Stangel stellar in LC victory

Lake City High sophomore Casey Stangel pitched a three-hit shutout, lined a two-run double and launched a no-doubt, two-run home run.

So which of those highlights was the best part of the visiting Timberwolves’ 9-0 Inland Empire League 5A softball rout of rival Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday? None of the above, Stangel said.

“My favorite part was my catcher Mariah (Linahan),” Stangel said. “She’s been working really hard. She was amazing behind the plate. We were working together really well.”

Just about everything worked well for the Timberwolves (11-0, 7-0 IEL), who blanked the Vikings (8-4, 2-4) for the third time this season.

“She’s pretty tough,” said Vikings coach Larry Bieber, whose team entered with a .315 batting average. “We just have to learn how to compete against these guys. They’re just struggling against Casey.”

Lake City had 13 hits, four for extra bases. Lead-off hitter Becky Short had three singles, scored twice and knocked in a run. Linahan also had three singles. Vanessa Shippy had a run-scoring triple and scored twice.

Jamie Yurick doubled and scored on a throwing error in the second inning. Kory Kritz came home on Short’s RBI single. In the fourth, Kritz and Linahan hit back-to-back singles and later scored. Stangel’s opposite-field double drove in Short and Shippy as LC’s lead grew to 6-0.

“It was a great team effort,” coach Laura Tolzmann said.

The Timberwolves added three runs in the sixth on Shippy’s triple and Stangel’s line-drive homer to right.

Stangel walked one and struck out 13 while pitching her ninth shutout in 11 starts.