Tigers rally for state clincher

The favorites got the job done Saturday at the 3A District I softball tournament, but not without a few moments of trepidation.

In the championship game, Timberlake (22-3) captured the district title and an automatic state berth in a 3-2 win over St. Maries.

St. Maries (21-4) bounced back and withstood a late Priest River (9-17) charge, eliminating the Spartans 6-5 to take second place and earn the district’s other state berth. State runs Thursday through Saturday at Buhl High School.

Earlier in the day, Priest River pounded out 23 hits in a five-inning, 16-1 game that eliminated Kellogg (6-18).

Despite ace Kala Allred’s 10-strikeout, one-hit performance in the title game, Timberlake found itself trailing 2-1 after five innings.

In the home half of the sixth, however, the Tigers pulled even with an unearned run when, with Allred on first, Lauren Brunko singled to left. Lumberjacks left fielder Rayna Eisses fielded the ball cleanly, but her throw to second was high and went all the way to the fence along the first-base line, allowing Allred to come around to score.

After sitting down St. Maries 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Jenny Durrin led off the Tigers’ half of the inning with a lined single to center. Whisper Brown and Katrina Galloway both beat out bunts to load the bases with nobody out, bringing senior third baseman Shanda Masterson to the plate. With the outfield drawn in, Masterson delivered the game-winner with a shot over the head of right fielder Sam Siron.

“I was really nervous,” Masterson said. “I knew I just had to wait for my pitch, and I was pretty confident I could get the job done.

“It’s great, because it’s my senior year and all.”

Allred said she was shocked her team was trailing after five, and let on that she was preparing herself for competing for second place.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Allred said. “I honestly thought we were going to have to play another game.

“I knew I had a great team behind me, though, and it feels so great to get this win.”

Timberlake coach Mike Menti praised the performance of St. Maries starter Rachel Kennedy, who allowed just four hits.

“I was a little surprised how long it took us to wake up,” Menti said. “(Kennedy) kept us off balance, and you know, when it comes clutch time, we just got it done.

“When you load the bases with no outs, you’ve got to figure something good is going to happen.”

Menti summed up his team’s feelings following the victory and looked ahead to next week.

“We’re excited – league title, district title,” Menti said. “But at the same time, we’re not satisfied, either. … These girls want more. We’ve still got some work to do.”

Senior shortstop Rachelle Solom had the only hit for the Lumberjacks, a run-scoring triple in the fourth.

In the second-place game, Priest River scored three runs in the top of the seventh and left the potential tying run on third base.

After the championship game, tournament officials announced the All-Intermountain League team. The honorees: Kala Allred, Holli Edelblute, Shanda Masterson, Mellissa Piephoff and Katrina Galloway of Timberlake; Rayna Eisses, Erika Lehman and Rachelle Solom of St. Maries; Stephanie Martin and Bridgett Lund of Kellogg; Lesa Barber of Priest River, and Amanda Johnson of Bonners Ferry.

Piephoff was named the IML’s Most Valuable Player.

“Amanda North‘s two-run single highlighted a five-run fifth as Lakeland defeated Skyview 5-3 at Fruitland to qualify for the State 4A softball tournament. Jodi Jahnsen and Melissa Frank added RBI singles during the Hawks’ big inning, which was assisted by three Skyview errors. Jaymi Fyfe (8-7) pitched a four-hitter and struck out eight for the Hawks. Right fielder Danielle McCullough assisted her win with a running catch to end the game, stranding a Skyview runner at first base.

Lakeland (13-12) will open state play on Thursday at Post Falls.

“Ashley Barr went 3 for 3 and scored all three runs as Mountain View of Meridian (13-16) defeated Lake City 3-1 in a State 5A play-in game at Fruitland. Mountain View’s Marrella Anderson pitched a two-hitter. Kellee Jost (14-7) scattered six hits for the Timberwolves, who finished 18-10. Mountain View qualified for state, which begins Thursday at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’Alene.

Baseball

Coeur d’Alene was limited to two hits and lost its chance at the State 5A tournament after losing to Centennial 2-1 in a play-in game at Lewiston. Andy Seaman (5-3) allowed four hits and one earned run for the Vikings, who finished 18-8. CdA’s Shea Vucinich had an RBI single in the seventh.

“Kaleb Maxwell pitched a five-hitter and Ross Steele went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as Moscow (13-14) defeated Kuna 7-0 at Lewiston to qualify for next week’s State 4A tournament.

Tennis

Sam Lyons won the boys singles championship to lead Coeur d’Alene to the team title at the 5A Region I tournament at Coeur d’Alene. CdA scored 85 points to defeat three-time champion Lewiston by 17. Lewiston had the other four champions: Angela Anagon in girls singles; Rob Blakey and Chris Covert in boys doubles; Mei and Kim Fong in girls doubles; and Alex Mayton and Kate Hillman in mixed doubles. The top three in each division advance to the state tournament, Friday and Saturday at the Boise Racquet Club.