Mead wins first softball title since ‘95

The Mead Panthers won their first Greater Spokane League girls softball championship since 1995 with a 2-0 win over visiting Mt. Spokane on Monday.

And as it’s been all year for the Panthers, who finished GSL play 18-1, it was pitcher Kim Watson who carried the main load.

Watson shut out the Wildcats (11-8-1 overall, 11-8 in GSL play) on four hits, striking out 10 and walking none. The Panthers (18-1-1 overall) scored a solo run in the fifth on Chantal Hughes-Gardner’s triple that turned into a run on an obstruction call. The other Mead score came in the sixth when Megan Bertolero delivered an RBI single to score Lacey Parry.

The Panthers will take the National Division’s No. 1 seed into Thursday’s District 8 4A playoffs at Franklin Park and will face American No. 2 Shadle Park (16-4, 16-3) at 7 p.m. American No. 1 University (18-2, 17-2) will face National No. 2 Lewis and Clark (13-7, 12-7), also at 7. Both are winner-to-regional games.

In loser-out games, American No. 4 Central Valley (9-9, 9-9 before Monday’s unreported game at Clarkston), will face National No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (11-9, 10-9) and National No. 4 East Valley (9-11, 9-10) will play American No. 3 Mt. Spokane, both at 5 p.m.

In 3A district play, Clarkston (6-11, 6-11 before Monday) will face Cheney (3-17, 3-16) at 11 a.m. Saturday at West Valley, with the winner facing the Eagles (8-11, 8-11) at 1 p.m. The top two teams advance to regionals.

In other GSL action Monday, University rallied from a 3-0 deficit behind home runs by Molly Owen and Christine Keeton along with five shutout innings of relief by Linse Vlahovich (9-1) to stop host East Valley 8-3. … Katie Wilmoth tossed a four-hit shutout and LC strung together seven consecutive hits in the sixth en route to a 4-0 win over visting Rogers. … Brittany McNeal opened the game with a home run and Shadle Park went on to defeat host Gonzaga Prep 3-0. Stephanie Trudeau limited the Bullpups to three hits and Stephanie McVay belted another solo home run in the second. … Host North Central rallied from seven runs down after two innings to top Ferris 10-9 in nine innings. The Indians’ Trisha Samuels‘ fourth hit scored the game-winning run with one out in the ninth. … Morgan Thompsen went 3 for 3 with two triples and four RBIs and Jessica Gudgel was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs to back the three-hit, 11-strike out pitching of Hilary Shields in West Valley’s 12-2, six-inning win over visiting Cheney.

• Angela Jimeno hit a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead St. George’s to a 16-6, five-inning win over Cusick at Franklin Park in a one-game playoff for the eighth seed into the Panorama League tournament.

St. George’s will play at Republic at 2 p.m. today with the winner facing No. 4 seed Republic at 4.

Baseball

Wilbur-Creston defeated Davenport 5-3 Monday in a Bi-County League tiebreaker to earn a spot in the State B tournament, sending the Gorillas into district play Thursday at DavenportAt Hartline on Monday, Robert Kolb‘s two-run single highlighted a five-run third inning for Wilbur-Creston. Gavin Mann struck out nine and walked two.

• Reardan defeated St. George’s 13-3 in a District 7 B “pigtail” game to earn a shot against the Panorama League’s No. 3 seed, Northport, next Monday in its quest for a State B berth. Mason Garner, who has been battling the flu, scattered three hits and struck out six for the Indians. Austin Garner had four hits and Josh Cobb belted a solo homer for the Indians.

Soccer

Freshman Jeremy Tate scored three goals to lead Lakeside to a 4-0 win over Chewelah in a Great Northern League tiebreaker that earned the Eagles their first-ever district playoff berth with the No. 6 seeding. Their first-round game will be at Pullman today at 4 p.m.

Golf

Sophomore Anna Brophy of Gonzaga Prep and junior Amy Eneroth of Mead matched 1-over-par 73s at Wandermere in the first round of the 36-hole District 8 4A tournament.

Thirty-two golfers advanced to the second and final round Wednesday at Liberty Lake.

Senior Ellie Brophy of G-Prep was third Monday with a 75.

First round of the District 8 4A boys tournament is today at Indian Canyon. The boys will wind up Thursday at The Creek at Qualchan.

• Kristin Watts of Colfax shot an 86 at Liberty Lake Golf Course to lead the District 7/9 1A/B girls sub-district tournament.

Twenty-six of the 50 golfers advanced to district play next Monday at Liberty Lake.

Leanne Matkin of Northwest Christian was second Monday with a 95 with Megan Stull of DeSales third at 98.

Tekoa-Oakesdale is the team leader with 135 points to 117 for runner-up Pomeroy.

• Ryan Masteller of Davenport forged a 4-stroke margin over Scott Stone of Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Taylor Warwick of Davenport in the boys District 7 B sub-district tournament at MeadowWood. Masteller shot a 77.

Twenty-two of 43 golfers advanced to district play next Monday at MeadowWood. Erik Kuch of Odessa shot 83 with Andrew Tamura of Valley Christian fifth with an 85.

Sprague-Harrington is the team leader with 159.5 points to 137.5 for runner-up Valley Christian.