Timberwolves work extra innings in win over Vikings

For excitement, Friday’s Coeur d’Alene at Lake City softball game was a perfect 10.

That was also how many innings it took Lake City to earn a hard-fought 5-4 Inland Empire League victory in the first of four meetings this season between the cross-town rivals.

The Timberwolves (6-2, 2-0 IEL) erased 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2 Viking leads in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings before Dani Ghramm delivered a game-winning soft line drive to left field in the 10th.

The senior third baseman said the swat ranks up there with the biggest of her career.

“I was just trying to stay focused,” Ghramm said. “(CdA pitcher Jenna DeLong) normally throws first-pitch strikes, and the coaches wanted us to go up there swinging.

“So I just went after it and, whew!”

DeLong and the Vikings (8-3, 2-1) were in control most of the way, taking a 1-0 lead and a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

But leading off the sixth, junior center fielder Kathleen Capone beat out a slapper in front of the plate and advanced to second as DeLong’s throw to first went over the head of first baseman Jami Anderson and out of play.

Capone advanced to third on a sacrifice and one out later scored on a passed ball, knotting the contest 1-1.

After a scoreless seventh, tie-breaker play began with each team starting their half of the inning with a runner on second base.

CdA got one in the eighth, sacrificing Briana Robson to third and scoring her on Heather Helmhout’s single.

LC’s Amanda Krier answered with an RBI infield single in the bottom half and play moved to the ninth.

A run-scoring double down the left field line by Lindsey Stark and Robson’s RBI bunt put the Viks up by two in the ninth.

But again the T-Wolves were up to the challenge, responding with a safety squeeze from Kelli Bridges, who advanced to second on a throwing error and scored on an RBI groundout from Alysha Krier.

A costly pick-off at third and a lineout to shortstop ended the CdA half of the 10th, setting the stage for LC’s theatrics.

With Amy Bryntesen starting on second, Georgia Burke bunted for a base hit, advancing Bryntesen to third. Ghramm then promptly stepped up and delivered the victory.

She shared what her ecstatic teammates told her in the bouncing group hug that followed.

“They told me they love me,” Ghramm said. “And I love my team, too.”

T-Wolves coach Laura Tolzmann, more than just a bit exasperated, said she couldn’t have asked for more.

“Our team just showed an awesome display of heart,” Tolzmann said. “They just kept playing and kept battling and kept going.

“This game shows us that no matter how far we are down, we can come back and take on whatever situation comes about.”

Vikings coach Larry Bieber lauded LC for its tenacity, but lamented his squad’s miscues.

“When we go up by two runs in the ninth inning, I thought that was it,” Bieber said. “We made some mistakes we don’t normally make, but you have to give (LC) credit – they battled back.

“Like I tell the kids, ‘you’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some; it’s just part of the game.’ “

Stark went 3 for 3 for the Vikings. DeLong finished with 13 strikeouts.

Lake City visits Coeur d’Alene Tuesday at 4 p.m.