Area roundup: North Idaho captures NWAC softball, men’s golf titles

Sarah Williams hit two home runs as North Idaho defeated Edmonds 9-1 to win its second consecutive NWAC Softball Championship on Monday at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

Ashlynn Wynn also homered for the Cardinals (38-9) and Madi Mott pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts. The game was shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

Williams, Mott, Bailey Cavanaugh and Jori Kerr all went 3 for 4 for NIC, which totaled 16 hits. Wynn was 2 for 3. Williams’ solo homer to sparked a four-run second inning as the Cardinals took a 5-0 lead. NIC scored in every inning.

For Edmonds (41-10), Prestyne Kaimi-Montira went 2 for 2 with a double.

Golf

Braxton Stewart shot a 4-under 68 to claim medalist honors, leading North Idaho to the NWAC men’s championship at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.

NIC finished at 7 under for two rounds, with Spokane second at 7 over. Stewart shot a 4-under 140 to win the individual title by a stroke. Teammate Jesse Henderson (71) and Spokane’s Zach Stocker (71) tied for third at 142, with NIC’s Nick Roberts (68) and Spokane’s Will Alexander (70) tied for fifth at 144.

In the women’s tourney, Spokane took third and NIC was fourth. Spokane’s Shelby Baum finished second at 9-over 153, one stroke behind Columbia Basin’s Breanna Watts. NIC’s Jessey Simons was fifth at 157.

Tennis

Washington State sophomore Michaela Bayerlova posted a straight-set victory in the opening round of the NCAA women’s singles championship in Orlando, Florida. Bayerlova, ranked No. 42 nationally, never trailed as she defeated No. 55 Lauren Proctor of Winthrop, 6-4, 6-3.

Gonzaga’s Sophie Whittle, the eighth seed, saw her singles career come to an end with a 6-2, 7-6 (8) loss to Texas’ Anna Turati.

Whittle will team up with Graciela Rosas on Tuesday in the doubles championship.