The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT May 25, 2011

There's something to be said about state tournaments.

Whether they're played out in your own backyard, or miles away, you can count on at least one thing.

Something spectacular will happen between the start of play and the crowning of a champion.

IN CASE you missed it on Saturday, quite the feat was accomplished here in Kootenai County.

The state 5A softball championship game, which matched the unbeaten Lake City Timberwolves against the Timberline Wolves of Boise, was already 1-0 Lake City in the bottom of the second inning when it seemed like the sky was falling at Post Falls High.

Fortunately, it didn't for either team.

An afternoon thunderstorm, expected to begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, came a bit early and caused a rain delay in the second inning. As the rain started to let up a little, it began pouring again and made conditions unplayable.

Had they failed to come to an agreement to move the game, Timberline could have said no and took a share of the championship home with them.

That didn't happen either.

Lake City parent Chris Stangel, father of starting pitcher Casey Stangel, convinced the umpires and tournament officials that should the weather continue to be a problem, the field at Lake City High could handle whatever rain came.

If not for that conversation, a split champion was a very real possibility.

After a quick call to IHSAA executive director John Billetz, the wheels got in motion to continue the game at Lake City.

Once those wheels turned into motion, there was no stopping the Timberwolves.

Lake City sophomore Casey Stangel took a no-hitter into the seventh inning - before a two-out single broke up the no-hit bid. The Timberwolves had two hits at Post Falls, but didn't get another until the sixth inning when Vanessa Shippy singled.

Stangel struck out 15 of 23 hitters faced.

WHILE THE weather failed to be a factor in Friday’s opening day of the tournament, you couldn’t help but listen in as some of the fans attempting to root their teams on.

One thing I did pick up on was no matter the game — most everyone was questioning the umpiring at some point.

Chances are the only team that left the tournament happy with the umpiring were the ones that won the tournament.

The good thing about the conclusion of the 5A tournament was that it actually got finished.

Had the tournament championship been split, there’s a good chance a debate might reign for years to come about just who was the better team that day.

And a game where a parent made a spectacular save when it counted.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].