Softball notes: Best friends Zoe Clark, Jordyn McCracken met at key moment
Zoe Clark struggled against her best friend until it counted the most.
Clark, a senior center fielder, snapped a 4-all tie last Thursday with a two-out, RBI single in the seventh inning to give Coeur d’Alene a 5-4 win at Lake City to cap the Inland Empire League season.
Until the big hit, Clark had been 0 for 3, flying out twice to right field and popping up to LC pitcher Jordyn McCracken.
“They’re very good competition and Jordyn, their pitcher, is my best friend and she’s out for blood,” Clark said.
So what does someone tell their best friend after such a situation?
“What I said to her today was, ‘Thank you for making me pop out,’ ” Clark said. “So we just compliment each other.”
See you again
CdA finished 4-0 against defending State 5A champion Lake City in league, but the North Idaho powers knew that more battles were coming.
Sure enough, the two met Tuesday for the regional title and No. 1 berth to state, a game won by CdA 5-4.
“We’ve been on the other side where we’ve swept them and then they got us at the state tournament title game, so we know we’re capable of getting them at any time,” LC coach Laura Tolzmann-Fierro said after the league finale.
Collision decision
CdA coach Larry Bieber said something needs to be done after his baserunners were involved in two home-plate collisions during the seventh inning against LC last Thursday. CdA assistant Travis Smith was ejected after arguing about the second play.
“We really want to try to protect our kids,” Bieber said. “We weren’t trying to be jerks about it or anything. I’m going to see if I can do some talking to the umpires and call and say, ‘What’s up? I thought you guys talked to us about (the rules on blocking the plate).’ ”
Postseason looms
The Greater Spokane League’s regular season ends Friday. First-place Central Valley (14-2) holds a one-game lead over University (13-3). CV plays at U-Hi on Friday.
“Our biggest thing is trying to get better every day, and win the games that you’re supposed to,” U-Hi coach Jon Schuh said.
District tournaments start May 14 at Whitworth University. CV will be at the four-team 4A tourney, which determines two berths to regional. U-Hi will be at the four-team 3A tourney, which sets up regional seeding.
Senior leadership
Pitcher Michele Strauss, the only senior on Ferris’ roster, has struck out 88 batters in her last 50 innings, including 13 during Tuesday’s 2-0 upset of U-Hi. Ferris has won four of seven after dropping five straight.