LC girls live to play another day
Kristen Emmett and the four other seniors on Lake City’s softball team faced the end of their high school careers Thursday.
But they and the rest of the Timberwolves did not go gently into that good night, surviving to play another day with a 3-0 victory over Lewiston in the loser-out game of the 5A Region 1 tournament at LC.
Up next for LC (18-9) is a 1 p.m. matchup Saturday in Lewiston with Meridian (16-12), with a state berth on the line for the winner. Meridian topped Nampa 5-1 Thursday to earn its play-in spot.
Emmett, responsible for both the defensive and offensive highlights of the game, put the win in perspective and looked to things yet to come.
“It feels so great,” Emmett said. “We didn’t want our season to end today, and we did everything we could to make sure that didn’t happen.
“Everybody is feeling confident right now and we want to make it to state – we want another shot at Coeur d’Alene.”
The Timberwolves got all they needed in the first inning, thanks in large part to Bengals miscues.
Freshman Richelle Fenenbock led off with a walk and, after Jenny Edington’s single, scored on a wild pitch from Bengals ace Kelly West. LC junior Amy Adams, on board on a fielder’s choice, scored on another wild pitch later in the inning.
That was it for scoring until the fifth, when Emmett led off with a ringing double over Lewiston left-fielder Julie Andrews’ head.
To Emmett, it was the sound of music.
“I haven’t been swinging the bat that well lately, so that was a good sign,” said Emmett, who on a perfect one-hop assist from left in the top of inning cut down the only Lewiston runner who attempted to score.
Two batters after Emmett’s double, shortstop Kelli Bridges laid down a perfect squeeze bunt in front of the plate to score Emmett and record the game’s only RBI.
Bridges set the stage for the play-in game.
“I think we can do it on Saturday, and I think the whole team feels that way,” Bridges said. “We’ve been playing really well lately and everything seems to be coming together right when we need it to.”
LC coach Darren Taylor praised Emmett’s play and said he liked almost all of what he saw from his team, but stopped short of mailing in a berth to state.
“This game is a game of momentum, but I’m happy for (Emmett),” Taylor said. “Her senior year, this could have been the last game of her career, but she came out and just played great – she came out and sparked us tonight. We’ve got to win one more to make it to Poky, though.”
Senior ace Andi Hall was again excellent on the mound for Lake City, giving up just four hits in the shutout.
Heidi Schiweck went 2 for 3 for the Bengals, who finished the season at 15-10.
• Sarah and Stephanie Helbling had RBI singles in the sixth to snap a 4-all tie, and Moscow (6-22) qualified for the state tournament with an 8-4 win in the 4A Region I tournament title game at Post Falls. The Trojans (10-15) will play the No. 3 team from District III at 1 p.m. Saturday in Lewiston in a state play-in game.
Track and field
Lake City’s girls (5A) and the Post Falls boys (4A) took the lead after the first day of Region I meets at Lewiston. LC’s girls have 41 points after eight events, 12 more than runner-up Coeur d’Alene. PF’s boys, with 28 points after seven events, are five points ahead of Sandpoint and Moscow. LC’s girls champions were: Breanna Sande, 3,200-meter run; Kristi Holte, long jump; Brooke Bemis, triple jump; Jessica Nyrop, shot put; and Jamie Tart, discus. The Timberwolves finished 1-2-4 in the shot put. CdA dominated the 5A girls pole vault, led by Katrina McCoy’s winning effort of 11 feet. John Willy won the long jump (20-9) and triple jump (42-8) for PF’s boys. Sandpoint’s Charlie Hirning won the 4A boys high jump. Freshman Michael Armon (9 minutes, 57.4 seconds) led a 1-2-3 CdA sweep in the 5A boys 3,200. Lewiston dominated most other 5A boys events. Among 4A girls, Sandpoint’s Amy Dyck won the high jump, PF’s Leslie Pulley took the pole vault and PF’s Hollyann Stutheit captured the triple jump.