U-Hi shocks Shadle

Three weeks ago, Shadle Park laid an 11-run beating on the University softball team.

With that in mind, Tuesday’s District 8 4A softball championship between the two could have been more a coronation than a competition.

Or, as it turned out, University could play nearly flawless defense, shut down the previously undefeated Highlanders in clutch situations and pull out a 2-1, nine-inning win at Whitworth College’s Marks Field.

U-Hi (19-3) earns the top seed to Friday’s Region IV tournament at Franklin Park, and they’ll open with Walla Walla, the fourth seed from the Big Nine. Shadle (21-1) plays Big Nine co-champion Kamiakin, the third seed from its district tournament.

In an earlier game, Kristina DeMello no-hit Central Valley in a 5-1 victory to give Mt. Spokane (16-6) the third seed to regionals, where it plays Kennewick. CV (15-7) will open with the top seed from the Big Nine district tournament, Richland.

University 2, Shadle Park 1 (9): Baserunners were stranded all day, but none more important than when Shadle failed to score in the top of the ninth inning, the first inning of the International Tiebreaker.

In the bottom half, U-Hi put Rachel Squires on second to open the inning and she attempted to reach third on a passed ball.

The throw down to third sailed into left field, and Squires trotted home with the game-winner.

U-Hi made successful adjustments against Highlanders ace Sam Skillingstad, who one-hit them with 17 strikeouts in the earlier blowout win.

This time, she struck out 13 in nine innings but allowed five hits, one which scored to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.

“We just decided we were going to work on a few more things, and not swing at her riseball,” said Titans head coach Jon Schuh.

“The last time, she threw a lot of balls in the zone, and we let them go. This time, we decided if we’re going to swing, we’re going to swing hard and battle.”

One run would have been enough for the Highlanders in their 16 shutouts this season, and they got it in the top of the sixth when Skillingstad’s squeeze bunt scored Danielle Lynn.

U-Hi answered, though, when Tonya Schnibbe doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning.

With Schnibbe on third and two outs, Theresa Tveit hit a difficult grounder in the hole at short, and the throw to first was in the dirt, allowing U-Hi to tie it.

Shadle left the bases loaded in the seventh and a runner on third in the ninth – eight total – against Titans starter Mandy Mikelson, who allowed the Highlanders only three hits.

“Mandy, for us, kept them off balance,” Schuh said. “For them to only get three hits, that’s a pretty darn good job.”

On the other side, Shadle head coach George Lynn didn’t see the loss as being entirely negative.

“I think it takes a burden off our shoulders, getting that loss out of the way,” Lynn said. “Do I think we played great? Absolutely not.”

Mt. Spokane 5, Central Valley 1: DeMello’s third no-hitter of the season came along with 11 strikeouts, as the only Bears to reach base were a walk, a hit batter and an error.

“I really like Whitworth’s field, and I was just excited to be out here,” DeMello said. “And my parents tell me I do better when it’s warm.”

Mt. Spokane’s bats also warmed up, bouncing back from Skillingstad’s perfect game against them on Friday.

Angel Urann drove in a pair of runs, including a first-inning RBI triple, and Jenn Andrews added an RBI single for the Wildcats.