PREP SOFTBALL PLAY-IN GAMES: Lake City, Timberlake on to state

FRUITLAND - Lake City pitcher Michaela Flerchinger struck out five in a complete game win, leading the Timberwolves past the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies 4-1 in a state 5A tournament play-in game on Saturday at Fruitland High.

"It was a great day for softball down there," first-year Lake City coach Jesse Lenz said. "We were able to jump on them early with some early runs. Michaela threw the ball very well today."

JaeCie Wilson had two hits, Brittany Gay doubled and Heather Hawkes homered for Lake City (18-7), which opens the state tournament on Friday against defending champion Mountain View (19-7) at 11 a.m. at Post Falls High.

Rocky Mountain, which finished third at state last year, finishes 23-6.

Lake City 102 001 0 - 4 4 2

Rocky Mountain 000 100 0 - 1 7 1

Michaela Flerchinger and Chloe Falciani-Marshall; Hayden McKenney and Maddy Smith. W - Flerchinger (18-6). L - McKenney.

HITS: LC - Wilson 2, Hawkes, Gay. RM - not available. HR - Hawkes.

Timberlake 8

Payette 7

FRUITLAND - Justina Kalar singled to score Shelby Salois with the winning run as the Tigers outlasted the Pirates to advance to the state 3A tournament starting on Friday at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene.

With two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Timberlake's Katie Malloy and Hannah McGrath hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game at 7.

"It was a great day," Timberlake coach Mike Menti said. "We get to the fourth inning down 5-1, and Shelby hits a solo home run, and we just started to chip away. It was a lot of fun to watch, but very stressful."

Timberlake (15-11) - which advances to its 16th straight state tournament under Menti - opens against Shelley (11-9) at 9 a.m. on Friday.

"It's a nice feeling," Menti said. "It was pretty close for a while and the streak was almost over. Now we get a chance to go get a trophy."

Shelby Starr hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning for Timberlake.

Payette 104 010 10 - 7 10 1

Timberlake 001 121 21 - 8 14 0

Nobody out when winning run scored.

Hart and Neil; Shelby Salois, Brittany Hibdon (3) and Matraca Rocheleau. W - Hibdon (7-5). L - Hart.

HITS: Pay - Martin, Shaw 2, Exford 3, Rose, Keen, Neil, McGrath. TL - Kalar, Mallet 2, Starr 2, Rocheleau, Malloy 2, McGrath 2, Salois 2, Lickfold 2. 2B - Exford. HR - Exford 2, M. McGrath, Starr, Malloy, H. McGrath, Salois.

McCall-Donnelly 18

St. Maries 8

PAYETTE - Devyn Wilson went 2 for 4 with three RBIs for the Lumberjacks, who lost in a state 2A play-in game to the Vandals at Payette High.

Kelsey Auer went 3 for 4 for St. Maries, which finishes 13-7.

St. Maries 340 100 - 8 8 7

McCall-Donn 315 351 - 18 19 0

Game called in 6th inning due to 10-run rule.

Jaycee McQueen, Paige Sines (3), Kyrra Powell (6) and Shelby Holder; Cornell and Nash. W - Cornell. L - Sines (1-4).

HITS: SM - Sines, Auer 3, Wilson 2, Cobb, Womack. MD - Hunt 3, Garber, Cornell, Botello 2, Mohler, Nash 3, Hill 4, Welborn, Thurman 3. 2B - Garber, Thurman.