Mead Cools Off U-Hi

Prep softball

Janessa Karstens played the biggest role Tuesday when Mead ended University’s 19-game winning streak in the District 8-4A softball tournament championship game.

Karstens (18-4) struck out eight and doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth as Mead (18-4) topped the Titans 3-2 at Franklin Park.

The Panthers, who lost twice to U-Hi during the Greater Spokane League season, advance to this weekend’s Region IV tourney as the top seed. U-Hi (20-2), which hadn’t lost since a 4-3 decision to Wenatchee on March 21, advances as No. 2.

Mead scored twice in the fourth inning with the help of a Titans error and a walk by losing pitcher Cheryl Andrizzi (20-1). Two hits and a Mead error allowed U-Hi to tie the game in its fourth. Karstens had a one-out double in the sixth and scored on Nicole Naslund’s single.

In the game for third and fourth seeds to region, Juliana Cook tripled home the go-ahead run in the sixth as Shadle Park (14-8) edged Ferris 2-1.

Cook’s sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Sara Harchuck, who had doubled and moved up on another fly. Abbie Socha was 2 for 2 for the Saxons (13-10) and drove in Kylee Curry in the second with a sacrifice fly.

Friday night’s regional openers are: GSL No. 2 U-Hi vs. Big Nine Conference No. 3 Richland (18-4), 6; GSL No. 4 Ferris vs. Big Nine No. 1 Wenatchee (15-10), 6; GSL No. 3 Shadle vs. Big Nine No. 2 Eisenhower (16-6), 8; and GSL No. 1 Mead vs. Big Nine No. 4 Pasco (10-13), 8. All games will be at Franklin Park.

Regional continues Saturday with eight games. Four teams will advance to the state tourney in Vancouver.

District 7-3A seeding

Rachelle Watson singled up the middle to score Heidi Lyman with two out in the 11th as West Valley (19-2) edged visiting East Valley 3-2 to determine the top two seeds to Saturday’s regional tourney.

Rachiah Boxley and Hailey Henry both went 3 for 5 for the Eagles, who earned an opening-round bye for the tourney at Waterfront Park in Medical Lake.

WV’s Tamara Sherrill (10-1) scattered nine hits and allowed no earned runs. Amy Waltrip, Malea Schumacher and Becky Musgrave had two hits apiece for the Knights (15-6).

EV opens at region against Mid-Valley No. 3 West Valley (Yakima). M-V No. 2 Hanford and M-V No. 4 Sunnyside play the other opener. Both are loser-out.

WV opens the double-elimination portion against the Hanford-Sunnyside winner. M-V No. 1 Moses Lake is in the other bracket. Two teams will advance to the state tourney in Tacoma.

District 6-2A/1A slowpitch

Gennea Flynn homered twice and had six RBIs as Brewster defeated visiting Reardan 17-13 in a first-round game of the double-elimination tourney.

Flynn, Megan Gering and Debbie Knowlton were all 3 for 4 for the Bears.

Julie Compton went 4 for 5 and Debbie Plummer went 3 for 4, including a bases-loaded triple, for the Indians (13-7). Reardan plays in Twisp against Liberty Bell on Thursday.