Saadoun clamps down

Forgive Lake City High softball pitcher Stephanie Saadoun if she’s felt like the other pitcher in town this season.

For a while midway through the year, Saadoun also felt like the other pitcher on her team.

Overshadowed or not, Saadoun was all smiles Thursday after the Timberwolves moved within a win of securing a state berth when they shut out Lewiston 8-0 in a 5A Region I loser-out game at LC.

LC (18-5) advances to meet Borah (14-13), the fifth-place team from District III, in a play-in game to decide a state berth Saturday afternoon at Orofino. First pitch is at 1.

Saadoun (11-2) wasn’t overpowering, but she had effective location and moved the ball around the strike zone. She allowed three of Lewiston’s five hits in the third inning, but solid defense thwarted the Bengals’ lone scoring threat.

LC coach Laura Tolzmann gave Saadoun a game ball.

“Steph finished her senior year on the mound here and made a statement,” Tolzmann said.

While hard-throwing Coeur d’Alene pitcher Jenna DeLong has garnered much of the attention, Saadoun has gone about her business. But there was a point during the season when she didn’t understand why she had to share pitching duties with freshman Lela Work (4-2).

“It was kind of personal for a while because I didn’t understand why,” Saadoun said. “But softball’s a game of strategy and sometimes you need strategy to win. I understood that and it was fine after that. We needed the wins, and if it took switching pitchers once in a while that was fine with me. She (Work) has done a great job.”

Tolzmann applauded Saadoun for accepting the situation.

“Steph adjusted really well,” Tolzmann said. “She’s a very positive girl. She’s been real supportive as far as helping the other pitchers out and sets an awesome example. She has an amazing work ethic. She finished it right today.”

It was LC’s sixth win in as many tries against Lewiston (7-15).

“Seeing them this many times, you know what most of the batters can hit and what they can’t hit,” Saadoun said. “So you learn their weaknesses and that’s how you get them out.”

Lewiston managed just one hit after the third inning.

Work, who starts at third base when not supporting Saadoun on the mound, led LC’s offense by knocking in three runs with two hits.

The Timberwolves scored three runs in the third on two hits and took advantage of three Lewiston errors. LC put it out of reach in the sixth with three more runs on three hits.

Tolzmann didn’t start junior second baseman Richelle Fenenbock, who went 4 for 4 in LC’s 7-1 win over Lewiston Tuesday. Fenenbock fell on her non-throwing shoulder while fielding a bunt. Tolzmann expects Fenenbock to be ready to start Saturday.

LC, co-Inland Empire League champs with Region I winner Coeur d’Alene, is seeking its first trip to state in four years.