA girls 14-and-under state fastpitch softball tournament at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’Alene.
The Golden Gloves beat Western Storm of Melba 8-0 and the Idaho Xplosion of Meridian 10-3 on Saturday, and will play in the title game today at 11:30 a.m.
Courtney Moore pitched a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts for the Golden Gloves vs. Western Storm. In the semifinal game, Taurie Pogue hit a solo home run and a three-run homer for the winners.
Nicole Arizana went 3 for 4 for the Xplosion.
The Idaho Explosion beat the Diamond Bandits of Meridian 4-2. Arizana, the winning pitcher, also went 2 for 3 with a double. Renae Fannin had two hits for the Bandits.
The Northwest Wildfire, the Coeur d’Alene Crush and Lake City Ladies were all eliminated on Saturday. The Wildfire won three straight games, including a 3-2 victory over the Crush in eight innings in a loser-out game, before being ousted by the Diamond Bandits 14-4. The Crush went 2-2, including a 10-1 win over the Lake City Ladies in consolation play to eliminate the Ladies in their only game of the day.
The Idaho Sliders of Eagle play the Diamond Bandits today at 8 a.m., with the winner playing the Idaho Xplosion at 9:45. That winner must beat the Golden Gloves twice to win the state title.
Losers bracket games:
Idaho Sliders 8, Coeur d’Alene Crush 0: Taylor Falkner pitched a five-hit shutout with four strikeouts, and teammate Tori Dimattio went 2 for 2 and scored twice.
Caldwell Chargers Gold d. Lunachicks: No highlights available.
Northwest Wildfire 15, Vale (Ore.) Dust Devils 0: Jordyn McCracken struck out seven in a three-inning one-hitter. She also went 3 for 3 with a home run and two doubles, and scored three runs.
Lewiston Stampede 8, Boise Blast Red 1: Paige Wells went 3 for 5 with two runs, and Kendra Hill struck out six in the win.
Coeur d’Alene Crush 10, Lake City Ladies 1: Ashley Hammons went 3 for 3 with a double and three runs in the loser-out game. Brooke Albertson was 2 for 3 and scored twice, and Dakota Wilson struck out five in a two-hitter.
Idaho Sliders 9, Lunachicks 8, 8 inn.: McKayla McDevitt singled in Taylor Falkner with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Leah Bolfus went 3 for 4 with two stolen bases for the Lunachicks, who were eliminated.
Vale Dust Devils 8, Caldwell Chargers Gold 6: Jenn Phillips went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored in the elimination game.
Northwest Wildfire 14, Boise Blast Red 1: Winning pitcher Rachel Collins struck out four, and also went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs in the loser-out game. Teammate Carianne Suer was 3 for 4 with two runs.
Coeur d’Alene Crush 9, Lewiston Stampede 2: Winning pitcher Kayla Albertson hit a three-run homer in the third inning as the Crush eliminated the Stampede.
Idaho Sliders 2, Vale Dust Devils 0: Carley Strong went 2 for 3 and drove in both runs for the Sliders, who eliminated the Dust Devils. Taylor Falkner pitched a two-hit shutout with four strikeouts.
Northwest Wildfire 3, Coeur d’Alene Crush 2, 8 inn.: Zoe Clark scored the winning run on a throwing error with no outs in the bottom of the eighth as the Wildfire eliminated the Crush. Jordyn McCracken struck out nine and allowed four hits in the win.
Idaho Sliders 1, Western Storm 0: McKayla McDevitt’s one-out single in the bottom of the seventh scored Summer Moffat with the winning run as the Sliders eliminated the Storm. Moffat led off the inning with a double and stole third. Taylor Falkner pitched a shutout for the Sliders.
Diamond Bandits 14, Northwest Wildfire 4: Brenna Elhart went 2 for 3 with a grand slam in the win. Zoe Clark went 2 for 3 with a double for the Wildfire, who were eliminated.
The Coeur d’Alene Crush ’97 advanced to today’s 1:30 p.m. championship game at the state 12-and-under tournament at Airport Park in Lewiston.
On Saturday, the Crush beat the Northwest Wildfire 10-7 and the Diamond Bandits 10-0 in five innings. Abby Howard homered in each game for the Crush.
JaeCie Wilson went 3 for 4 for the Crush against the Wildfire, and Mariah Montee and Erin Higbie each had two hits.
Against the Diamond Bandits, Bryce Catt and Breana Burke combined on a no-hitter with eight strikeouts. Wilson went 3 for 3, and Catt and Montee had two hits each.