Mt. Spokane, Central Valley qualify for regional tourney
Kristina DeMello limited Rogers to one hit – a fourth-inning double by Shannon Carlon – and in the process pitched Mt. Spokane to next week’s 4A softball regional.
DeMello’s 11-strikeout, 6-0 win over the Pirates at Whitworth College Thursday highlighted the loser-out portion of District 8 play.
But you might get an argument from Central Valley. The Bears’ eight-run second inning will probably go into their season-ending highlight film as well, as CV (15-5) also advanced on the strength of an 8-4 win over Mead (11-9) in the day’s first game.
The Bears will meet district rival University (17-3) at 3 p.m. today in the first game of a Whitworth doubleheader. In the nightcap, Mt. Spokane (15-5) will face Greater Spokane League champion Shadle Park (20-0) at 5 p.m. With all four teams guaranteed regional berths, today’s games begin the regional seeding round that culminates Tuesday with the District 8 championship.
DeMello made sure the Wildcats would move on.
“It seems like she was throwing harder today,” said Rogers coach Cris Coffield, whose team had split with Mt. Spokane – and DeMello – in league play. “Obviously, she was throwing well and we chased too many rise balls out of the strike zone.”
The Pirates, who finished 13-8, went 1-2-3 in the top of the first – all strikeouts – and then had the unthinkable happen in the bottom.
“Our goal was to get (ahead) early and that didn’t happen,” Coffield said.
Jenn Andrews led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. She went to second on Melissa Natwick’s sacrifice, but stayed there through a popup and a walk to Mt. Spokane RBI leader Angel Urann, bringing sophomore catcher Kori Holcomb to the plate.
Holcomb whistled a 2-0 pitch to the left-field fence, scoring both runners and taking the pressure off the Wildcats – and DeMello.
“We were a little nervous being in the playoffs, I think,” Mt. Spokane coach Carl Adams said. “But Kori’s two-out clutch hit was really big. From there, we were able to relax and just play.”
“Oh my gosh, yes,” said DeMello (13-5) when asked if the two early runs were crucial. “I guess I just get more comfortable with a lead like that.”
The Pirates never got comfortable in the batter’s box, as DeMello retired the first 11 hitters before Carlon’s double and the final seven after a couple of fifth-inning walks.
With Andrews sparking the offense – 4 for 4 with two runs – Mt. Spokane added single runs in the second and third, and put the game away with two more in the sixth.
CV did the same with its eight-run second, started by a double from shortstop Rian Stiles and finished with Stiles’ second double of the inning, a three-run shot to the fence in left-center.