Crush '97 wins 3rd straight state title
<p>GABE GREEN/Press Shilo Morgan of Post Falls rounds second base heading to third with the hayden team close behind during Sunday night's game.</p>
The Coeur d'Alene Crush '97 won five straight games over the weekend to reach the championship round, then beat the Idaho Heat twice to win the state ASA 14-and-under championship Sunday at Skyview High in Nampa.
It was the third straight state title for the Crush '97, which won the state 12U title in 2010 and the state 14U title last year.
The Crush opened play Sunday in the 15-team tourney with a 6-1 victory over the Homedale Thunderstix. Hannah Nelson hit a two-run home run, and Nelson, JaeCie Wilson and Analisa Raynor had two hits each.
The Crush had 13 hits and beat the Diamond Bandits 14-1. Wilson went 4 for 4, and Nelson was 2 for 3 and hit a three-run home run in a seven-run third inning.
In the first title game, the Crush beat the Idaho Heat 3-2. Nelson hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-all tie. Breana Burke struck out five and allowed five hits, and Jadyn Behn, Kylie Rasmussen and Mariah Montee each had two hits.
In the deciding game, the Crush scored three runs in the fifth inning to beat the Heat 3-0. Behm hit a two-run double to score Nelson and Rasmussen, and after Kylie Smith's sacrifice bunt, Bryce Catt delivered an RBI single.
Burke fanned three in the four-hit shutout.
Next up for the Crush '97 is the "A" regionals this coming weekend in Spokane. The Crush had already qualified for the "A" Super Nationals in Sioux Falls, S.D., starting July 29.
The Coeur d'Alene Crush finished fourth at the 12-team state 12U tourney at Gals Quad Complex in Caldwell, losing 11-7 to the Idaho Sliders in their first game on Sunday.
Kyllie Sappington hit a three-run triple for the Crush in the second inning, and scored on an error.
The Crush plays in the "A" regionals this weekend in Portland.
The Coeur d'Alene Crush finished second at the state 10U tourney at the Willow Lane Athletic Complex in Boise, losing 11-3 in the title game to the Boise Bandits.
Earlier Sunday, the Crush beat Middleton 8-7, as Hailey Lyons singled in Mia O'Hara with the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Amanda Curry struck out 13 and Lacey Lemberg went 3 for 3 for the Crush.
The Crush then beat the Boise Racers 20-12, as Ashlynn Allen went 2 for 2 and stole eight bases.
The Crush returns to action at the Western "B" Nationals July 31-Aug. 5 in Spokane.