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STATE SOFTBALL: Post Falls still in hunt for title

| May 22, 2021 1:15 AM

5A

MERIDIAN — After splitting a pair of pitchers’ duels, Post Falls broke loose with the bats in its third game, and the Trojans are assured of bringing home a trophy for the first time since 2010, when the Trojans won the state title.

Not that that’s the end goal.

After giving up the lead late and falling 4-2 to Mountain View of Meridian in the opener, Post Falls scratched out a 3-2 win over Timberline of Boise, then blasted three homers and narrowly missed two more in a 19-8 triumph over Eagle at the state 5A softball tournament Friday at Mountain View High.

“We’re definitely happy that we're still here and we’re playing on Saturday,” Post Falls coach Holly Gleaves said. “We knew we were going to be challenged, but we thought we had a chance to do pretty well. The first couple games we did not hit the ball well. We’re a better hitting team than we showed, so it was nice to get the bats going.”

Post Falls (16-7), the Region 1 champions, faces Rocky Mountain (26-2) of Meridian today at 9 a.m. as the double-elimination tourney continues. Skyview (18-11) and Mountain View (20-9), the other two remaining teams, square off for a berth in the championship game.

Against Eagle, Kahlea Dumas hit a pair of homers and finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs and four runs scored for Post Falls. Dumas hit the first pitch of the game for a homer, and added a three-run shot in the fifth.

Alyssa Krause hit a three-run homer in an eight-run third, and finished 3 for 4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Emma Aldrich was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Against Timberline, Post Falls loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning. The Wolves brought their infield in, and Jaden Donohoe hit a flare over the shortstop’s head to score Sophia Solberg for the Trojans, which overcame a 20-strikeout performance from Amber Thornton of Timberline.

“She definitely had our hitters off balance, but I don’t feel we adjusted,” Gleaves said. Timberline’s only runs came on a two-run homer in the third by Tara Dittman.

Against Mountain View, Kaycie Barber hit a home run in the first inning for Post Falls, which scored again in the third for a 2-0 lead. That lead held up to the fifth, when the Mavericks scored all four of their runs.

Sophie Nungessser struck out seven for Post Falls.

“All three games we were good defensively, and had pretty good pitching (from Nungesser and Moak),” Gleaves said. “If we show up and we bring the attitude that we like to play with, and play fast like we like to play, I think every game could be in our favor.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW 4, POST FALLS 2

Mountain View 000 040 0 — 4 4 1

Post Falls 101 000 x — 2 5 1

Carly Boisvert and N/A; McKenna Moak, Sophie Nungesser (6) and Alyssa Krause.

HITS: MV — Tentinger, Jenkins, Price, Hellifield. PF — Dumas, Barber 2, Solberg, Aldrich. 2B — Tentinger. HR — Barber.

POST FALLS 3, TIMBERLINE 2

Timberline 002 000 00 — 2 8 1

Post Falls 001 100 01 — 3 4 1

0 out when winning run scored.

Amber Thornton and N/A; Sophie Nungesser and Alyssa Krause.

HITS: TL — Haworth 2, Dittman, Thornton, Wicker, Coleman, B. Barber, Childs. PF — Dumas, K. Barber, Donohoe 2. 2B — Haworth 2. HR — Dittman.

POST FALLS 19, EAGLE 8

Post Falls 508 24 — 19 15 2

Eagle 104 03 — 8 12 1

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

McKenna Moak, Sophie Nungesser (3) and Alyssa Krause; Lizzy Tommasini, Kendall Townsend (1), Annie Swanson (3), Brynna Gestrin (5) and Colby Keckler.

HITS: PF — Dumas 3, Cramer, Barber, Krause 3, Solberg 2, Aldrich 3, Nimmick, Donohoe. Eagle — Groves 3, Oliver, Pecoraro 3, Tommasini 3, Kerr, Crosby. 2B — Aldrich, Krause, Groves. HR — Dumas 2, Krause, Oliver, Crosby.

4A

Lakeland bows

out in two

NAMPA — The Hawks managed just four hits in two games and struggled in the circle in going two-and-out on a chilly, windy, rainy first day of the state 4A tournament at Skyview Park.

Lakeland lost 17-0 to Ridgevue of Nampa and 20-6 to Twin Falls, both in five innings, and finished 13-16.

“It was just unfortunate that we didn't have the success I had hoped for them,” Lakeland coach Colleen Bevacqua said. “We just didn’t adjust (to faster pitching) soon enough. It was definitely a lot faster than what we’ve faced the last couple of weeks. The speed difference was very apparent. And it was tough when you’re playing guess the strike zone.”

