NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals get home, finally, sweep Yakima Valley

| April 17, 2024 1:15 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — For 17 straight games, North Idaho College has shown why its capable of a deep playoff run.

But even with that lengthy win streak, the Cardinals had the chance to do something they hadn’t done all season on Tuesday.

Be at home.

Sophomore Kennedy Hobson homered twice in the first game for the Cardinals, who swept the Yakima Valley Yaks 14-3 and 10-0 in Northwest Athletic Conference play at Memorial Field, the team’s first on their home field this season.

“It was good to be on Memorial Field,” said NIC coach Shay Chapman, whose team had to move its previously scheduled opener against Community Colleges of Spokane to Post Falls High due to field conditions on Sunday. “The girls were excited to be at home and it was nice to be there.”

Kristine Schmidt, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene High, had six strikeouts in the opener for NIC.

In the nightcap, freshman Faith Nichols hit a pair of two-run home runs for NIC (23-2, 15-0 NWAC), which competes in an NWAC crossover tournament on Friday and Saturday at Kiwanis Park in Yakima.

“They’re locked in and making good adjustments when they need to right now,” Chapman said. “It’s been fun to watch and coach. It’s been a fun journey with this group so far.”

Yakima Valley is 9-17, 5-11.

FIRST GAME

Yakima Valley 012 00 — 3 5 1

North Idaho 336 2x — 14 15 1

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule.

Claire DeVries, Madison Kennedy (3) and Avery Olauson; Kristine Schmidt and C. Duran.

HITS: YVCC — Sosky, Estabrook 2, DeVries, Stamp. NIC — Hobson 3, Rockwell 3, Korok 2, Doran 3, Vieira, Nichols, Thomas. 2B — Rockwell, Doran. 3B — Korok. HR — Hobson 2, Rockwell, Vieira.

SECOND GAME

Yakima Valley 000 00 — 0 4 1

North Idaho 322 3x — 10 9 0

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule.

Briley Ingram and Avery Olauson; Kennedy Hobson, Jaylynn Christensen (5) and Summer Makinster, Delaney Gosch.

HITS: YVCC — Estabrook, Butler, Eckhardt, Taylor. NIC — Hobson 2, Korok 2, Vieira 2, Schulhauser, Nichols 2, Makinster. 2B — Schulhauser. HR — Hobson, Korok, Nichols 2.