Timberwolves Sweep Vik Girls

The Lake City Timberwolves softball team, riding the strength of two equally impressive pitching performances, picked up a pair of Inland Empire League wins over the Coeur d’Alene Vikings Tuesday at McEuen Field.

Lake City’s Kelly Nelson won a tightly contested pitching duel over CdA’s Kim Sigler in the T-Wolves’ 4-2 victory in the opener and Lake City completed the sweep with an 13-0 1-hit shutout by Sherrie Holzer in Game 2.

The games marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams and the T-Wolves (8-0 IEL, 15-1 overall) seemed intent on making it a memorable one.

Nelson, who ran her record to 8-1, had a nohitter going into the final inning before secondbaseman Amy Maurer hit a one-out bloop single which just eluded the diving attempt of center fielder Jenny Owen.

Sigler, trying to help her own cause, followed with an RBI double and scored later on a Lake City error. But Nelson got Barb Kimbrell to ground back to her to end the game.

Ironically, although Nelson only allowed three baserunners until the final inning and finished with six strikeouts against no walks, Lake City coach Dwight Wilson thought the senior had her best stuff at the end.

“I didn’t think Kelly was as sharp today as she usually is until about the third inning when her velocity picked up,” Wilson said.

Sigler (5-2) was nearly as impressive for the Viks, allowing only four hits and two earned runs. However, five CdA errors and four walks did the Vikings in.

“We should have won that first game 2-1,” said Vikings coach Larry Bieber. “We had some mistakes and we just couldn’t string any hits together against Kelly (Nelson). Kim pitched a real solid game. She’s getting her velocity.”

Holzer wasn’t any easier on the Viks in the second game.

After giving up a single to third baseman Amber Orr in the first inning, the senior completely silenced the CdA bats in running her record to 7-0.

How effective was Holzer?

Although she only recorded two strikeouts, just three Vikings hit the ball out of the infield during her five-inning stint.

“Holzer pitched a real good game. She’s steady,” Wilson said. “She’s getting people to pop up and we don’t care where they hit it as long as we get the out.”

Bieber was equally impressed with Holzer’s effort.

“Holzer’s scary,” he said. “She’s got great speed and now she’s got better control. We haven’t played a quality team like that for three weeks and we were a little rusty.”

The T-Wolves backed Holzer with 11 hits in the second game with CdA transfer Tonya McLeod leading the way.

McLeod, who played the first three games of the season in a Viking uniform before moving into the Lake City district, went 3 for 3, including an inside-the-park home run in the fifth. She also scored three runs.

“I wanted to win just because it was against Coeur d’Alene, but there was no pressure on me,” McLeod said. “I have kinda been in a slump so it felt good. It kinda got me pumped up.”

Lake City second baseman Laura Tolzmann provided an offensive spark, going 2 for 3 in both games.

With the two losses, CdA drops to 3-3 in the IEL and 7-6 overall.

Other games: In a pair of Intermountain League games Tuesday, Lakeland handled Moscow 13-2 and St. Maries defeated Bonners Ferry 14-2. Both games were shortened due to the ten-run rule.

Monica Hall threw a three-hitter for Lakeland and also helped herself offensively with a triple and two RBIs. Teammate Jenny Borg hit a three-run triple to highlight an eight-run fourth for the Hawks.

In St. Maries, Bryna Reynolds was 4 for 4 to lead the Lumberjacks. Reynolds also had two RBIs, scored three runs, and had two stolen bases. Brianne Badgett added three hits for St. Maries.

Soccer: In a non-league game at East Valley, Lake City beat the Knights 2-0 as it dominated the game from start to finish.

Lake City registered 18 shots on goal to just three for EV.