Prep roundup: Richland rallies past Mead at 4A regional softball

University of Oregon-bound April Utecht drove in four runs Tuesday as Richland rallied from a 7-2 deficit to defeat visiting Mead 8-7 in a 4A regional softball loser-out game at Columbia Playfield.

The Bombers (19-3) scored five unearned runs to tie the Panthers at 7 in the fourth and pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth.

Mead (15-8) left runners on first and second bases in the seventh after a game-ending liner to shortstop.

Mikaylie King’s three-run single in the third gave Mead a 4-2 lead.

Erin Kautzman, who finished 3 for 4, doubled and scored during the Panthers’ two-run fourth.

Richland will host Greater Spokane League No. 2 Central Valley (12-10) at noon Saturday in another loser-out game.

At the same time, GSL No. 1 University (18-7) will play Mid-Columbia No. 1 Walla Walla (17-5) for a berth to state.

District 7 1A

Kylie Sweeney pitched a one-hitter, striking out nine, and hit a two-run homer, and Sonja Vanisi had four RBIs as host Deer Park (16-6) posted an 11-0 win over Medical Lake (6-13) in a loser-out opener.

The tournament moves to Nine Mile Falls on Saturday in the chase for two berths to the May 29-30 state tournament at Richland. At 11 a.m., DP will play Riverside (16-4) and Colville (14-5) will meet top-seeded and host Lakeside (18-2).

Colville moved on with a 5-3 home win that eliminated Chewelah (12-9). Gracie Schauls struck out eight and Katrina Richartz had two RBIs for Colville.

District 7 2B

Mackenzi Gray drove in two runs during a four-run sixth as Northwest Christian (17-5) defeated Colfax 8-4 in the title game at Merkel Field.

Seven Crusaders had multiple hits as NWC had 18 singles.

Five teams advanced to Saturday’s 7/9 2B regional at Merkel Field. First-round pairings, all at 11 a.m., are: Springdale (15-8) vs. Dayton (11-9); Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (10-11) vs. NWC; Asotin (13-9) vs. Colfax (20-2); and Davenport (14-10) vs. DeSales (16-4). Five teams will qualify for the May 29-30 state tourney at Yakima.

Elish Smith went 4 for 4 with a three-run homer and five RBIs to lead Springdale to a 17-5 win over Davenport in the game for third and fourth seeds. Autumn Hubert also went 4 for 4 for the Chargers.

Grace Lilje doubled and homered for the Gorillas.

LRS earned the No. 5 seed as Alarah Pierce-Pulliam had three hits during a 15-3 win that eliminated Kettle Falls (12-10).

Golf

Colfax’s Hunter Weitze, with a two-day total of 150, edged Davenport’s Palmer Guhlke by one stroke as the District 7 2B/1B tournament wrapped up at Colville’s Dominion Meadows.

Colfax qualified six boys to the state tournament, May 27-28 at Richland.

Wilbur-Creston’s Alicia Johnson (155) cruised to the girls title by 21 shots.