Crush '97, '00 teams capture state titles

At Caldwell, the Coeur d'Alene Crush '97 went undefeated in the 18-team tournament, beating the Diamond Bandits of Boise 3-1 in the championship game.

Analisa Raynor went 2 for 3 and drove in two runs for the Crush, and Kylie Rasmussen added an RBI triple. Mariah Montee went 2 for 4 and Breana Burke struck out five and scattered six hits.

Earlier, the Crush also beat the Diamond Bandits, also by a 3-1 score. Abby Howard hit a two-run single in the first inning, JaeCie Wilson was 2 for 3, and Burke struck out five and allowed five hits.

The Crush is scheduled to go to Portland next weekend for "B" regionals, then slated to play in the Western "B" nationals in Spokane in early August.

At Willow Lane Park in Boise, the Crush finished second out of 11 teams, falling twice to the Magic Valley Sooners of Kimberly, a team consisting of several players from the College of Southern Idaho.

Magic Valley beat the Crush 5-0 in the title game, as well as 5-4 in eight innings on Saturday.

Earlier Sunday, the Crush beat the Northwest Athletics 8-3, the Diamond Bandits 8-0 in five innings and the Boise Blast 4-2 in the semifinals.

Jordan Thomas, one of three college players on the Crush, hit a two-run triple in the win over Northwest Athletics. She finished with three RBIs.

Against the Diamond Bandits, Chelsey Rasmussen's two-run homer highlighted a four-run third inning. Jamie Klopatek pitched a one-hit shutout.

Against the Blast, the Crush trailed 2-0 before Elli Tindall hit an RBI single and Rasmussen hit a three-run homer.

The Crush opened the tourney by beating the Idaho Falls Storm 16-1 on Friday, and the Diamond Bandits 9-3 on Saturday. Dakota Wilson hit a two-run homer as the Crush erased a 4-0 deficit to tie the Magic Valley Sooners, but Magic Valley won it in the eighth.

The Crush plans to play in the 18U regionals which begin Friday at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene.

At Ramsey Park, the Coeur d'Alene Crush '00 beat the Northwest Wildfire Black 9-0 in six innings in the championship game.

Reilley Chapman pitched a two-hit shutout for the Crush, Kyllie Sappington went 4 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored, Ashley Kaufman hit a two-run triple and Haley Loffer added a solo homer.

The Crush qualified for "B" nationals in Fort Collins, Colo., but has opted to attend a Triple Crown Series tourney in Reno, Nev., in late July.

Earlier, the Wildfire Black eliminated the Wildfire Red 8-0. Ashley Fernimen struck out six in a one-hitter, and Olivia Guindon went 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored. The Wildfire Red finished third.

Before that, the Wildfire Red beat the Idaho Burn (Caldwell) 6-4. Amanda Rouse struck out seven in the win.

At Ramsey Park, the Idaho Sliders of Boise rallied from six runs down to beat the Diamond Bandits 9-8 in the championship game.

Kelly Driscoll singled in two runs in the top of the seventh for the Sliders, who trailed 8-2 before scoring five runs in the sixth. Elena Cook went 3 for 3 with two RBIs for the Sliders. Kaci Marshall had two hits and drove in three for the Diamond Bandits.

In the third-place game, the Diamond Bandits scored three runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Idaho Heat (Eagle) 4-3. Cortney Petska's two-run triple tied it, and she scored on Emily Vata's single.