Dozen area players take fourth at Western Nationals

The question sometimes arises as to how well Mission Valley area softball might actually stack up against the rest of the West? With respect to this season, that answer merits a better than average rating given some local softball talent performances at the Western Nationals in Spokane this past week. Among 16 teams competing in the 16U age division, the Northwest comprised Montana Mustangs would make the final four, ultimately placing fourth. After sweeping their pool play set of games, the Stangs were surprised by the Spokane Stealth on Thursday, who relegated them to consolation bracket action thereafter. On Friday, the Mustangs reeled off four straight wins as they advanced to Saturday’s final four action, dispatching teams from Metropolitan areas with population bases in the hundreds of thousands, or in the case of Phoenix, topping a million plus.

On Saturday, their quest to secure hardware would be arrested at the hands of a team from the south Seattle area, but not before these NW MT softballers would stretch the contest past regulation into extras. When a contest ties at the end of regulation play, the International Tie Breaker is implemented in which the batter who made the last out is placed in scoring position on second base and each team gets three outs to score as many runs as possible.

In the top of the eighth inning, a pair of fielding foibles would cost three additional runs of the five that would plate by the Elite Diamonds team. The Mustangs would counter with a pair in the bottom half of their inning, which ordinarily would have been enough to extend the game at least another inning sans the runs that scored on account of errors. Consequently, the tally would fall short of extending the game any further.

In the 14U age division, the Missoula-based, Dan Ries-coached MT Avalance likewise finished fourth in another impressive showing by Montana softballers. Featured among their roster are two Arlee sisters, Jerny and Rheid Crawford.

The 14U Polson-based, Moses Pierre/Rodney DePoe/Kim Kendall-coached Lakers also competed in the 14A Western National at Spokane, but their experience was more akin to Einstein’s notion of the second law of thermodynamics, where things gravitate from order to a state of disorder. The Lakers could only manufacture two hits in their first contest, followed by even less their next two games and were staring at the prospect of their least productive tournament in multiple seasons. The throttlings comparable to a softball spanking seemed to awaken the Lakers from their lethargy. Their biggest loss to the Post Falls Blast was to the same team they had edged 2-1 at the Frenchtown Summer Sizzler earlier in the season. So when the Lakers encountered the Blast in the consolation rounds for the third time this season, they went to work instead of getting worked over and blasted the Blast by ten run ruling their opponent for a win at the 14A Western Nationals. Their next opponent, eventual fourth place finisher Avalanche-Ries, would end the Laker foray among the rungs of the ladder of the consolation bracket.

(HR,2x3B,5x2B,6RBI,BB,ROE,SB), Macao Jackson 9-20, .450avg (2x2B,2RBI,4BB,ROE), Kobbey Smith 11-25, .440avg (3B,4x2B,8RBI), Katelyne Druyvestein 10-25, .400avg (2B,5RBI,2BB,2SB), Azia Umphrey 8-21, .381avg(HR,4x2B,3RBI2BB,SB), Ashlynn Nixon 8-21, .381avg (HR,2B,7RBI,4BB,HB,ROE), Lexy Orien 8-27, .296avg (3B,2x2B,8RBI), Mossy Kauley 3-14 (2RBI,HB), Anna Vert 3-16 (3RBI,BB,SB).

16A Bracket battles

2nd championship

Crossfire-Rollins 6, Salt Lake Pegasus 5

1st championship

Crossfire-Rollins 8, Salt Lake Pegasus 6

3rd place

Crossfire-Rollins 4, Elite 03 Diamonds 1

16A bracket gm28 notes:

B4: macao runs count full, singles safely, but left stranded

B5: Azia doubles with nobody out, Leiv sacrifices to move Umphrey to third, Mossy Kauley reaches base while Umphrey scores to knot the contest at four apiece

B6: Macao singles with two out, stranded

T7: Two Diamond runners in scoring position with two outs, Macao on the mound wriggles out of a jam

B7: Umphrey leads off inning

T8: ITB Huntzinger steals third,

B8: Kauley swapped out for Druyvestein as ITB runner at second base, advances to third, Fink knocks in Druyvestein, advancing to second, Fink advances to third on Orien AB; Kobbey Smith singles in Finkbeiner; Jackson at plate

loser takes fourth

Elite 03 Diamonds 9, MT Mustangs 6 (8 inn.)

