SHS softball falls in extras to West Valley

SPOKANE — The Sandpoint softball team notched a season-high 12 hits in a 10-11 extra inning loss to nonleague opponent West Valley.

“It’s like I’ve been saying, we can hit,” Sandpoint softball coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said. “It’s just about putting together the defensive side of our game to give our pitchers a chance.”

Sandpoint was in front 6-2 by the end of the first inning, but West Valley slowly trickled their way back in. After a three-run inning in the bottom of the fifth, West Valley took a 9-8 lead.

Both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning. Sandpoint returned two runners in the seventh to take a 10-8 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, West Valley scored one run to tie the game at 10 apiece.

“We started off really hot,” Hawkins-Williams said. “They gradually hit their way back into their game.”

Both Bella Crum and Lyla Kinman had big hits to put the Bulldogs ahead.

Crum went two for three and Kinman notched two triples.

“(Lyla) hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to hit this year,” Hawkins-Williams said. “Today she made a tremendous impact as a batter and was great for the team.”

Kinman also got the start at shortstop. She missed the first four games for the Bulldogs when they went down to Boise for the WTP tournament.

“She’s just building her confidence back up,” Hawkins-Williams said. “Getting reps and game experience at those positions will be big.”

The Bulldogs fell to 1-9 overall and will next play Lakeland today in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Memorial Field.

Sandpoint 601 100 20 — 10 12 2

West Valley 221 130 11 — 11 12 5

Mayle Ducken, Ashlyn Darling (2), Cressana Authier (4), and Kaylee McCown. I. Carter And J. Huntley

HITS: SPT — Darling, Ducken, Schwenk 2, Cessna 2, Crum 2, Kinman 2, Tuinstra. WV — Carter, Stewart 2, Holsabek, C. Huntley 3, Tamalo 2, J. Huntley, Ingram 2. 2B — Crum, J. Huntley, C. Huntley, Ingram (2), Tamalo. 3B — Kinman (2). HR — Tuinstra (In-the-Park)