Against Twin Falls, Haylee Smit hit a two-run single in the second inning for Lakeland. Hawks pitchers walked 16 batters and hit five.

In the first game, Lakeland was held to one hit, and Ridgevue broke the game open with 11 runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Reise McIntyre struck out eight and walked two for Ridgevue. Haylee Smit singled in the first inning for Lakeland.

Hawks pitchers walked eight and hit one.

“It was really tough to find the umpire’s strike zone, our pitchers being able to work around batters, through no fault of their own, trying to find the strike zone, having to throw down the middle and them cranking it,” Bevacqua said.

RIDGEVUE 17, LAKELAND 0, 5 INN.

Ridgevue 015 0(11) — 17 10 2

Lakeland 000 00 — 0 1 3

Reise McIntyre and Macie Plischke; Devry Bursch, Kathryn Wardak (3), Bursch (5) and Payton Sterling.

HITS: Ridge — McIntyre, Hofhine, McKay 3, Plischke, Escalera, Macaluso 2, Cummings. LL — Smit. 2B — Cumings, Hofhine, Escalera, Macaluso.

TWIN FALLS 20, LAKELAND 6

Twin Falls 635 60 — 20 9 2

Lakeland 141 00 — 6 3 3

Twin Falls battery unavailable; Haylee Smit, Hayley Gosch (1), Devry Bursch (2) and Payton Sterling.

HITS: TF — N/A. LL — Smit, D. Gosch, Walls.

3A

3A

Timberlake bounces back

after first-round loss

BOISE — After getting a painful early wakeup call from Gooding, Timberlake reverted to the Tigers of old, banging out a pair of victories to remain alive in the state 3A softball tournament at Timberline High.

Timberlake was stunned 15-0 by Gooding in five innings in the opener, then whacked Weiser 17-0 and South Fremont 13-1 to assure the Tigers of a trophy for a top-four finish.

After beating Timberlake, Gooding was beaten by Filer 8-2 and Marsh Valley 5-3 and is out of the tournament.

“That’s how the tournament goes; it’s how teams react to what happens to them,” Timberlake coach Casi Lupinacci said. “Honestly this tournament could be anybody’s tournament. Out of the four teams left, any team could win it.”

Timberlake (23-4) plays Marsh Valley (16-7) at 9 a.m. PDT as the double-elimination tourney continues — though inclement weather is expected. Filer (25-6) and Homedale (22-5-1) meet this morning for a spot in the state title game.

Against Gooding on Friday, Timberlake was shut out for the first time since 2017 on four hits, and Gooding hit four homers.

“It was a combination of us not hitting the ball well, but also we were making errors,” Lupinacci said. “Our pitcher was throwing outs, but things kind of snowballed.”

Lupinacci said Gooding pitcher Mae Durham “was good, she had a riseball, but nothing we shouldn't have been able to hit.”

Against Weiser, Emma Howard was 3 for 4 with three RBIs for Timberlake, Peyton Lindley was 2 for 2 with three RBIs and three runs, and Lacey Peterson was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs. Bernie Carhart pitched three shutout innings for the Tigers.

“We started hitting the ball,” Lupinacci said. “That’s the thing that gets us going the most. When that’s on, everything else falls in behind.”

Against South Fremont, Lily Carhart went 2 for 4 and drove in four runs for Timberlake. Bernie Carhart struck out five in four shutout innings, and also drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers.

“Lily Carhart had a heckuva day behind the plate,” Lupinacci said. “She threw some runners out, hit the ball all day long. And Lacey Peterson hit the ball well.”

GOODING 15, TIMBERLAKE 0

Gooding 530 25 — 15 11 1

Timberlake 000 00 — 0 4 3

Mae Durham and Mo Durham; Acacia Pecor, Bernie Carhart (5) and Lily Carter.

HITS: Good — Fleming 2, Roe 3, J. Carter 2, Mo. Durham, Kullanek, Church, R. Carter. TL — L. Carhart, B. Carhart, Jessen, Grantham. 2B — Fleming, Roe, B. Carhart. HR — Roe, J. Carter, R. Carter.

TIMBERLAKE 17, WEISER 0

Timberlake 296 — 17 15 0

Weiser 000 — 0 3 0

Game called after 3 innings due to 15-run rule.

Bernie Carhart and Lily Carhart; W. Cordes, D. Lockett (2), T. Noyer (3) and T. Noyer, G. Swank (3).

