Prep softball: Shadle Park takes big step toward GSL title

Jaya Allen craves the big moments in softball games, so Friday was right up her alley.

Allen singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning and pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the frame as Shadle Park (14-1) took a huge step toward the Greater Spokane League title with a 5-4 victory at University (13-2).

“Those are the moments you live for, especially as a pitcher, is that everything’s pretty much on you,” the Highlanders sophomore said. “You have to make sure everything’s working. Those are the times you have to stay relaxed and not be stressed.”

Shadle avenged a 9-7 loss to the Titans on April 2 when the Highlanders committed seven errors. This time, Shadle played errorless ball and took advantage of four U-Hi errors.

“We didn’t blink, that was the key,” Shadle coach Guy Perham said. “We took away their short game, which they killed us on the last time.”

“We talked (after the game) about how you can’t make mistakes against good teams because things come back and haunt you,” Titans coach Jon Schuh said.

Both teams have three league games remaining. They won’t meet again because Shadle will move on as the top seed to the District 8 3A tournament while U-Hi will be No. 1 at the District 8 4A tournament.

Shadle jumped to a 4-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings, taking advantage of three Titans infield errors during a three-run first. Allen added a sacrifice fly to center field in the second.

Allen nearly worked out of trouble in the bottom of the second, but U-Hi sophomore Alex Surby cleared the bases with a two-out double over the head of left fielder Skyla Mangis on a 1-2 pitch. Surby scored on sophomore Kirsten Anstrom’s second of three hits.

Titans senior starter Alex Douglas threw no-hit ball for the next four innings. The streak ended when Kaitlyn Scoble beat out an infield single to lead off the seventh.

Scoble moved to third base on a groundout and fly out, bringing up Allen. U-Hi took timeout to discuss how to pitch to Shadle’s cleanup hitter.

“I’m pretty sure they were saying, ‘Don’t throw anything down the middle,’ ” Allen said. … “I think they were trying to either walk me or get me to swing at junk.”

Douglas threw a 2-1 change-up that Allen took right up the middle.

The Titans responded by immediately loading the bases as Surby walked and Anstrom and Gracee Dwyer singled. Schuh held Surby at third on Dwyer’s single to right.

“Like I told them, ‘The bases loaded and no outs? I’m going to take that bet most of the time,’ ” Schuh said.

After a pop out, Brooklynn Tacke grounded to freshman shortstop Harmony Bay, who bobbled the ball but threw home in time to get Surby on a forceout. Titans fans howled, believing Surby clearly beat the throw.

“I was honestly shocked that the umpire called her out, because I thought she was going to be safe,” said Allen, who ended the game by coaxing a pop foul to third baseman Laurie Jones.