High school softball: Freshmen pitcher helps Lake City upset Coeur d’Alene

A freshman pitcher Tuesday handed the Coeur d’Alene softball team its first loss.

Ashley Kaufman scattered seven hits while striking out seven, Lake City’s bats opened a big lead and the visiting Timberwolves upset Coeur d’Alene 7-2 in the 5A Region I championship game.

Lake City (19-6) advances to state, May 20-21 at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls.

Coeur d’Alene (21-1), state runner-up last year, can still earn a state berth. The Vikings play host to Post Falls (14-10) on Thursday at 4 in an elimination game. The winner advances to a play-in game against the District III fifth-place team in a play-in game Saturday.

In earlier games, CdA pitcher Bre Burke threw a five-inning no-hitter as the Viks topped Lewiston 10-0; LC handled Post Falls 9-1; and Post Falls eliminated Lewiston 9-3.

LC coach Jesse Lenz had used Kaufman for 6 2/3 innings in three of the T-Wolves’ four regular-season losses to CdA. It was purposeful. He planned to start her if LC advanced to the regional final against CdA.

“I knew it by the end of the season,” Kaufman said of the possible matchup. “I didn’t know it was going to be this good.”

Kaufman used a knuckleball and a rise ball to keep the normally hot-hitting CdA batters off balance.

She was nervous early.

“I was very nervous. They’re a really good team,” said Kaufman, who was an all-league selection last fall in volleyball. “To beat Coeur d’Alene for the first time this season, it feels awesome. I settled in the last couple of innings.”

LC’s hitters assisted Kaufman in taking an edge off the nerves.

The T-Wolves scored two in the first inning, taking advantage of an error with three straight hits. Bailey Cavanaugh and Emma Gray, another freshman, had RBI hits.

Kaufman helped herself with an RBI double in the third. In the fourth, LC scored its final four runs for a 7-0 lead. The big hit came on sophomore Reilly Williams’ two-run triple.

“We fought hard, we jumped on them early and we had a freshman lead the way,” Lenz said. “(Kaufman) threw so well. I could not be more proud of my team and these seniors on down.”

CdA had just two baserunners in the first three innings. In the fourth, Kylie Smith had a run-scoring single but Kaufman worked out of a jam, stranding two Viks with an inning-ending strikeout.

The Viks added their final run in the fifth off a triple from Mariah Montee. Kaufman coaxed two groundouts that left Montee at third.

Two Viks reached base in the final two innings but Kaufman finished wtih three strikeouts in that stretch.

“We weren’t ready to play,” CdA coach Darren Taylor said. “I just think that when you keep winning the pressure just keeps building. You think you can show up and the game’s going to take care of itself. Lesson learned by us. We’ve got a little tougher path down to Idaho Falls.”

LC managed 12 hits off Burke.

“They always hit the ball,” Taylor said of the T-Wolves. “They’ve got several really good hitters. They’re problematic, they’re hard to get out. We tried to hit our spots with different speeds …. They got it done today.”

Timberlake 5, Bonners Ferry 4, 9 innings: The Tigers rallied for two innings in the ninth to top the Badgers in the 3A District I title game at BF, earning a state berth.

The win for the Tigers avenged three regular-season losses to BF. Glori Cheevers and Hannah McGraf each drove in a run in the ninth.

District 8 4A

Gonzaga Prep 8, Lewis and Clark 2: Rachel Valdez struck out 14 as the Bullpups topped the Tigers in a loser-out game. Darrian Staab had a two-run triple to highlight a four-run third.

District 8 3A

Mt. Spokane 9, North Central 5: Kaytlyn Turner went 3 for 3, driving in two runs as the Wildcats earned a berth to the subregional by holding off the Indians in a loser-out game. Mt. Spokane takes on league champ Shadle Park in the title game Thursday at University.

District 7 2A

Pullman 13, Clarkston 4: Hally Ghigleri went 3 for 3 with five RBIs to lead the Greyhounds past the visiting Bantams in a loser-out game. Cheney travels to Pullman on Thursday with the winner going to top-seeded West Valley on Saturday.

Cheney 9, East Valley 5: Rachel Darsness and Meghan Krantz led the Blackhawks with three hits each in the loser-out game at Cheney.

District 7 2B

Kettle Falls 17, Davenport 3: Kennedy McKern collected three hits and seven RBI to lead the Bulldogs at KF. The Bulldogs advance to face No. 2 Colfax on Tuesday at Merkel Field. Earlier, Davenport topped Rearden 9-3 in a loser-out game.