High-ranking Highlanders cruise
Shadle Park’s softball reputation preceded it when the Greater Spokane League first-place team traveled Thursday to Mead.
Ranked 17th in the nation in the latest USA Today/National Softball Coaches Association poll, the Highlanders (18-0) batted around twice in the first inning against the seemingly awestruck Panthers (12-6) and cruised to a 17-0 victory.
Sam Skillingstad pitched her seventh no-hitter and sixth in her last seven wins.
Shadle scored 12 runs in the opening inning – getting nine hits, several that appeared catchable – to render the outcome quickly anticlimactic.
“It could have been a lot closer,” said Shadle coach George Lynn. “A lot of balls dropped that shouldn’t have. If you give us an opportunity, that’s the last thing you want to do.”
He didn’t get an argument from Panthers coaches.
The victory clinched at least a tie for the GSL title for Shadle and locked up the top seed in next week’s District 8 4A playoffs. It also marked the 13th time this season that its game ended in five innings and was its 14th win by 10 or more runs.
Middle infielders Danielle Lynn and Heather Jackson accounted for nine runs in the first inning. Second baseman Lynn drove in four runs with two hits and scored both times.
“All I was thinking was anything close and I was going to take a whack at it,” said the coach’s daughter.
Shortstop Jackson also had two hits for two RBIs and scored once. She finished the game with three hits, including two doubles, and three runs driven in.
Skillingstad helped her cause with three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Ten players hit safely as the Highlanders totaled 17 hits, six for extra bases.
Skillingstad was her impeccable self. She fanned 13 of 15 batters, as Mead’s Alex Cey was the only player to make contact. Cassie Shanholtzer, who walked and was hit, was the only Panther to reach base.
Does Skillingstad consciously strive to pitch no-hitters? She said she tries not to think about it.
“I try not to jinx myself, knock on wood,” she said. “I just go after every batter. I think I can improve. I can’t be satisfied.”
The Highlanders seek the GSL title outright today when they host second-place North Central.
Elsewhere, NC’s Indians (16-2) continue to enjoy their finest season. NC won 4-0 at Mt. Spokane (7-12) in a game between 3A classification teams. Kelcie Vallies struck out nine and scattered three hits. She also drove in a home run. Alicia Kahler doubled. … University (15-3) dispatched visiting East Valley (6-12) 14-0 in five innings on Mollie Buelow‘s seven-strikeout, four-hit effort. It was the freshman hurler’s sixth victory against one loss. The Titans had 15 hits and Riki Schiermeister was 3 for 4 with a triple and three runs batted in. Michelle Wells was 3 for 3, while Lexi Obenchain doubled to drive in two. … Host Gonzaga Prep (7-11) defeated Ferris (1-17) 11-1 in five innings. Jen Rambo pitched the win and had two hits, including a triple. Nicole Romasko was 3 for 3. … It took a seventh-inning comeback before Rogers (6-13) slipped past visiting Lewis and Clark 6-5 in nine innings. The Pirates trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Denisha Whitehead hit a two-run homer and Shannon Carlon a solo shot to send it into extra innings. Jennifer Knight drove in the winner. Whitehead was 4 for 5. LC’s Kendall Pavey went 3 for 4 with a double.