NIC SOFTBALL: Barron leads way as Cards sweep close in on title

COEUR d’ALENE — Katie Barron had a two-run single in the first game and pitched two innings of scoreless relief in the second game as the North Idaho Cardinals swept the Wenatchee Valley Knights 6-2 and 9-3 in a Northwest Athletic Conference East Region doubleheader Saturday at Lake City High.

NIC (31-9, 24-4 NWAC) has won 13 straight games and can clinch the regional championship with a win at the Community Colleges of Spokane on Wednesday.

Keku Haake homered in both games, driving in four runs in the second game for NIC.

Wenatchee Valley is 20-17, 15-13.

FIRST GAME

Wen. Valley 000 002 0 — 2 8 2

North Idaho 020 211 x — 6 12 0

Lambert, Malcolm and A. Writer; Katie Barron and Nicole Miller. W — Barron. L — Lambert.

HITS: WVCC — Schneitter 2, Pruneda 2, Kopczynski, Wilkey, Durand, A. Writer. NIC — McIntosh 2, Howard, Barron, Miller, Aspden, Yurick, Courtney 2, Haake 2, Raynor. 2B — McIntosh. HR — Courtney (5), Haake (4).

SECOND GAME

Wen. Valley 010 110 0 — 3 14 1

North Idaho 002 115 x — 9 12 1

Lambert, Malcolm (5) and A. Writer; Amber Hawkes, Katie Barron (6) and Abby Howard. W — Barron. L — Malcolm.

HITS: WVCC — Schneitter, Pruneda, Mather 3, A. Writer 3, Kopczynski, Gonsalez, Wilkey 2, B. Writer, Seiger. NIC — McIntosh 3, Aspden, Barron 2, Miller, Courtney, Yurick, Haake 2, Raynor. 2B — Schneitter, Wilkey, B. Writer, McIntosh, Yurick. HR — Miller (12), Haake (4).