NIC SOFTBALL: Imbler-Bremner comes through for Cardinals in a pinch

PORTLAND — In a clutch spot, North Idaho College coach Shay Fuson called upon Hattie Imbler-Bremner when the team needed some insurance.

And the sophomore delivered.

Imbler-Bremer had a pinch-hit double to score Madelynne Hommel in the sixth inning to plate an insurance run as the third-seeded Cardinals held off the No. 6 Walla Walla Warriors 6-4 in the second round of the NWAC Championships on Thursday at Delta Park.

“With limited base runners during the game, finally getting two on, I just had a gut feeling that Hattie would come in clutch for us,” said NIC coach Shay Fuson, who was named East Region Coach of the Year earlier this week. “She is someone I can rely on in these key situations.”

Kani Korok hit a two-run home run in the first inning, then Kennedy Hobson followed with a three-run shot to give NIC a 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Walla Walla cut the deficit to 5-4 on a three-run home run by Rylie Bennett, who was named East Region Player of the Year on Wednesday.

NIC (38-9) will face No. 2 seed Southwestern Oregon (45-3) of Coos Bay today at 12:30 p.m. for a berth in the semifinal on Saturday.

“Being at this tournament is such a great experience,” Fuson said. “The energy is vibrant and the girls feel that. They’re taking that energy onto the field and it’s fun to watch.”

Earlier Thursday, NIC had home runs by Megan Dobrev, Karli Kostoff, Emma Todhunter and Imbler-Bremner in a 9-0 win over Wenatchee Valley to open the tournament.

Hobson and sophomore Abbey Brooks limited Wenatchee Valley to two hits.

“We’re extremely confident in the depth of our pitching staff,” said Fuson of Brooks, who were also selected to the All-East Region first team. “Knowing that we don’t have to rely on just one of them to throw the whole game is great. They complement each other extremely well.”

Korok and Summer Makinster of NIC were also named to all-East Region first team. Hayden Rockwell and Emma Todhunter of NIC were named to the second team.

NORTH IDAHO 6, WALLA WALLA 4

Walla Walla 004 000 0 — 4 9 0

North Idaho 500 001 x — 6 6 2

Lauren Perryman, Naomi Butterfield (6) and Macie Plischke; Kennedy Hobson, Abbey Brooks (4) and Summer Makinster, Kailey Cramer (6).

HITS: WWCC — Bennett 2, Taber, Plischke, Henard, McKay, Robinson 3. NIC — Todhunter, Korok, Makinster, Hobson, Kostoff 2. 2B — Imbler-Bremner, Kostoff. HR — Bennett, Korok, Hobson.

NORTH IDAHO 9, WENATCHEE VALLEY 0, 5 INN.

Wenatchee Valley 000 00 — 0 2 1

North Idaho 512 1x — 9 8 0

Taylor Files, Jessie Newman (3) and Kiley Heinz; Kennedy Hobson, Abbey Brooks (4) and Summer Makinster, Hattie Imbler-Bremner (4).

HITS: WVCC — Cordon, Heinz. NIC — Todhunter 2, Imbler-Bremner, Dobrev, Schulhauser, Hobson, Kostoff 2. 2B — Hobson. 3B — Todhunter. HR — Todhunter, Imbler-Bremner, Dobrev, Kostoff.

NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

At Delta Park, Portland

Thursday’s Games

Southwestern Oregon 8, Centralia 0, 5 innings

Columbia Basin 8, Everett 0, 5 innings

Walla Walla 11, Edmonds 6

North Idaho 9, Wenatchee Valley 0, 5 innings

Clackamas 9, Spokane 5

Lower Columbia 7, Mt. Hood 3,

Treasure Valley 6, Douglas 4

Bellevue 10, Chemeketa 0, 5 innings

Everett 8, Centralia 0 (loser out)

Wenatchee Valley 19, Edmonds 16 (loser out)

Southwestern Oregon 4, Columbia Basin 0

North Idaho 6, Walla Walla 4

Clackamas 11, Lower Columbia 4

Bellevue 12, Treasure Valley 0, 5 innings

Friday’s Games

Game 17 — No. 9 Treasure Valley (24-24) vs. No. 10 Everett (25-11), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 18 — No. 12 Lower Columbia (25-21) vs. No. 14 Wenatchee Valley (21-25), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 19 — No. 6 Walla Walla (38-10) vs. No. 5 Mt. Hood (26-8), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 20 — No. 7 Columbia Basin (34-14) vs. No. 8 Douglas (14-11), 10 a.m. (loser out)

Game 21 — No. 2 Southwestern Oregon (45-3) vs. No. 3 North Idaho (38-9), 12:30 p.m.

Game 22 — No. 4 Clackamas (33-11) vs. No. 1 Bellevue (39-2), 12:30 p.m.

Game 23 — Winner Game 17 vs. Winner Game 18, 12:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 24 — Winner Game 19 vs. Winner Game 20, 12:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 25 — Winner Game 23 vs. Loser Game 21, 3:30 p.m. (loser out)

Game 26 — Winner Game 24 vs. Loser Game 22, 3:30 p.m. (loser out)

Saturday’s Games

Game 27 — Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 22, 10 a.m. (semifinal)

Game 28 —Winner Game 25 vs. Winner Game 26, 10 a.m.

Game 29 — Loser Game 27 vs. Winner Game 28, 12:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Game 30 — Winner Game 27 vs. Winner Game 29, 11 a.m. (championship game)

Game 31 — Loser Game 30 vs. Winner Game 30, 1:15 p.m. (if-necessary game)