HITS: TL — Howard 3, L. Carhart, B. Carhart, Lindley 2, Walsh 2, Grantham, Jessen, Rojas, Peterson 3. Wei — Cordes, Swank, Otsen. 2B — L. Carhart, Lindley, Rojas, Walsh, Otsen.

TIMBERLAKE 13, SOUTH FREMONT 1

Timberlake 001 453 — 13 12 2

South Fremont 000 010 — 1 5 2

Game called after 6 innings due to 10-run rule.

Bernie Carhart and Lily Carhart; Angell, Moupin (5) and Powell.

HITS: TL — Howard, L. Carhart 2, B. Carhart, Lindley 2, Walsh, Grantham 2, Jessen, Rojas, Peterson. SF — Powell, Cordingly, Moupin 2, Hammond. 2B — L. Carhart, Grantham, Moupin.

2A

St. Maries still in

hunt after early loss

NAMPA — After playing tourney favorite Malad tough in a 10-6 loss, St. Maries came back to beat Nampa Christian 11-9 and Declo 6-2 to clinch a trophy and remain alive at the state 2A softball tourney Friday at West Park.

“We didn’t play our best, but we did some learning today. We did some competing,” St. Maries coach Todd Bitterman said.

St. Maries (23-3) faces West Jefferson (22-3) today at 9 a.m. PDT as play in the double-elimination tournament continues. Malad (23-0) and Bear Lake (23-6-1), the two other remaining teams, meet this morning for a berth in the title game.

Malad has now won 38 straight games.

Against Malad, Stacie Mitchell drove in four runs for St. Maries, two on a seventh-inning homer. She also hit a two-run triple in the fifth. Taci Watkins struck out 12 in five innings. But Malad hit three home runs, including a pair of solo shots by Riley Dorius, who struck out seven and walked two in a complete game in the circle.

It was the first state softball tourney action for any of the Lumberjacks.

“Definitely first-game state jitters — almost like we were playing Game 1 of the season,” Bitterman said. “We got in a hole, and it was our doing, that’s one of those learning things.

“I want to see them again. But we’ve got to win two before we see them again.”

Against Nampa Christian, Jayd Telford hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning for St. Maries, and finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Watkins struck out 13 and walked eight. Naomi Merritt hit a two-run homer and finished with four RBIs for Nampa Christian.

Against Declo, Mitchell hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run seventh inning that gave St. Maries some breathing room. Watkins struck out 11, walked two and allowed two hits for the Lumberjacks in a complete game.

Bitterman tinkered with his lineup on Friday, moving Telford up a spot to leadoff, Mitchell from seventh to third in the order, and put his speed at the bottom of the lineup.

“Sami Badgett had a stellar day, she just made some stuff happen today,” Bitterman said of his No. 8 hitter. “She’s our speedy girl, and took advantage of extra bases. She did fabulous today.”

MALAD 10, ST. MARIES 6

Malad 202 330 0 — 10 9 4

St. Maries 001 030 2 — 6 7 4

Riley Dorius and Shaelle Ketchell; Taci Watkins, Gracie Barden (6) and Jenna Holder.

HITS: Malad — Dorius 2, Willie, Horsley, Phillips, Pickett 3, Kimberling. SM — Telford, Watkins 2, Mitchell 2, McGreal, Badgett. 2B — none. 3B — Mitchell. HR — Kimberling, Dorius 2, Mitchell.

ST. MARIES 11, NAMPA CHRISTIAN 9

Nampa Christian 000 243 — 9 6 5

St. Maries 315 02x — 11 13 2

Game called in 6th inning due to time limit (weather protocol).

Aly Marion, Karly Williams (3) and Harlee Ferdinand; Taci Watkins and Jenna Holder.

HITS: NC — Cagle, Merritt 2, Ferdinand, Williams, Marion. SM — Telford 3, Watkins 2, Mitchell, Holder, Barden, Miller, McGreal, Badgett 2, Fuller. 2B — Cagle, Ferdinand, Badgett, Barden, Mitchell, Telford, Watkins. HR — Merritt, Telford.

ST. MARIES 6, DECLO 2

St. Maries 110 010 3 — 6 6 2

Declo 001 001 0 — 2 2 2

Taci Watkins and Jenna Holder; Kaitlyn Koyle and Bailee Burton.

HITS: SM — Telford, Mitchell 2, Holder, Miller, Badgett. Dec — Spencer, Koyle. 2B — Holder, Spencer. 3B — Mitchell. HR — Mitchell, Koyle.