Crush, Wildfire open with victories at 18U regional
<p>Coeur d'Alene Crush Nikki Ragsdale pitches the ball in the fourth inning Friday against the Silver Bullets during the ASA 18 and under A Regional softball tournament at Ramsey Park. Ragsdale allowed only one hit in five innings.</p>
<p>Allyana Watson rounds the bases after hitting a three-run triple in the second inning.</p>
18U "A" REGIONAL
Elli Tindall's three-run triple highlighted a seven-run second inning as the Coeur d'Alene Crush beat the Oregon Silver Bullets of Warren, Ore., 8-0 in the first game of the ASA 18-and-under "A" regional softball tournament Friday at Ramsey Park.
Nikki Ragsdale pitched a one-hitter with five strikeouts for the Crush, and Chelsey Rasmussen and Kory Kritz each had two hits.
The Northwest Wildfire, of Coeur d'Alene, edged the Washington Explosion of Richland 13-12. Katie Rowe went 3 for 4 with an inside-the-park home run, drove in five runs and scored three. Teammate Page Wells was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Katie Lowrey was 3 for 4 with three RBIs for the Explosion, and Courtney Howard was 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs.
The Crush play the Tri-City Fillies of Kennewick, Wash., today at 10:30 a.m. Also at 10:30, the Wildfire play the Magic Valley Sooners of Twin Falls.
The tournament concludes Sunday, with the championship game scheduled for 11:45 a.m.
In other games (highlights if provided):
Magic Valley Sooners (Twin Falls) 12, Menace Northwest (Richland, Wash.) 0: Jessi Duncan pitched a no-hitter with six strikeouts in the game, called after four innings due to the 12-run rule. She also went 3 for 3 with a triple and double and drove in four runs. Averie Schroeder went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs.
Washington Explosion (Richland) 15, Warriors (Milton-Freewater, Ore.) 1: Lindsey Walchi pitched a one-hitter in the win, Katie Lowrey was 2 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs, and Courtney Howard was 2 for 3 and scored three runs.
Washington Thunder (Seattle) 8, Montana Dirt (Butte) 4: Morgan Arrionton was 2 for 3 with two runs in the win. Alison Cygan was 3 for 3 and scored twice in the loss.
Magic Valley Sooners 13, Spokane Storm 1: Nellie Makings pitched a three-hitter with eight strikeouts for the Sooners, and also went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Jessi Duncan went 2 for 3 with a double and triple, and Courtney Azeveda was 3 for 3.
Tri-City Fillies (Kennewick, Wash.) 6, Washington Thunder 1
18U "B" REGIONAL
The Northwest Athletics, with players from throughout North Idaho, opened the ASA 18-and-under "B" regional at Ramsey Park with an 8-3 victory over the Yakima Stealers on Friday. Bekah Kastning went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs in the win.
The Athletics play the Liberty Lake Lightning today at 8:30 a.m.
In Friday's other game, Perfect Storm (Lewiston) beat the Washington Mustangs (Omak) 9-5.
The tournament concludes Sunday, with the championship game scheduled for 10:45 a.m.
14U "B" REGIONAL
At Delta Park in Portland, the Coeur d'Alene Crush '97 whipped the Capital Lady Outlaws 15-5 in their first game of the 22-team tournament. Kylie Rasmussen, Analisa Raynor and Abby Howard had three hits each, and Howard, Raynor and Jaydn Behm each drove in three runs.
The Crush beat the Oregon Twisters by forfeit in their second game.