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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

GSL softball: Jaya Allen strikes out nine as Shadle Park remains tied for first place

Jaya Allen wears No. 11 in honor of Samantha Skillingstad, who pitched at the University of Oregon after a stellar career at Shadle Park.

Skillingstad was in attendance Tuesday at Shadle to lend her support after the Highlanders sophomore had another strong pitching performance.

Allen took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with nine strikeouts and no walks as the Highlanders (9-1) remained tied for first place with University in the Greater Spokane League following a 5-2 victory over Mt. Spokane (7-3).

“I’ve talked to (Skillingstad) before and worked with her and she’s awesome,” Allen said. “I have her old number. She’s a role model to me. I’ve looked up to her since I was little and saw her play here.”

Allen struck out seven consecutive batters beginning with the third out of the first inning. She lost her no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth when Kyla Stern doubled to left field.

“You know what was even better?” Shadle coach Guy Perham asked. “She was ahead – and I can’t tell you with how many people – with two strikes and no balls.”

“She was throwing hard and it just took us a couple of times through to figure it out and shorten up a little bit,” said coach Carl Adams, whose Wildcats broke through with two runs in the sixth. “All the credit to her. She struck out nine and we weren’t making a lot of loud outs.”

Allen’s long single to left field also accounted for the first run after Leslie Jones doubled with one out in the first.

Shadle extended its lead to 5-0 with a four-run fourth highlighted by back-to-back RBI doubles by Melina Mendoza and Skyla Mangis. A one-out infield error, Mt. Spokane’s only miscue of the game, helped open the floodgates. Caitlyn Fullmer’s sacrifice fly to center capped the inning.

After the no-hitter ended in the sixth, Wildcats junior Jolene House singled home Stern and scored on Jadeyn Cronn’s double.

Mt. Spokane sophomore pitcher Riley Barnes, starting in place of senior Kimber Tutt, worked four 1-2-3 innings.

“Just trying to change it up a little bit,” Adams said. “(Barnes) did a good job. She held a good team and really put the ball in play and we tried to play good defense behind her.”

“Maybe (Adams) just didn’t want us to see their No. 1 pitcher a second time around,” said Perham, whose Highlanders swept the season series from their top 3A rival.

Mt. Spokane will host third-place Mead (8-2) on Friday.