Youth notebook: N. Idaho Xtreme triumphs in 18U
Olivia Zufelt, Shelby Starr and Ashley Kaufman played key roles as North Idaho Xtreme defeated Spokane Mudhens 8-1 for the 18U Gold championship in the Spokane Girls Fastpitch Softball Association’s annual Summer Classic on June 12 at the Dwight Merkel Complex.
Zufelt (Lake City) and Starr (Timberlake) hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches in the third inning, Zufelt’s good for two runs, and Kaufman (Lake City) pitched a four-inning one-hitter.
The Kelowna, B.C., Heat beat Spokane Valley Bandits 9-1 in the 18U Silver title game.
Macie Reynolds belted a grand slam to pull Spokane Crash from behind en route to an 8-5 win over Mining City Magic of Montana in the 16U Gold championship game at Franklin Park. Crash was trailing 4-3 when Reynolds (Central Valley) delivered.
The Koyotes from British Columbia used a walk-off squeeze bunt for a 5-4 win over the Spokane Mudhens (Finch) in the 16U Silver championship game.
Kaycie Barber (Post Falls Middle School) drove in five runs as Spokane Crash (Isayev) defeated Tri-City Thunder 8-3 for the 14U Gold championship. Spokane Scream, with an offense punctuated by two home runs, outscored NCW Sun Devils (Washington) 12-10 in the 14U Silver title game.
In other division championship games: 12U Gold – Spokane Mudhens (Smith) 15, Spokane Diamonds (Wuesthoff) 14. 12U Silver – Mining City Magic (Montana) 7, Heat (Warden, Washington) 6. 12U Bronze – Spokane Lady Royals 5, LC Lady Warriors 4. 10U Gold – LC Blaze (Lewiston) 10, Spokane Stealth 1. 10U Silver – Spokane Diamonds 15, Spokane Mudhens 8.
The three-day weekend tournament drew 68 teams in five age classifications.
Academic stars
The Greater Spokane League, in conjunction with the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, announced the spring sports winners of the 15th annual NECA/IBEW GSL Award that go to a girl and boy from each school for demonstrating superior balance in academics, athletics and community involvement.
The winners by school:
Central Valley – JD Hauenstein, soccer; Brielle Crump, track and field. Ferris – Kaitlyn Caniglia, track and field; Curt McCune, soccer. Gonzaga Prep – Kelly Hooper, golf; Jack Coomes, soccer. Lewis and Clark – Maggie Ray, track and field; Ian Hash, track and field. Mead – Rayanna Smith, track and field; Koby Wilburn, soccer.
Mt. Spokane – Emily Stiles, track and field; Ross Morrison, golf. North Central – Casey Kiourkas, softball; Jamaal Edwards, track and field. Rogers – Zainabo Vita, tennis; Brayden Olson, baseball. Shadle Park – Mckenzie Wade, track and field; Carlin Douglas, soccer. University – Kylee Dickinson, track and field; Kyle Smithgall, tennis.