Lakeland wins state 3A qualifier

In a pitchers’ duel, Lakeland prevailed in a 3A state play-in game.

Andy Kifer had a two-run double in the sixth as Lakeland scored all four of its runs in the inning to edge Fruitland 4-3 at Orofino.

Lakeland’s junior ace David Carlisle (7-3) picked up the win.

Lakeland (16-11) advances to state, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. The Hawks will meet District V champ Bear Lake in an opener at noon PDT. District I champ Timberake (20-3), which is making its first trip to state, will face District V runner-up Preston at 3:30.

In other openers, Filer (21-4) goes against South Fremont (17-9) and Wood River meets Middleton (17-9).

Lewiston scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning as the Bengals slipped past Eagle 5-4 in a 5A state play-in game at Lewiston.

The Bengals (20-7) scored the tying run when Josh Rogers knocked in Kevin Maurer with an infield single. Rogers scored moments later on a single by Chris Butler, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

•Lewiston advances to state, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Borah High School in Boise. The Bengals join Region I champ Lake City (19-6) at state. In state openers, Lake City will face District III third-place finisher Capital of Boise (18-7) at noon PDT while Borah (22-5) meets Highland (21-5), Lewiston takes on Twin Falls (23-5), and Timberline (22-5) goes against Meridian (13-15).

•Post Falls earned a state berth by winning a play-in game a year ago. The Trojans couldn’t make it two straight, though. Caldwell knocked off the Trojans 6-4 in a playoff at Lewiston.

Caldwell scored four runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead it would never relinquish. All six of Caldwell’s runs were unearned. Cody Brubaker (6-2) went the distance for Post Falls, striking out nine. His lone walk was intentional.

Caldwell advances to state, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Rodeo Park in Nampa. Region I champ Sandpoint (12-12) will take on Kuna (16-10) in an opener at noon PDT.

Tennis

Lewiston ran away with the 5A Region I championship, posting 108 points at the meet at Lewiston to repeat as regional champ. Coeur d’Alene had 47 and Lake City 20.

The top three finishers in boys singles and doubles, girls singles and doubles and mixed doubles qualify for state, which will be held May 21-22 at Boise.

Coeur d’Alene qualified six to state. They are Kristin Galante and Kara Eberle, who were second in girls doubles; Jacquie Frank and Trevor Frank, who were second in mixed doubles; Marki Grimsley, who was second in girls singles; and Travis Anderson, who was third in boys singles.

Lake City had three players earn state berths. They are Byron Gray in boys singles and Craig Estep and Russ Coler in boys doubles.

• Sandpoint dominated the 4A Region I meet at Moscow, winning four of the five championships.

Geoff Klein and Kelsey James earned a repeat trip to state in mixed doubles as they captured a regional title. Liam Orton and Logan Jones-Olson of Sandpoint won boys doubles, Zibby Keaton and Lauren Fiedler of Sandpoint won girls doubles and Tim Neidhart of Sandpoint won boys singles.

State will be held May 21-22 at Caldwell.

Washington softball

Jodi Collins hit a three-run home run in the first inning and finished 3 for 3 with four RBI as West Valley punded out 17 hits and clinched the No. 1 seed to the regionals Saturday by beating Clarkston 14-4 in six innings in a District 8 3A softball match at West Valley.

Hilary Shields (9-11) went the distance for the Eagles, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out 13 and walking just one.

Shields was was never wanting for run support, as West Valley (9-11) scored seven times in the first inning and had a 12-1 lead after three.

Kris Wilson went 3 for 3 for Clarkston (7-14), including a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The Bantams will get a No. 2 seed to regionals.

In the day’s early game, Heather Davis’ RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh scored Tara Ruark as Clarkston knocked off Cheney 5-4 in a loser-out game.

• Melissa Rice through a no-hitter, sriking out five as Colville beat visiting Deer Park 10-0 in five innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader sweep by the Indians in Great Northern League action.

Kim Brown went 3 for 3 with three doubles and two runs scored and Stephanie Day was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in a first inning that saw Colville score eight times.

Brown went 3 for 4 with five RBI in the second game.