Crush advances to title game at 18U 'A' regional

18U "A" REGIONAL

Nikki Ragsdale pitched a three-hit shutout as the Coeur d'Alene Crush beat the Magic Valley Sooners of Twin Falls 2-0 in the semifinal game of the ASA 18-and-under "A" regional softball tournament Saturday afternoon at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene.

Kory Kritz went 2 for 2 with an RBI double, and Jordan Thomas also went 2 for 2 for the Crush, which advances to today's championship game at 11:45 a.m.

The Northwest Wildfire of Coeur d'Alene plays the Montana Dirt of Butte today at 8 a.m., with the winner playing the Sooners at 9:45 a.m. That winner plays the Crush, needing to win twice to win the regional. The Crush needs to just win once.

Earlier, the Crush defeated the Tri-City Fillies (Kennewick, Wash.) 5-3. Chelsea Rasmussen hit a two-run homer for the Crush, and Alyana Watson drove in two runs. Diana Meglyn went 2 for 3 with an RBI in the loss.

The Northwest Wildfire lost 7-2 to the Magic Valley Sooners, then beat the Spokane Storm 8-3 to stay alive.

Kelli Parson went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Wildfire against the Storm, and Zoe Clark and Mariah Linahan each went 2 for 3.

Against the Sooners, Jessi Duncan of Magic Valley pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks, and Nellie Makings was 4 for 4 with five RBIs. Katie Rowe of the Wildfire broke up the no-no with a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the seventh.

In other games:

Washington Explosion (Richland) 13, Montana Dirt (Butte) 5: Ryley Dennis went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the win. Alison Cygan went 3 for 3 and scored twice in the loss.

Oregon Silver Bullets (Warren) 7, Warriors (Milton-Freewater, Ore.) 2: Ashley Evans had two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice in the win.

Washington Thunder (Seattle) 6, Menace Northwest (Richland) 4: Sneah Sorenson struck out five in five innings of relief to get the win, and Katie Thomas went 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Spokane Storm 7, Washington Explosion 2: Halee Edelblute went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in the win.

Warriors 3, Menace Northwest 2: loser out.

Montana Dirt 12, Washington Thunder 4: Mellissa Bell hit a two-run homer and Leyna Downey struck out seven in the win. Greta Coleman went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs in the loss.

Oregon Silver Bullets 7, Washington Explosion 2: Ann Marie Richards hit a two-run homer in the win, and Renna Russell was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Montana Dirt 3, Oregon Silver Bullets 0: Jenna Krum struck out three and pitched a four-hit shutout for the Dirt in the loser-out game.

Spokane Storm 8, Warriors 5: Taylor Kellum went 3 for 4 for the winners in the loser-out game.

Montana Dirt 9, Tri-City Fillies 6, 9 inn.: Alison Cygan went 3 for 5 for the Dirt in the loser-out game.

18U "B" REGIONAL

The Northwest Athletics, consisting of players from throughout North Idaho, beat Perfect Storm of Lewiston 5-4 on Saturday afternoon to advance to the championship game of the ASA 18-and-under "B" regional at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene.

Ashley Metcalf pitched a three-hitter for the Athletics, and Nicholette Birkley was 2 for 3 and scored a run.

Mandy McDowell of the Storm struck out 10.

The Athletics play in the championship game today at 10:45 a.m. They will play the winner of the 9 a.m. game between the Perfect Storm and the Washington Mustangs (Omak).

Earlier, the Northwest Athletics defeated the Liberty Lake Lightning 7-4. Bekah Kastning went 4 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs in the win. Jordyn Anderson was 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs in the loss.

In other games (highlights if provided):

Liberty Lake Lightning 6, Washington Mustangs (Omak) 4: Taylor Wayman went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs in the win.

Perfect Storm (Lewiston) 5, Selah (Wash.) 4: Chelsea Thompson went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Storm into the semifinals. Carly Minnick had two hits, including a double, and an RBI for Selah.

Yakima Stealers 10, Selah 9: Gracie Hernandez tripled and doubled and drove in a run in the win.

Selah 12, Liberty Lake Lightning 0: Ashley Key was 3 for 4 and scored three runs in the win, and Shelby Walker was 3 for 4 with two runs and four RBIs in the loser-out game.

Washington Mustangs 11, Yakima Stealers 2: Ali Schauer went 3 for 4 and scored two runs in the win, and Holly Hirt was 3 for 4 in the loser-out game.

Washington Mustangs 11, Selah 3: Ashley Wilkey homered and went 4 for 4 in the win. Selah finished fourth.

14U "B" REGIONAL

At Delta Park in Portland, the Coeur d'Alene Crush '97 team rolled into the semifinals of the 22-team tournament with a pair of victories, beating the Newberg (Ore.) Nitro 2-0 and the Washington Force (Othello) 4-3.

Against Newberg, Breana Burke pitched a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts for the Crush, and Kylie Rasmussen provided the offense with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth.

Against the Washington Force, the Crush trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh before loading the bases, and Mariah Montee's two-run single down the left field line won the game.

The Crush plays Synergy of Ellensburg, Wash., at noon today in the semis.