PREP SOFTBALL: Gugino, Pratt go deep as Lake City, Coeur d'Alene split

COEUR d’ALENE — Coming into Tuesday, freshman Madelyn Pratt had just two at-bats as a varsity member of the Coeur d’Alene Vikings.

On Tuesday, Pratt went 3 for 3 in the second game with a solo home run in the second inning, three RBIs and three runs scored as Coeur d’Alene beat visiting Lake City 16-3 to earn a split of their Inland Empire League doubleheader at Larry Schwenke Field.

“I tell the girls, work hard in practice and that’s how you get time in the game,” Coeur d’Alene coach Bobbi Darretta said. “Pratt is a JV kid, I pulled her up recently. Today, after the first game, I figured, let’s give her a shot now and see what she can do, and she did fantastic.”

In the first game, Layla Gugino homered and drove in five runs as Lake City won 12-5. 

How tight is the league? After Tuesday’s play, Lake City (8-4, 6-2 IEL), Coeur d’Alene (8-4, 6-2) and Lewiston (6-6, 6-2) are all tied for first in the league.

In the first game, Gugino doubled in a run in the first inning, then hit a grand slam in the second as Lake City took a 6-0 lead. 

“She showed up big for us today, and did an incredible job at the plate,” Lake City coach Jordyn Hensley said. “I am continually impressed with her ability to compete and her mental toughness.”

Coeur d’Alene closed to within 8-5, then Karsyn DeMent hit a two-run triple in a four-run seventh for the Timberwolves. DeMent also doubled in a run in the second.

Freshman Jenna Davenport struck out 10 in 5.1 innings of relief in the opener, then fanned seven and scattered three hits in a five-inning win in the nightcap.

“Jenna came in and finished the (first) game strong, and she did fantastic the next game,” Darretta said. “If those walks (early in the first game) don’t happen, that entire game would have changed. I’m really proud of my girls; they’re scrappy, and they never give up.”

Chloe Burke went 5 for 8 with four RBIs and three runs scored on the day for the Vikings, and Kyndal Bridge was 3 for 4 with three runs in the second game. Coeur d’Alene scored 11 runs in the first inning of the nightcap.

“We came into game one with great energy and focus,” Hensley said. “We had great approaches at the plate, and our defense made big plays. Game two we didn’t come out with the same focus and energy, and it showed.”

On Saturday, Lake City plays host to Post Falls in a doubleheader, and Coeur d’Alene is home vs. Moscow in a twinbill.

FIRST GAME

Lake City    150    200    4    —    12    10    2

Coeur d’Alene    002    003    0    —    5    11    2

Kylee Palmer, Madalynn Blood (6) and Taylor Hill; Leah Nordman, Jenna Davenport (2) and Kyndal Bridge. 

HITS: LC —Schiley, Gugino 3, Hill, DeMent 2, Blood 2, Chavez. Cd’A — Burke 3, Nelson 2, Bridge, Davenport, Linder, P. McLaughlin, Moehring, Knutson. 2B — Gugino 2, DeMent, Linder, Davenport. 3B — DeMent, Burke. HR — Gugino.

SECOND GAME

Lake City    000    21    —    3    3    4

Coeur d’Alene    (11)14    0x    —    16    12    1

Game called in 5th inning due to 10-run rule.

Madalynn Blood, Kylee Palmer (1), Layla Gugino (2) and Taylor Hill; Jenna Davenport and Kyndal Bridge.

HITS: LC — Gugino 2, Palmer. Cd’A — Burke 2, Nelson, Bridge 3, Davenport, Linder, Moehring, Pratt 3. 2B — Pratt. 3B — Burke. HR — Gugino 2, Pratt.

Post Falls 16-8

Lakeland 9-16

POST FALLS — Junior Charlie Wasson went 3 for 5 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs scored as the host Trojans won the first game of the IEL doubleheader.

Wasson hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, a run-scoring double in the first and an RBI single in the fifth for Post Falls (4-11, 4-8 IEL).

Kiersten Drake hit a two-run homer in the first inning for Lakeland (4-6, 2-4).

Lexie McCarroll’s two-run single highlighted a five-run bottom of the first that put Post Falls up 5-3.

In the second game, Drake, a sophomore, hit three homers and drove in six runs for Lakeland. She hit a two-run homer in the first inning, a three-run homer in the seventh, and a solo shot in the fourth.

Delilah Zimmerman went 5 for 5 in the second game for Lakeland, and Payton Sterling was 5 for 9 with four RBIs on the day for the Hawks. 

Jaya Felix went 6 for 8 on the day for Post Falls, including a homer in the second game. Summer Dan hit a two-run homer in the second.

Lakeland travels to Sandpoint on Thursday for an IEL doubleheader.

Post Falls visits Lake City on Saturday for a league twinbill.

FIRST GAME

Lakeland    310    301    1    —    9    9    3

Post Falls    500    380    x    —    16    14    2

Abby Helmholz, Mia Kesner (5) and Payton Sterling; Lexie McCarroll and Kulani Peahu-Michael.

HITS: LL — Zimmerman 2, Sterling 3, Drake, Blakemore, Kesner, Holte. PF — Felix 3, Peahu-Michael 2, Berg 2, McCarroll 2, Wasson 3, Williams 2. 2B — Sterling 2, Felix, Wasson. HR — Drake, Wasson, Berg.

SECOND GAME

Lakeland    305    300    5    —    16    16    3

Post Falls    150    101    0    —    8    10    3

Mackenzie Briggs and Payton Sterling; Lexie McCarroll, Kayla Rouse (7) and Kulani Peahu-Michael, Katie Berg (3).

HITS: LL — Hanna 3, Zimmerman 5, Sterling 2, Drake 3, Frank, Blakemore, Briggs. PF — Felix 3, Peahu-Michael, Berg, Dan, Bennett, Stroud, Williams 2. 2B — Zimmerman, Bennett. HR — Drake 3, Dan, Felix.

Kellogg 4

St. Maries 2

ST. MARIES — Macy Jerome struck out 14 as the visiting Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks in Central Idaho League play.

Lexie Brebner had two hits and an RBI for St. Maries (2-11, 2-5 CIL), which travels to Bonners Ferry on Thursday for a doubleheader.

Kellogg plays a CIL doubleheader at Orofino on Friday.

Kellogg    300    010    0    —    4    4    1

St. Maries    000    101    0    —    2    5    5

Jerome and Hei; Addyson Stewart and Taryn Brebner.

HITS: Kell — Card, Clapper, McDaniel 2. SM — Stewart, L. Brebner 2, Sloper, Asbury. 2B — Card.

    Courtesy photo Coeur d'Alene High freshman Jenna Davenport delivers to Lake City's Madaline Peterson during the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Larry Schwenke field.