CV’s Alden bears down

The sixth-inning, opposite-field ball hit by Mickenzie Alden came seriously close to raising right-field, foul-line chalk but was ruled foul.

“I thought it had a chance to be fair and I would have probably tried to push for a triple on it,” Alden said. “I’m kind of glad I didn’t.”

Because on the next pitch, she hit an inside fastball over the left-field fence for a home run that decided Central Valley’s 6-5 victory over visiting Rogers in Greater Spokane League softball Tuesday.

Such judicious use of the long ball offset problems of their own making, as the Bears improved to 9-6 and remained solidly in fifth place.

The Pirates (5-10) had parlayed CV’s errors and walks into five runs, leading early and rallying to force a tie in the fifth inning before Alden’s blow, her fifth home run this year.

The Bears countered with two triples and a homer that led to most of their runs. Catcher Alden, who began the game at shortstop before returning behind the plate after two innings, was in the middle of it.

She finished 2 for 3 with an RBI triple (also her fifth this season) to go along with the homer and scored after both hits.

The triple came during a four-run third inning after Rogers had built its early 3-1 lead.

The Pirates scored twice in the first on an error, two walks, wild pitches and single by Sam Shelton.

After Becky White’s leadoff triple in the bottom of the frame, a sacrifice fly by Emily Anderson halved the score.

Rogers, however, scored again in the second on back-to-back base hits by Jen Knight and Shannon Carlon.

CV’s big third inning included Anderson’s single for her second RBI and Alden’s triple.

But a single followed by two walks, two wild pitches and steal of home helped the opportunistic Pirates tie the score.

That left it to Alden, who said she was thinking, “swing for single, swing for single,” after the foul ball.

“It’s a good thing I hit the ball,” she said, “it was really big.”

Bears pitcher Lauren Mandler walked nine, but she also struck out as many and limited Rogers to five hits.

“She really battled after walking those hitters, came back and did a good job,” said CV coach Jeff VanHorne. “Mickenzie has been hitting the ball real hard. And she hit to all fields today.”

The Bears juggled their lineup to begin the game before hastening to make the third-inning switches.

“It didn’t work out like we’d planned,” said VanHorne. “So we had to switch back.”

Rogers, meanwhile, was playing without two regulars.

“We played well, though,” said Pirates coach Cris Coffield. “We came out and competed. It was good to be in a game like this.”

Particularly since there’s a possibility the two could meet again in the first round of the District 8 playoffs May 10.

“In other GSL games, University (12-3) closed to within one-half game of second place with an 11-1 five-inning victory over visiting Gonzaga Prep (5-9). Riki Schiermeister was 4 for 4 with a triple and three runs batted in. Alyssa Hawley was 2 for 3, including a two-run home run. Lexi Obenchain was also 2 for 3 and scored three runs. … Fourth-place Mead (11-4) scored 11 first-inning runs to remain a game back of the Titans during a 15-3 five-inning victory over Mt. Spokane (6-9). Among the team’s 16 hits were home runs by Melanie Mobley and league batting leader Katie Kine. Alex Cey had three hits and as many RBIs. … East Valley (5-9) beat Lewis and Clark (0-14) 11-1. Tiffany Bittner was 3 for 3 with two doubles. She drove in four runs and scored twice. Briana Manchester was 3 for 4 and drove in four more runs.