GSL softball: Another perfect day
How can perfection be improved upon?
Shadle Park softball pitcher Sam Skillingstad tantalizingly raised the possibility with her latest overpowering performance.
The Highlanders (19-0) blanked their closest challenger, North Central, 12-0 in five innings Friday at Shadle on Skillingstad’s second perfect game of the season.
But she left room for improvement by coming one batter short in her bid to strike out every foe. Skillingstad fanned the first 12 before Alica Kahler grounded out to open the fifth inning.
“I got the one out, though,” Skillingstad said.
Indeed she did, fielding Kahler’s grounder and throwing to first before striking out the final two batters and finishing with 14.
She appeared to be throwing faster than Thursday in this match with the GSL’s other hard thrower, NC’s Kelcie Vallies.
“I felt it might have been the wind against my back,” said Skillingstad on a blustery afternoon. “And I was excited for the game because they were in second place.”
Because of the anticipated pitchers’ duel, Shadle put its short game in motion to maximize scoring opportunities. By forcing the action with steals and bunts, the Highlanders caused several NC (16-3) fielding mistakes and scored early runs.
Two of those came in the first, which proved plenty for Skillingstad. But the Highlanders padded the lead with a five-run third and hauled out the heavy timber in the fourth to put the game away.
“The first couple of innings I thought they tested us,” said Shadle coach George Lynn. “Kelcie was on her game, but we were very successful putting the ball in play.”
The first inning was an example. China Frost opened the game with a walk and stole second. Allie Burger bunted and Frost scored on a throwing error. Burger stole third and beat the throw home on Tressa Presidik’s infield grounder.
Shadle’s five-run third was again a case of small ball, exacerbated by a pair of NC errors.
Frost slapped a single, Heather Jackson laid down a squeeze bunt for one run and Skillingstad singled through the infield for two more. The Indians’ second error plated two more.
Meanwhile, Shadle’s junior star kept mowing her opponents down with precision.
In the fourth, the Highlanders broke the game open with three home runs. Danielle Lynn went the opposite way down the left-field line for a three-run blow. Jackson rifled a shot to right-center and Skillingstad followed suit with a blistering drive up the middle.
“Our batters were not prepared the first time through the lineup,” said Lynn. “Our timing the second time through was perfect. The third time through, yikes!”
The victory was the Highlanders’ 53rd straight in league, clinched the outright GSL championship and leaves them one win away from a second straight perfect regular season.
The final game of the season is Monday at home against University (16-3), which tied NC for second with a 12-2 win at Rogers (6-14).
Elsewhere, U-Hi’s Titans had 15 hits, including a two-run home run by Ashley Fargher. Rachel Squires hit a double and triple, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Alexis Obenchain had three hits. … Third-place Mead (13-6) scored seven runs in the third and defeated host Gonzaga Prep 13-6. For Mead, Stephanie Parker went 4 for 05 with two doubles and drove in two runs and Alex Cey was 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. … Central Valley (12-7) remained a game behind Mead in the race for third with a 14-1 five-inning win over host Lewis and Clark at Hart Field. Lauren Mandler struck out eight, while Alyssa Erickson drove in three runs and scored twice for the Bears. … Ferris (2-17) scored early and held on for a 9-7 win over visiting East Valley (6-13). The Saxons led 9-1 after three innings. For the Saxons, Hannah Jefberger was 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs. Hillary Johnson and Bethany Crahn combined for four more runs batted in, and Johnson tripled.