Scoring outburst extends LC’s year
One down, one to go.
Lake City scored eight runs in the first inning against Lewiston on Thursday and cruised to a 10-2 victory, eliminating the Bengals in the final game of the 5A Region I softball tournament.
The win sets up the Timberwolves (18-9) with a Saturday date in the 5A state play-in game at 1:30 PDT in Fruitland against District III fourth-place Mountain View of Meridian. Mountain View (12-16) lost 4-1 Wednesday to Meridian in that district’s third-place game.
Lake City and the Mavericks met once this season – the T-Wolves winning 7-2 in the third week of the season at Boise. The 5A state tournament begins Thursday at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’Alene.
Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann, whose charges suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday, said the monster first inning was more than a welcome relief.
“Today we just came out like yesterday didn’t happen,” Tolzmann said. “We knew we had to come out and give it all we had because we didn’t want it to be our last game.
“We finally started ripping shots everywhere.”
LC sent 13 batters to the plate in the first, taking advantage of four walks and five hits, including a two-run single by Georgia Burke and a two-run triple by Kelli Bridges.
Tolzmann said she didn’t know what to expect coming in, but was sure of one thing.
“This team has the biggest heart in them to get there – we want to get to state,” Tolzmann said. “It’s not a big surprise, because they wanted it bad enough, and today they showed it.
“It was a huge win, because it was the last game of our season here, and the seniors in particular didn’t want to have their last game on this field be a loss.”
LC ace Kellee Jost, who struck out seven and allowed four Bengals hits, said the eight-run first was a product of high emotions.
“We were really intense and excited about this game – we wanted it, obviously,” Jost said. “I think when we started scoring, we were just really encouraged to play better than what we played yesterday.
“Once Dani (Gramm) got that first hit, we got excited and it was just really contagious.”
Gramm, who made three solid plays at third base, denying Lewiston the ability to mount any sort of a serious rally, had more than one reason to rejoice.
“It was a great feeling, especially since it was our last game on our home field as a senior,” said Gramm, who went 2 for 4 with a double. “We showed what we have today and I’m so happy to be moving on.”
First-year Bengals coach Amy Stark second-guessed herself a little and praised her team a lot.
“They were hitting the ball very well and I think Angela Pegram was a little tired coming off our game last night,” Stark said, referring to Pegram pitching three innings in a 7-4 loss to LC on Wednesday. “I’m thinking that maybe I shouldn’t have started her, but I think that she did an excellent job – she fought hard. … It was just those hits that killed us in the first inning, but I am so proud of this team – they never, ever gave up.”
Lewiston finished the year 12-10.
“Lakeland scored three runs in the top of the eighth, then held off a Post Falls rally to earn a 6-5 victory in the 4A Region I tournament at Post Falls. Kristen Wells ripped a two-run double in the top of the seventh to tie the game for Lakeland (12-12) and force extra innings. With runners at first and second and two outs, Lakeland halted the Trojans’ rally when Jamy Fyfe notched a strikeout to end the game. The Hawks travel to Fruitland at 12:30 p.m. Saturday for a state play-in game. PF finished 15-12.