Kellogg earns first trip to state

SPIRIT LAKE — Kellogg sophomore Shayna Waechter hit a two-run single in the third inning to lift the Wildcats past the Timberlake Tigers 3-2 in the 3A District 1-2 championship game on Saturday, sending Kellogg to state for the first time since it started the program in 2000.

“It was a great defensive game,” Kellogg coach Alan Williams said. “Both pitchers threw pretty well and our infield and outfield took some hits away today.”

Michaela Stewart had nine strikeouts and added a double for Kellogg (11-8), which faces Teton (13-11) in its state 3A tournament opener at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’Alene at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

“Out of the nine strikeouts, six were in the last nine hitters,” Williams said. “Her rise ball started working toward the end of the game, which was good because they weren’t ready for it.”

Kodi Kuykendall had three hits and two runs scored for Timberlake (14-10), which came back in the next game to also earn a berth to state.

Kellogg 003 000 0 — 3 3 4

Timberlake 001 010 0 — 2 7 2

Michaela Stewart and Taylor Samuelson; Nicole Cameron and Ashlei Jerome. W — Stewart (10-6). L — Cameron (11-7).

HITS: Kell — Waechter, Stewart, Squires. TL — Bitner, Jerome 2, Muhlhauser, Kuykendall 3. 2B — Stewart.

Timberlake 9, Priest River 5: Jennifer Bitner went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as the Tigers earned the second seed to state.

“We had to persevere through a tough game against Kellogg,” Timberlake coach Mike Menti said. “The girls got through it and played well. Nicole did a good job of spacing out their hits and our defense played well behind her.”

Jordyn Muhlhauser had three hits for Timberlake (15-10), which faces Fruitland (22-2) at 3 p.m. on Thursday in its state opener.

Chelsea Linton had three hits for Priest River (5-15), which eliminated St. Maries (14-8) 12-10 earlier Saturday.

Priest River 003 010 1 — 5 6 3

Timberlake 132 300 x — 9 13 3

Kelsey Bradbury and Danielle Hawes; Nicole Cameron and Ashlei Jerome. W — Cameron (12-7). L — Bradbury.

HITS: PR — Hawes 2, Linton 3, Lentz. TL — Malloy 3, Bitner 2, Jerome, Muhlhauser 3, Neal 2, Kuykendall 2. 2B — Muhlhauser.

ALL-INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE

COACH OF THE YEAR — Mike Menti, Timberlake.

KELLOGG — Kirsten Viche, sr., Taylor Huber, jr., Michaela Stewart, jr. TIMBERLAKE — Megan Hill, sr. (co-MVP), Nicole Cameron, soph., Kodi Kuykendall, soph. PRIEST RIVER — Holly Hirst, sr. (co-MVP), Danielle Hawes, sr. ST. MARIES — Tia Asbury, jr., Morgan Cummings, jr., Vierra Reid, sr.