Lakeland Seeks ‘Sweet Revenge’

A-2 softball

Lakeland High earned two victories in loser-out play Friday at the State A-2 girls fastpitch tournament to set up a showdown today with Moscow at Ramsey Park.

The Intermountain League rivals play at 10 a.m. in their fourth meeting this year. In the most recent, the championship of the district tourney, Moscow won 9-8.

“We’re looking for revenge, sweet revenge,” Lakeland pitcher Monica Hall said.

The reward to the winner will be a championship battle at noon with Bishop Kelly of Boise. The Knights (24-3) sent both teams into the losers bracket in the double-elimination tourney. The Knights must be beaten twice to lose the title.

Lakeland (19-6) fell 7-4 to the Knights in the opening game of winners-bracket play. Moscow (21-7) lost to the Knights 3-1.

“Our pitching has been good all year and the defense is great behind them,” Bishop Kelly coach Wes Worrell said.

The Knights committed just two errors to complement the pitching of freshmen Kate Connolly and Jennifer Brown.

Lakeland battles back

Lakeland fell behind early against the Knights, and a late comeback came up short.

The Hawks were down 7-0 in the fourth as Bishop Kelly took advantage of a bad hop that stretched a Michelle Chariton single into a three-run home run. Lakeland scored twice in the seventh, but left a runner at third to end the game.

“We didn’t challenge them until late, and they played better defense,” Lakeland coach Danielle Bean said.

Lakeland defeated Bear Lake 3-1 in its first loser-out game. The Hawks went up 3-0 early, and starting pitcher Hall pitched five shutout innings to get the win. Bear Lake (20-4) tried to rally in the sixth inning, but Lakeland reliever Tiffany Hall got a pair of strikeouts.

To set up the battle with Moscow, the Hawks had to hold off a seventhinning rally to defeat Marsh Valley 5-4.

“Our whole team came out to play with fire in their eyes in the loser-out games,” Jessica McBride said.

Bears come close

Moscow opened the day by defeating Middleton 6-2 in the winners bracket. The Bears got a pair of RBIs from catcher Erin Makus to pull away from the Vikings (13-13) late in the game.

Against Bishop Kelly, Moscow gave up a pair of unearned runs in a three-run BK first inning.

In loser-out play, Marsh Valley beat Buhl 14-0 and Bear Lake defeated South Freemont 9-2.

Bishop Kelly 7, Lakeland 4

Bishop Kelly 201 400 0 - 7 5 0

Lakeland 000 200 2 - 4 7 4

Connolly, Brown (5) and Miller; M. Hall and Tweedy. W - Connonlly. L - Hall.

HITS: Bishop Kelly - Chariton, Miller 2, Connolly, Schneide. Lakeland - Angie Carhart, Tweedy, Annie Carhart, McBride 2, Smith, Reisenhauer. HR - Annie Carhart.

Lakeland 3, Bear Lake 1

Bear Lake 000 001 0 - 1 5 1

Lakeland 102 000 x - 3 8 0

M. Hall, T. Hall(6) and Tweedy; Peterson and Burdick. W - M. Hall. L - Peterson.

HITS: Bear Lake - Pugmire 2, Peterson, Saxton, Burdick. Lakeland - T. Hall 2, Reisenhauer, Tweedy, Annie Carhart, Angie Carhart, Huber, McBride.

Lakeland 5, Marsh Valley 4

Lakeland 203 000 0 - 5 6 3

Marsh Valley 200 010 1 - 4 6 3

T. Hall, M. Hall (5) and Tweedy; Neeser and Christensen (3) and Aldrich. W - T. Hall. L - Neeser.

HITS: Lakeland - Reisenhauer 2, Tweedy, Carhart, M. Hall, McBride. Marsh Valley - Christensen, Staley, Neeser 2, Bollinger, Moser.

Bishop Kelly 3, Moscow 1

Moscow 000 000 1 - 1 5 1

Bishop Kelly 300 000 0 - 3 6 2

Griggs, Emy Makus (6) and Erin Makus; Brown, Connolly (7) and Miller. W - Brown. L - Griggs.