Xtreme '97 ties for 5th at 16A Western Nationals

SPOKANE - The North Idaho Xtreme '97 finished in a tie for fifth place in the 30-team 16A Western Nationals following a 6-5 loss to All-American Sports Academy of Sacramento on Sunday morning at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

Kylie Smith went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Bryce Catt was 2 for 3 for the Xtreme.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Abby Howard, Jadyn Behm and Catt singled to load the bases. Olyvia Owen singled in Howard to pull the Xtreme within a run, but with nobody out, the Xtreme left the bases loaded.

"That's a tough loss," Xtreme assistant coach Julie Stark said. "But the girls played really hard. For a young 16 team, we did really well."

All-American Sports Academy went on to finish second, losing 11-6 to the Colorado Tigers in the second championship game. AASA lost its first game in bracket play, then won nine straight to reach the if-necessary game.

ProSport Revolution of Southern California, which handed the Xtreme its first loss of the tourney Saturday night, finished third. Dave's Food Mart of Pendleton, Ore., was fourth.