Rain Suspends Evening Play At State A-1 Softball Tourney

They used a Shop Vac to soak up standing water in the outfield. They went through bags of a moisture-absorbing compound by the dozens.

But a soaking rain finally won out Friday night, suspending two games in progress and pushing the schedule out of whack at the girls State A-1 fastpitch softball tournament.

The two remaining unbeatens, Centennial (23-6) and Coeur d’Alene (16-12), had their scoreless game called off in the top of the seventh inning at Sunset Park. It will be continued from that point, tentatively at 10 a.m. - field conditions and Mother Nature permitting.

“Take a look out there, it’s just too slippery,” CdA coach Larry Bieber said, motioning to puddles on the infield.

Lake City (18-5), knocked into the loser’s bracket by Centennial, 8-3 earlier Friday, was knotted at 2-2 with Eagle (19-9) in the fourth inning before play was suspended. That game will resume at 9 a.m.

The LC-Eagle winner advances to face Sandpoint (9-11), with the winner facing the Centennial-CdA loser in the double-elimination tourney.

The Centennial-CdA winner needs one more win to secure the title.

Five teams remain in contention. Idaho Falls (18-9), Twin Falls (21-10) and Capital (13-14) were eliminated.

Sites of today’s games depend on a morning meeting of tourney officials to determine which fields are in the best shape.

Centennial-Coeur d’Alene

The clubs clogged a load of action into this scoreless duel.

Centennial put runners on base in every inning, but CdA’s defense stiffened.

In the second, Centennial loaded the bases, but Vikings first baseman Katelynn Tatum, shortstop Stacy Dawson and second baseman Tara Lenz made nice defensive plays to end the threat.

Third baseman Amber Orr snagged a sharp grounder to stifle a budding Centennial rally in the fourth. The Pats also left the bases loaded in the sixth.

“I was told they weren’t real strong defensively, but they’ve been real solid,” Centennial coach Paul Atwood said of CdA. CdA wisely had Orr move in toward home plate to stymie Centennial’s bunting, a tactic the Patriots love to use with runners on base.

“I love the way our kids are battling,” Bieber said.

CdA mustered just two hits off sophomore pitcher Courtney Todd, but still had a scoring chance in the sixth. Dawson walked and moved to second on Stacy Mitchell’s bunt single.

Both were stranded, however, when Stacy Weber struck out and Natalie Wuest, after fouling off several pitches, flied out to right.

Lake City-Eagle

The T-Wolves’ defense, which broke down against Centennial, was shaky again as Eagle scored twice in the third with the benefit of two LC errors.

LC rallied to tie it at 2 in the fourth before more rain suspended play.

Centennial 8, Lake City 3

In a near replay of last year’s state title game, Centennial won by pressuring the T-Wolves into many defensive errors.

Down 2-0 in the fourth, Centennial got its bunt-and-steal offense rolling. LC responded with errant throws and by making poor decisions on fielder’s choice grounders.

The Patriots scored five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Pitcher Courtney Todd, who beat LC in the title game last year, allowed three hits. Right fielder Krista Clements’ diving catch stopped an LC rally in the fourth with runners on second and third.

The T-Wolves committed six errors.

CdA 3, Sandpoint 2

The Vikings lost the pregame coin flip, which turned out to be a break, according to Bieber.

CdA promptly scored twice in the top of the first.

“I was kind of happy because I knew Sandpoint would take home (team),” Bieber said. “What we’ve been doing best lately is getting up early.”

The Vikings beat Sandpoint for the sixth time in seven tries as Amy Maurer pitched a four-hitter.

“In other games with Sandpoint, we’ve had to come back on them so many times,” Bieber said.

Sandpoint 4, Twin Falls 0

Sandpoint rebounded from its loss to CdA behind senior Crystal Clark, who silenced the Bruins on four hits. The Bulldogs gave her all the support she needed with a three-run first.

Tricia Ekwortzell led Sandpoint’s six-hit attack with a double and single, and the Bulldogs played error-free defense.

Eagle 2, Idaho Falls 0

Eagle used pitcher Tabitha Halcomb’s shutout and an RBI single by Jennifer Rhodes to eliminate the Tigers.

Twin Falls 3, Capital 2

The Bruins relied on Tara Osborne’s two hits and complete-game pitching to end Capital’s season.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: A-2 softball The A-2 state softball tournament in Coeur d’Alene was postponed Friday because of rain. Lakeland and Emmett will conclude a game that was called in the third inning at 10 a.m. today at Memorial Field. Moscow and Middleton will play the other semifinal at McEuen field at the same time. The winners will meet at Memorial Field for the championship at noon. The consolation game will be at McEuen at noon.