St. Maries Loses Thriller, Takes Fourth

A-2 fastpitch/tennis

A wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Emmett a 6-5 win over St. Maries as the Lumberjacks settled for fourth place in the State A-2 fastpitch tournament Saturday at Fruitland.

The Lumberjacks (18-6) defeated Intermountain League rival Lakeland, 6-3, for the first time in four tries this season to reach the third-place game.

Lakeland had lost a championship semifinal game earlier Saturday to Middleton, 7-6 in eight innings.

Down to its final out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Lakeland (20-7) attempted to tie the game by sending a runner from third on a passed ball. The Hawks’ season ended when the Middleton catcher recovered in time to make the play.

Monica Hall struck out eight for Lakeland, but also surrendered nine walks while hitting one batter.

The Hawks took a 5-1 lead with three runs in the fourth inning. Robin Zychek and Allison Dunn singled before Lakeland drew a walk, and the Hawks scored on a passed ball, Angie Tweedy’s single and a sacrifice.

In St. Maries’ loss, Emmett’s Stacy Andrews picked up her fourth hit of the game in the seventh inning and went to third base on another hit.

A pitch on an intentional walk then went wild and allowed Emmett to score the winning run.

Brianne Badgett, who pitched a five-hitter in the victory over Lakeland, gave up 10 hits in the loss to Emmett. The Lumberjacks used just five hits to create five runs in the loss.

“We did the things we had to do to score runs. We don’t hit the ball for power.” said St. Maries coach Todd Gilkey.

“It’s what we did all year.”

And what they did in their victory over Lakeland.

St. Maries took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on three walks, a hit batsmen and two sacrifice flies.

After Lakeland tied the game in the top of the sixth, St. Maries came back with three runs with the help of Bryna Reynolds’ tworun double.

“Not to take anything away from my kids, but Lakeland had to be down after an emotional loss,” said Gilkey of the Hawks’ loss to Middleton.

“We were looking for Lakeland after having lost to them three times during the season.”

St. Maries has no seniors on this year’s team, which was playing its first fastpitch season.

It was the second year of fastpitch for Southern Idaho.

“It (the tourney) was a great learning experience for the kids,” said Gilkey.

“I think us and Lakeland realized there are things we have to do to catch up with southern Idaho. My kids are already set to go.”

Tennis

In Sun Valley, Centennial won the State A title with 65 points. Lewiston finished 13th, Coeur d’Alene tied for 14th and Lake City was 16th.

Bishop Kelly took the State B crown with 63 points, holding off Moscow (52).