Skillingstad ‘gets by’ in shutout
So what does it say for the rest of the Greater Spokane League softball teams that Shadle Park sophomore Sam Skillingstad didn’t have her A-game Thursday?
Facing one of the league’s preseason favorites, Mt. Spokane, on a warm overcast afternoon at Shadle, Skillingstad threw 108 pitches, walked two and hit another pair.
All while throwing a one-hit shutout, with 14 strikeouts in a 6-0 win.
“She hasn’t looked sharp the last three games,” Shadle coach George Lynn said. “But what do you say about one of the state’s best pitchers? She’s able to do that without being sharp.”
Skillingstad (3-0), who was co-MVP of the GSL as a freshman, pitched best when Mt. Spokane threatened – something that happened often early.
“We had enough opportunities to score,” Mt. Spokane coach Carl Adams said. “We didn’t get the hits when we needed to. You have to take advantage of the opportunities when you get them. They did.”
The Wildcats (2-2 overall and in GSL play) had runners in scoring position four times, thanks to the free passes and an error by Shadle (3-0).
The results? Mt. Spokane was 0 for 6 with four strikeouts.
“Yes, we were up-and-down today, but this is the best time of the year to be up-and-down,” said Lynn, noting his Highlanders start six underclassmen.
It was those freshmen and sophomores who keyed the offense, with Lynn’s ninth-grade daughter Danielle stroking two hits, scoring twice and driving in another.
Kristina DeMello, second-team All-GSL last year, took the loss but earned Shadle’s respect.
“She looked great today,” Lynn said after DeMello (2-2) yielded seven hits, three earned runs and struck out 11.
Around the league
In other GSL softball action, North Central (2-0) sophomore Kelcie Vallies tossed a five-inning no-hitter as the Indians stayed perfect with a 10-0 win over visiting Lewis and Clark (0-4) in a game shortened by the mercy rule. Vallies was just a walk away from a perfect game. Raeanne Cumbrie added the big offensive blow, a two-run fourth-inning triple. … University (4-0) sits alone atop the league after routing Gonzaga Prep (1-2) 10-1 at U-Hi. Mandy Mikelson raised her record to 4-0 with a five-hitter, and Michelle Wells and Teresa Tveit paced a 10-hit attack with three hits apiece. Wells added three RBIs. … Clarkston (3-1), which lost to U-Hi 10-3 at home Wednesday, bounced back with an 8-6 decision at East Valley (1-2) behind the five-hit pitching of Courtney McKeehan (3-1). McKeehan also added three hits and three RBIs. … Ferris (1-3) got into the win column, taking advantage of five errors by host West Valley (1-2) in a 6-4 win. The Saxons pounded out 10 hits, including three apiece from Sarah Allen and Ashley Harris. … Alexa Marales had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, and Kaitlyn Proctor knocked a three-run homer in the fifth inning to push Central Valley (2-2) to a 10-7 win over host Cheney (1-3).