ASA SOFTBALL: Xtreme clinches nationals berth

KENT, Wash. — Breana Burke and Kelsey Gumm combined to strike out 11 in a three-hit shutout as the North Idaho Xtreme beat the Washington Cascade Crush 3-0 on Saturday at an ASA 18-Gold National qualifier at Service Club Community Park, clinching a berth to the ASA national tournament July 17-23 in Oklahoma City.

“Our pitching and defense did a great job all day long,” Xtreme coach Travis Smith said. “In the last game, we didn’t do our job and execute our hitting. We did a lot of things better for when we get into the national tournament. We’re just working on that and getting better.”

Earlier, the Xtreme beat the Washington Acers 4-0 and Pacific Northwest Force 13-0 to advance to today’s championship game at 3 p.m.

Against the Acers, Kylie Smith went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, Burke went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Gumm struck out 10 in a complete game one-hitter.

Riley Thompson and Chloe Falciani went 2 for 3, Hannah Bell 2 for 4 and Martha Tooley went 2 for 4 with a home run in the Xtreme’s win over the Force.

Burke struck out seven and allowed two hits in five innings in the win.