Whalen’s Blast Ignites U-Hi

Softball/baseball

University took the inside track to the Greater Spokane League softball title with a 5-4 road win against Mead on Thursday.

Angela Whalen of the Titans (12-2) hit a three-run homer off Holly Vanwert in the first inning, and U-Hi hung on from there.

U-Hi has to win one of two remaining games to clinch the No. 1 seed to district, which begins Thursday.

Mead (11-3) lost twice to U-Hi this season. The Panthers need to win their last two, and have the Titans lose their last two, to get the top seed to district.

The regular season concludes Monday. The top six teams advance to district.

In other games, Lewis and Clark beat Shadle Park 15-12 at Hart Field. From 1990 to 1995, the Tigers (3-11) won just three of 80 games league contests.

Against the Highlanders (1-13), LC rallied from an early 6-0 deficit. The Tigers took the lead for good when Jill Boardman singled home Heather Skow.

Boardman and Suzanne Winkler both went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs scored.

The Tigers are in the running for the last district berth with Rogers (5-9) and Ferris (4-10).

At Central Valley (9-6), the Bears’ Karly Mosier singled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to drive in Amanda Del Mese for the game-winner in a 2-1 decision over Ferris.

At Rogers, the Pirates defeated Gonzaga Prep 7-4. The loss was the second straight for the Bullpups (9-5).

Rogers’ Teanna Scott went 2 for 4, and Crystal Perry hit a solo homer in the second.

Baseball

First-place Ferris earned a big win, a 2-1 decision against CV.

The Saxons (10-4) have a half-game lead against CV and G-Prep, which are both 10-5. Rogers beat visiting G-Prep 12-4.

The regular season concludes on Tuesday, with district scheduled to start next Friday. The top six teams advance to the playoffs.

At CV, Ferris’ Justin McKitterick rapped a two-run single with two outs in the fifth to provide the game-winners.

Brady Nelson homered in the bottom of the seventh for CV’s lone run.

Ferris’ Eric Sandberg threw a two-hitter and struck out 10 while CV’s Eric Eigenhuis struck out eight and scattered four hits.

At Mead (9-5), the Panthers beat U-Hi 6-4 for their third consecutive win.

Mead’s Cory Oden drove in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Panthers trailed 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Armitage hit a two-out, two-run homer to start the rally.

The Titans fell to 8-6.

At Rogers (4-10), the Pirates’ Shawn Carlson was 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs and four runs scored.

Rogers led 5-0 after three innings and was never threatened. Both teams committed five errors.

, DataTimes