Lakeland splits on first day at softball tourney
- SOFTBALL
NAMPA — Riley Rivera hit a grand slam to highlight an eight-run second inning, and the Lakeland Hawks went on to beat the Columbia Wildcats of Nampa 10-6 on Friday afternoon at the Sugar Town Tournament at West Park for the Hawks’ first victory of the season.
Earlier Friday, Lakeland (1-6) fell 4-2 to Skyview of Nampa.
Rivera also had an RBI double in the fourth inning for Lakeland, and finished the game 3 for 3 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Destry Brack added a two-run single in the second for Lakeland.
“She’s always had it (that power),” Lakeland coach Colleen Bevacqua said. “Until now she was usually hitting it to Jesus (popping up, into the sky); now she’s learned to straighten them out, and she’s cranking them over the fence.”
Lakeland was missing three starters due to spring break functions, but Bevacqua was pleased with some of the junior varsity players who came up to fill in, including freshman pitchers Kathryn Wardak and Hailey Gosch.
“We played really well today,” Bevacqua said. “Pitching wise, the girls did great. It was awesome that my team was able to play well together (shorthanded) and not really miss stride.”
Against Skyview, Abbey Leon’s RBI single scored Mikayla Olson in the top of the fifth to put Lakeland ahead 2-1. But Lakeland walked the first four batters in the bottom half, and Skyview won it on a two-run single.
Lakeland walked 10 batters in the first game.
Tourney games were played to a 90-minute time limit.
Lakeland wraps up tourney play today, vs. Nampa at 10 a.m. PDT and Ontario (Ore.) at 2 p.m., both at West Park.
SKYVIEW 4, LAKELAND 2
Lakeland 000 11 — 2 5 0
Skyview 100 03 — 4 4 0
2 out when winning run scored.
Alicia Edelblute, Kathryn Wardak (5) and Abbey Leon; M. Medina and M. Ojeda. W — Medina. L — Edelblute.
HITS: LL — Olson, Leon, Rivera, Byrne, Russum. Sky — Naito, Rockwood 2, Ojeda. 2B — Naito. 3B — Russum.
LAKELAND 10, COLUMBIA 6
Columbia 301 2 — 6 5 2
Lakeland 080 2 — 10 5 1
Lechuga and Campbell; Kathryn Wardak, Hailey Gosch (4) and Abbey Leon; W — Wardak. L — Lechuga.
HITS: Col — Pucci-Stephens, Cambell, Murry, Plischke, Lechuga. LL — Byrne, Rivera 3, Brack. 2B — Rivera. HR — Rivera (3).
- BASEBALL
Capital 12
Lakeland 2
BOISE — Colton Aragon had two hits and two RBIs for the Hawks, who committed five errors in a loss to the Eagles in the Buck’s Bags Spring Classic at Capital High.
“They were very disciplined at the plate and hit everything very solidly,” Lakeland coach Jason Bradbury said. “Then, when you add five errors to help them out even more, the outcome usually isn’t good. I like that we’re playing good, quality ball clubs, though. It really shows what we need to work on to get better.”
Lakeland (5-4) concludes the tournament against Parma today at Eagle High.
“I like how hard my guys work. I’m confident that they’ll start putting it together,” Bradbury said.
Lakeland 000 101 — 2 4 5
Capital 004 152 — 12 8 0
Game called in 6th inning due to 10-run rule.
Justin Dennison, Tristan Clift (4), Austin Staudinger (5) and Colton Aragon; Graening, Peterson (6) and unknown. W — Graening. L — Dennison.
HITS: LL — Gifford, Aragon 2, Hegbloom. Cap — Hamilton 2, Reed, Dudley, Johnson 2, Nielsen 2. 2B — Gifford, Nielsen.