Cordell helps St. Maries earn berth to state

LEWISTON - Alexis Cordell had three hits, including a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning for some insurance runs, helping St. Maries beat Declo 11-8 on Saturday in a play-in game to advance to the state 2A softball tournament.

The Lumberjacks (12-9) will play at 8 a.m. PDT on Friday at West Park Softball Complex in Nampa, against New Plymouth (18-7) the District 3 champion.

"Jaycee (McQueen) battled," Lumberjacks assistant coach Gary Krumheuer said. "She walked eight batters, but she kept us in the lead. Kelsey came in and shut the door. Offensively, there were a couple of big hits. The girls were really excited because coach (Todd) Bitterman couldn't make it to the game (for family reasons), so they wanted to make sure he was able to coach more games this year."

Kari Ghramm also had three hits for St. Maries, which led 8-7 after 4 1/2 innings. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Madi McQueen doubled in a run for the Lumberjacks.

Declo 100 241 0 - 8 8 0

St. Maries 203 312 x - 11 16 3

Kidd and Coats; Jaycee McQueen, Kelsey Auer (6) and Shelby Holder. W - McQueen. L - Kidd. S - Auer.

HITS: Dec - Stoker, Coats 2, Rodriguez 2, Smyer, Bott, Wells. SM - M. McQueen 2, Kr. Auer, Ke. Auer 2, Waddell 2, Ghramm 3, Cordell 3, Scott, Womack, Holder.

Moscow 9

Lakeland 6

MOSCOW - The visiting Hawks rallied with five runs in the top of the seventh inning but came up short in a 9-6 loss to the top-seeded Bears in the championship game of the 4A Region 1 tournament at Ghormley Park.

Larissa Langenderfer of Lakeland led off the seventh with a double and eventually scored, but Moscow got two quick outs. The Hawks kept battling, scoring four more runs, two on a home run by Tifani Schorzman. Lakeland brought the tying run to the on-deck circle before Moscow recorded the final out.

Moscow (15-8) advances to state beginning Friday at the Skyview Softball Complex in Nampa. The Bears open vs. Canyon Ridge of Twin Falls at 8 a.m. PDT.

Lakeland, last year's state runners-up, finished 10-14.

Lakeland 000 010 5 - 6 9 1

Moscow 400 221 x - 9 14 2

Kari Prockish, Trysta Kelly (3) and Tifani Schorzman. Deven Chandler and Josie Spain.

HITS: LL - Schorzman 2, Wooley 2, Prockish, Kastning, Langenderfer, Bodak. Mos - Bruce, Odgen 2, McCurry, Burnette 2, Spain 3, Adams, Chandler, Spellman 2, Wear. 2B - Schorzman, Woolley, Prockish, Bruce, Ogden, Chandler. 3B - Burnette. HR - Schorzman.

Buhl 12

Bonners Ferry 0

LEWISTON - Bree Pettinger struck out seven for the Indians, which beat the Badgers in a state 3A tournament play-in game at Airport Park.

Buhl (16-10) will face Homedale (22-2) in the opening round on Thursday at the West Park Softball Complex in Nampa.

Chloe Copley and Gabby Blackmore both singled for Bonners Ferry.

Buhl 107 40 - 12 13 4

Bonners Ferry 000 00 - 0 2 7

Game called after 5 innings due to 10-run rule.

Bree Pettinger and Emily Hamilton; MacKenzie Carle and A. Lane. W - Pettinger. L - Carle.

HITS: Buhl - A. Morse 2, Anderson 3, Hamilton, Amoth, Mc. Brinkman, Owen, Ma. Brinkman 2, N. Morse 2. BF - Copley, Blackmore. 2B - A. Morse, Anderson, N. Morse, Amoth, Owen. 3B - Anderson.