CdA’s DeLong blanks Eagle
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The Coeur d’Alene Vikings’ performance put their pitcher, Jenna DeLong, into such peace of mind, she didn’t notice she had struck out 14 batters in the 5-0 first-round win over Eagle at the State 5A softball tournament Thursday.
“My pitching was decent,” DeLong said. “My team’s hitting is what made my pitching good. It got me fired up. It didn’t make me worried about having to strike someone out.”
Eagle’s Bryn Peterson and Vicky Vail went back to the dugout each of their three times at the plate, and the Mustangs’ only hit came in the top of the fourth inning as pitcher Joni Cook singled. Cook and Michelle Claverie – DeLong’s only walk of the game – were stranded as DeLong mowed down three in a row.
“We played with a lot of pride and poise,” Vikings head coach Larry Bieber said. “That’s what we’re known for.”
CdA didn’t have many hits, but it made them count while taking advantage of five Eagle errors for their runs.
In the bottom of the second, left fielder Kylie Chandler doubled to drive home Heather Helmhout.
But the Vikings came alive in the fourth and fifth, scoring two in each. Shortstop Lindsey Stark led off the bottom of the fourth, advancing on an error, and scored on a Helmhout single. Chandler reached first on an error and the relay to home was late, allowing Helmhout to score. Chandler tried to take second, but was thrown out by catcher Jackie Hunn.
“We made some errors out there that cost us a lot of runs. If you knock those away, you’ve got a one-run ball game,” Eagle head coach Brian White said.
Errors again hurt Eagle in the fifth as it gave up one earned and one unearned run, making it 5-0.
But the few hits amidst all the errors were certainly welcome. Although no Vikings batter went better than 1 for 3, two of their three hits were RBI singles.
Eagle’s Cook threw six innings, giving up only three hits and no walks while striking out seven Vikings.
“That’s a good pitcher that we just faced, so I’m proud of the girls for being patient and for going after the pitches when she brought them down,” Bieber said.
With the win, CdA (17-6) faces Highland in the quarterfinals, while Eagle (16-8) drops to the elimination side of the bracket.
Timberline 6, Lake City 5 (8): The Timberwolves had the Wolves right where they wanted them and Timberline needed a last-inning comeback to stay in its opening-round game.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Timberline’s Hailey Clements doubled to lead a rally of hits that would score three runs needed to send the game into extra innings.
Lake City failed to score in the top of the eighth, which started with a runner on second per the international tiebreaker rules.
Timberline came up with the run it needed. Brooke Robinette hit a game-winning single.
Timberline (18-8) advanced to play Skyline. Lake City (19-6) will play Mountain View in the elimination bracket.
Highland 6, Boise 4: Lacey Bowman struck out six as the Rams beat the Braves.
Skyline 6, Mountain View 5 (8): A two-run eighth, aided by an error, decided the game.