Rogers Goes To Final Out Before Turning Back Ferris

Prep softball

Rogers blew its first two chances. Crystal Perry made good on No. 3.

Perry’s two-out, bases-loaded single over the center fielder’s head in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday lifted Rogers to a 4-3 win over visiting Ferris in Greater Spokane League softball.

Rogers (14-4, 13-4) had the bases loaded with no outs, but the Saxons (4-14, 2-14) came up with two consecutive forceouts at the plate on Pirates grounders.

Jamie Merrill struck out 10 and Barb Draine was 2 for 2 for the Pirates, who trail second-place Shadle Park by one game. Every GSL team has two games remaining except Rogers and Shadle, which have one apiece.

The six-team field for the District 8 4A tournament is already determined. University, Shadle, Rogers, Central Valley, Lewis and Clark and Mead have spots secured.

In Thursday’s other games, Vanessa Shelton had a two-run single and three stolen bases during U-Hi’s 14-5 win at North Central that allowed the Titans (17-1, 15-1) to clinch at least a tie of their fourth consecutive league title.

Megan Owen added a two-run single to support Heather Bunkowske (4-0), who pitched the bulk of a five-hitter. Heather Honeycutt had a three-run double and Amber Carter had three stolen bases for the Indians (0-16).

Rachelle Stockman doubled to complete a two-out, six-run rally in the third, and visiting Shadle (16-3, 14-3) defeated Mt. Spokane 9-0.

Ashley Lynn, Kristen Lynn and Jennifer Stockman also had RBIs in the Highlanders’ two-out uprising. Jessica Murray struck out six to outduel Jodi Hultquist of the Wildcats (4-13, 4-12), who fanned seven.

Jenica Johnson had two RBIs and Kayla Adams (4-0) struck out four to guide LC (12-6, 11-5) to a 6-1 win over Mead (8-10, 7-9) at Hart Field.

LC’s Sarah Travis added an RBI single. Mead’s Courtney Taylor singled in a run in the fifth.

Kristen Heuett homered and tripled in CV’s 8-3 win over visiting Gonzaga Prep.

Marcy Nauert’s bases-loaded triple highlighted a five-run fourth for CV (12-6, 11-5). Erin Naccarato had two RBIs for G-Prep (4-14, 4-12).

Medical Lake scored four in the 10th, with the help of three errors, to defeat Kettle Falls 6-3 in the GNL.

Ashley Coleman’s RBI single in the fourth gave ML (11-4, 6-2) a 2-1 lead. Chas Utter of the Bulldogs (10-5, 5-3) scored on a passed ball in the seventh to force extra innings. KF’s Rachael Kinservik struck out 13 and allowed no earned runs.

The Cards snapped a fourth-place tie with KF. ML trails second-place Freeman and Pullman by a half game.

Republic (19-1) capped its first Panorama League championship with a 7-2, 18-0 sweep of visiting Northport.

The Tigers are the No. 1 seed into the league tournament, which begins May 14 at Kettle Falls. Republic and the No. 2 team, either Springdale (16-4) or Selkirk (14-4), earn automatic byes to the District 7 B tournament. Selkirk will be No. 2 if it sweeps Northwest Christian (12-6) on Saturday.

Curlew (15-5), NWC, Cusick (11-9) and Inchelium (8-12) are also in the field. Northport (4-15), Wellpinit (3-14) and St. Michael’s (2-16) all have shots at the No. 8 spot.