Crush captures 18-and-under 'A' regional title
18U "A" REGIONAL
A few weeks ago, members of the Coeur d'Alene Crush 18-and-under softball team opted not to finish up their summer schedule at a western national tournament somewhere else, deciding instead to wrap it up at the ASA 18-and-under "A" regional tourney in front of the home folks.
So the Crush went out in style this weekend, winning the regional tournament at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene, and avenging a loss in last week's state championship game.
After losing to the Magic Valley Sooners 6-2 in the first championship game, the Crush came back and pounded the Sooners 14-6 in five innings in the if-necessary title game.
"We played lights out," Crush coach Brian Stranger said. "It was completely unexpected. They're a very good team - they won a national championship in 14-and-under.
"We nearly got them last weekend (at the state tourney in Boise). We thought maybe we could get 'em this week, but they're bigger, older and stronger."
The Sooners have seven players from the College of Southern Idaho team. The Crush has three college players, but also two 14-year-olds.
"I think we surprised them," Stranger said. "We played our hearts out. It was an unbelievable weekend."
In the deciding game, Chelsey Rasmussen hit a three-run double in a six-run first inning for the Crush. Jordan Thomas, who finished 3 for 3, added a two-run double in the second inning, and Kory Kritz was 2 for 3 and drove in three runs.
Nellie Makings of the Sooners was 3 for 3 with a home run and a two-run double.
In the first title game, Makings went 3 for 4 with a three-run homer in the third inning. Kritz and Thomas each went 2 for 3, and Thomas knocked in two runs.
The Northwest Wildfire, based in Coeur d'Alene, finished third in the 11-team tournament after losing to the Magic Valley Sooners 2-1 on Jessi Duncan's two-run single with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Shawnee Zink hit a solo homer in the fourth for the Wildfire.
Earlier, the Wildfire eliminated the Montana Dirt (Butte) with a 2-1 victory. Zink pitched a five-hitter with four strikeouts for the Wildfire.
Like the Crush, the Wildfire opted to end its season with this tournament.
18U "B" REGIONAL
The Northwest Athletics, made up of players from North Idaho, won the tournament, beating Selah (Wash.) 3-2 in the championship game of the six-team tourney at Ramsey Park.
Bekah Kastning drove in Alia Cox with the deciding run for the Athletics, and Ashley Metcalf earned the victory in the circle.
Earlier, Selah beat Perfect Storm (Lewiston) 13-4. Cheyenne Fletcher went 3 for 5 with a triple, double and five RBIs, and Ashley Wilkey had four hits and drove in two runs in the win. The Storm finished third.
14U "B" REGIONAL
At Delta Park in Portland, the Coeur d'Alene Crush '97 finished second out of 22 teams based on a tiebreaker after Sunday's games were rained out.
The Crush and Synergy of Ellensburg, Wash., were the two lone remaining undefeated teams, and were scheduled to meet in the semifinal game. Officials decided to crown a champion based on runs allowed in previous tourney games - the Crush allowed eight, Synergy seven.
The Crush isn't done, though, as they plan to play in the Western "B" nationals in Spokane in two weeks.