Stangel will pitch despite appendectomy

Lake City freshman Casey Stangel had her appendix removed Monday morning, but that hasn’t changed her plans to pitch today against Rocky Mountain in a State 5A tournament opener in Twin Falls.

“She was at practice Tuesday, swinging the bat a little bit,” coach Laura Tolzmann said. “She’s already said she’s going to throw the first game. She’s a tough kid. Even if she didn’t throw her hardest and just hit her spots, she’d be able to compete.”

Stangel was experiencing lower back pain last week, but still threw a shutout against Coeur d’Alene to clinch Lake City’s state berth. The pain intensified over the weekend and she went to the hospital early Monday morning.

Tolzmann said the team is prepared whether Stangel, considered one of the top pitchers in the state along with Post Falls’ Richelle Ashburn, plays or not. Third baseman Kallie Neal is LC’s No. 2 pitcher.

Lake City has played everyone but Highland in the eight-team field. LC went 5-1-1 on a regular-season trip to Boise, including a 4-1-1 mark against state-qualifying teams. The tie came against Rocky Mountain because of a time limit.

“I really think the good softball this year is in the north,” Tolzmann said. “They (Boise schools) are all pretty even. I left (that trip) thinking, ‘Wow, we can do it.’ ”

Jim Meehan