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Vikings take command

by JASON ELLIOTT
Sports Writer | April 19, 2014 9:00 PM

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<p>Lake City’s Dakota Wilson reacts as the ball bounces past her glove, allowing Breana Burke to slide safely to second base during Friday’s game at Coeur d’Alene High school.</p>

COEUR d'ALENE - Breana Burke has pitched years above her sophomore status at Coeur d'Alene High in the past 10 days.

On Friday, she did it with the bat.

Burke hit a pair of home runs and drove in six runs in the first game, then struck out 10 in the nightcap as the Vikings swept the visiting Lake City Timberwolves 11-2 and 9-0 in 5A Inland Empire League play at Larry Schwenke Field.

"It was just exciting for me because it was my first one, ever," Burke said of her home runs. "So that was pretty cool. We all came together and hit the ball really well today and strung our hits together well."

With the sweep by Coeur d'Alene (12-2, 7-0 5A IEL), the Vikings can clinch at least a tie for the league title with a win Tuesday against visiting Post Falls.

"It's been a while since we've beaten them that bad," Coeur d'Alene coach Larry Bieber said of Lake City. "I'm really proud of what the kids did today."

Four other players had multiple-hit games in the opener for Coeur d'Alene, which improved to 3-0 this season against Lake City (9-4, 2-3).

"We're going to see them again, then again at regionals," Bieber said. "That's going to be our foe when we get there."

Burke lined a solo homer over the fence in left in the second inning, tying the game at 1. Her three-run shot in the third put the Vikings up 4-2.

"One of the things (Coeur d'Alene assistant coach) Travis (Smith) has been talking to her about is getting some extension through the ball," Bieber said. "And that's what she did. Those two bombs are exactly what's she's been practicing."

Zoe Clark, batting eighth in the Coeur d'Alene lineup, went 3 for 3 with five RBIs in the second game, including a 3-run home run in the fifth inning.

"I thought we all just pulled it together," Clark said. "We were linking our hits together. We came into the game pretty confident, but knew it was Lake City and they were going to be tough competition, no matter what."

"Zoe hit the ball hard every time she was at the plate today," Bieber said. "He had her back in the lineup a little bit and kind of set her back there to see what she could do, and she did a great job."

Vanessa Shippy had five hits on the day - all singles - and Jordyn McCracken three hits for Lake City, which picked up RBIs in the opener from Hailey Jackson and JaeCie Wilson.

"I thought Burke threw the ball well and had an awesome two games," Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann-Fierro said. "They hit the ball well and we need to string some hits together and come out the gate hitting. I thought Vanessa and JaeCie hit the ball well, and Jordyn (McCracken) did as well. But we need to string some hits together and can't get them at random times in the lineup."

The teams are scheduled to meet again at Lake City on May 1, the regular season finale for both.

"It's softball, but Coeur d'Alene is going to score some runs and going to swing the bats," Tolzmann-Fierro said. "But we need to answer. In games with good teams, we need to respond and compete. We'll learn from this. We'll bounce back and I know we're capable of doing the same thing and reversing the score against them the next time."

Lake City travels to Lewiston for a doubleheader on Tuesday staring at 2 p.m.

FIRST GAME

Lake City 101 000 0 - 2 4 0

Coeur d'Alene 013 043 x - 11 13 0

Jordyn McCracken, Michaela Flerchinger (6) and Vanessa Shippy; Breana Burke and Abby Howard. W - Burke (7-2). L - McCracken (6-3).

HITS: LC - Shippy 2, Wilson, McCracken. Cd'A - Burke 2, Parker 2, Smith 2, Howard 2, Clark 2, Rasmussen, B. Albertson, Behm. 2B - Albertson, Clark, McCracken. HR - Burke 2 (2).

SECOND GAME

Lake City 000 000 0 - 0 6 2

Coeur d'Alene 030 330 x - 9 13 0

Michaela Flerchinger, Jordyn McCracken (6) and Vanessa Shippy; Breana Burke and Abby Howard. W - Burke (8-2). L - Flerchinger (3-1).

HITS: LC - Shippy 3, McCracken 2, Nelson. Cd'A - Burke, Clark 3, Catt, Smith, K. Albertson, Parker 2, Howard, Behm 2, Raynor. 2B - Behm. HR - Clark (2).