Prep softball: Mt. Spokane knocks off Shadle Park for 3A subregional title

Shadle Park had one final chance to shut down Mt. Spokane this season.

But the Wildcats couldn’t be stopped.

For the third time this year, the Highlanders fell to Mt. Spokane. And this time, the loss stung.

Shadle Park lost control and lost to the Wildcats 5-1 in a Greater Spokane League-Mid Columbia Conference 3A subregional softball game on Wednesday at Mt. Spokane.

The win puts Mt. Spokane one step closer to clinching a spot in the state tournament. The Wildcats will host the District 2 3A seventh-place team at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will move to state. Mt. Spokane’s opponent will be determined on Thursday.

Despite Mt. Spokane’s 3-0 record over the Highlanders this season, Wildcats head coach Carl Adams said pulling a win over Shadle is never an easy task.

“It’s a battle every time we play them,” Adams said. “I don’t care what the scoreboard says, it’s always tight. We’ve always got to come to compete, because they do.”

But Shadle had its problems on offense and defense.

Shadle’s Jaya Allen, who fanned a GSL-best 220 batters this season, had no strikeouts against the Wildcats. Mt. Spokane’s Jesse Dupuis struck out 12, with several Highlanders caught looking.

The Wildcats struck first with a three-run third inning. Hannah Bell had a two-run double to center and Dupuis followed with an RBI double.

Mt. Spokane added two in the fourth. With two outs, Hannah Madsen had an RBI double to right-center and scored on Makenzie Funk’s single for a 5-0 lead.

Shadle scored in the fifth after loading the bases with no outs on a pair of singles and a bunt. Melina Mendoza scored on a wild pitch, but Dupuis struck out the next three batters to end the inning.

The Wildcats (18-4) had 10 hits, including four doubles, while the Highlanders were limited to eight hits.

“I’m just super proud of how they played today,” Adams said. “They came out with purpose, focus, energy, all the things you’ve got to have to compete. It was a fun day, and we’re just really excited to be staying alive and keep going.”

Shadle went on to play Kamiakin after the Braves eliminated Southridge.

Shadle, trailing 2-1, loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. After a forceout at home, Allyson Gwiazda took two quick strikes and fouled off a third pitch. Gwiazda worked the count to 2-2 before grounding out to end the game.

The loss ended Shadle’s season at 18-4.

It was the final game for four seniors, including Allen, who also led the league this season in batting average (.607), RBIs (37) and hits (34).

“It’s bittersweet,” Allen said. “Every team has their off days and I guess ours was today.

“It’s setting in that we’re done. But overall, it was a really good season. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

2A

Cheney 15, West Valley 13: Maddie Kallsen went 5 for 5 with a home run and 5 RBIs and the visiting Blackhawks (16-5) topped the Eagles (13-6) in the Great Northern League title game.

Kallsen and Meghan Krantz hit back-to-back homers during a five-run fourth inning for the Blackhawks.

Cheney earned the No. 1 seed to a crossover game against the Central Washington Athletic Conference No. 4, while West Valley settled for the second seed and will travel to the CWAC No. 3. Both games are on Saturday.

2B

Colfax 17, Liberty 5: Chelsea Becker went 5 for 5 including two doubles as the Bulldogs (13-9) piled up 19 hits and eliminated the Lancers (9-13) in a District 7 2B loser-out game at Franklin Park.

Abbie Miller struck out 10 in a complete game and allowed four hits.

Colfax plays in a loser-out on Saturday.

Colfax eliminated Tekoa-Rosalia 8-5 earlier in the day as Becker and Cheyanne Stokes homered, while Liberty had a bye into the game.

Asotin 2, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague 1: Jordyn Nielson tossed a complete-game no-hitter and and the Panthers (9-11) eliminated the Broncos (12-8).

Asotin advances to play in a loser-out on Saturday.

Asotin eliminated Wilbur-Creston (1-15) 11-1 earlier in the day, while LRS knocked out Reardan (3-16) 7-3.