Pitcher DeLong’s long blast gives Vikings big win over LC

One swing of the bat – Jenna DeLong’s bat, to be exact – proved to be the difference Saturday as Coeur d’Alene moved one step closer to an Inland Empire League softball championship with a 3-1 victory over visiting Lake City.

DeLong delivered a three-run homer over the left-field fence in the third inning and pitched her second three-hitter in three days to lead the Vikings (16-1 overall, 10-1 IEL) to the win.

Despite her key pitching and hitting exploits, though, it was her team’s play she wanted to talk about.

“I’m more proud of my team defense than anything – that’s what won the game,” said DeLong (10-1). “(LC) put the ball in play – I’m not going to strike everybody out, I’m not going to get everybody to (hit into) nice, easy plays.

“But my team made the defensive plays, and I’m starting to really believe in my team. Even though we’re young and we’re just getting started, I’m really starting to believe in them.”

The game-winning home run was DeLong’s first out-of-the-park blast this season.

Lake City (11-5, 6-4) scored its run in the second when junior left fielder Haley Peterson, who went 2 for 3, singled in Jordanna Walker on a flare to shallow left.

CdA coach Larry Bieber, who said DeLong told her team after the game how much her confidence in them means to her, had nothing but superlatives for his ace and her teammates.

“It shows the determination that Jenna’s got,” Bieber said. “After we give them a run, she says, ‘This is not the way this is going to go.’

“And, also, we played much better defense – (junior Katie) Bologna at third made a bunch of plays, Mouse Stark made a bunch of plays, all of our kids made plays, and that’s what we’re about – good defense, good pitching and not making any mental errors.”

LC coach Laura Tolzmann, whose team handed CdA its only loss of the season in their previous meeting, was not overly disappointed in defeat.

“I thought we hit the ball really well and did everything we could – played defense and balls were just hit right at them,” Tolzmann said. “The difference in that game was just the one hit, and either team could get that.

“I don’t think either team proved which one is the better one.”

Vikings sophomore Amanda Brouillard matched DeLong with two hits and added a pair of stolen bases.