Elite Diamonds (36-27-1)

Redmond WA 040 000 05 – 9 14 3

Mission Valley 300 010 02 – 6 6 3

Katelyne Druyvestein (1K,6H), (5) Macao Jackson (1K) and Kallie Finkbeiner. Mackenzie Burke (6K) and Jaclyn Huntzinger. W – Burke. L – Jackson.

ELITE 03 DIAMONDS – Skyler Maloney 3-5, Reagan Ellis 1-5, Avery Henderson 3-5, Leslie Hines 2-5, Huntzinger 1-4, Ashley Simmons 1-3, Burke 0-1, Averi Egbert 1-4, Payton Pluschke 1-4, Elliotte Wood 0-2, Hallie Sehlin 1-2.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 1-2, Mossy Kauley 1-3, Finkbeiner 2-4, Lexy Orien 1-4, Ashlynn Nixon 0-4, Kobbey Smith 1-4, Jackson 2-4, Anna Vert 0-3, Azia Umphrey 1-3, Leiv Smith 0-3.

3B – Orien. 2B – Hines, Simmons; Finkbeiner 2, Umphrey. RBIs – Egbert, Henderson; Kauley, Finkbeiner, Orien 2, Nixon, Ko.Smith. ROE – Ellis, Hines, Simmons, Pluschke.

(Sa27Jul19gm28brkt)

MT Mustangs 12, WA Angels-Hogan 3

Win advances Stangs to final four

Angels-Hogan (16-18-1)

Kennewick 100 20 – 3 8 4

Mssn Vly 291 0x – 12 5 1

Katelyne Druyvestein, (2) Macao Jackson (3.33IP: 2K) and Kallie Finkbeiner. Kylie Parsons, (2) Tiana Anderson and catcher.

WA ANGELS-HOGAN – Chloe Grandeen 2-3, Rikki Scott 1-3, Hadley Dunham 1-3, Izzy Qunell 1-3, Hannah Jamison 1-3, Kiley Heinz 1-1, Parsons 1-1.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 2-4, Finkbeiner 2-2, Lexi Orien 0-1, Ashlynn Nixon 0-2, Mossy Kauley 0-2, Kobbey Smith 2-3, Jackson 1-2, Azia Umphrey 1-3, Liev Smith 1-2.

3B – Finkbeiner, Ko.Smith. 2B – Umphrey. RBIs – Dunham, Kenzie Bailey; Finkbeiner, Orien, Nixon, Kauley, Ko.Smith 3, Jackson, L.Smith. BB – Heinz; Orien 2, Jackson, L.Smith. HB – Finkbeiner, Nixon, Kauley. SB – Qunell; Druyvestein, Finkbeiner.

(Fr26Jul19gm26brkt)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources vary: AnglGC - Nixon 2rbi, MMbk - Grandeen 3H

Discrepancies between inning by inning summary and individual team batters attributed to differences between scoring criteria, where AB counted as H hit or E reach on error. Both versions have been retained.

MT Mustangs 8, LC Lightning 6

Lightning (17-9-1)

Mission Vly 122 111 – 8 11 0

Lewiston ID 400 011 – 6 9 4

Kaitlyn Banks, (4) Alison Shaler and Hannah Murphy. Azia Umphrey, (5) Katelyne Druyvestein and Kallie Finkbeiner.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 2-4, Finkbeiner 2-4, Lexi Orien 0-4, Ashlynn Nixon *3-4, Kobbey Smith 1-3, Jackson 2-3, Anna Vert 0-1, Azia Umphrey 1-3, Leiv Smith 2-3.

LEWIS & CLARK LIGHTNING – Karli Taylor 1-4, Tai Bausch 1-3, Jenika Ortiz 1-3, Sam Mader 2-4, Phoenix Pea 1-3, Jaycee Jerome 1-2, Lanie Weeks 1-3,

HR – Nixon. 2B – Finkbeiner, Ko.Smith; Ortiz. RBIs – Druyvestein, Finkbeiner, Nixon, Jackson, Vert; Mader 2, Jerome, Pea. BB – Vert; Bausch, Ortiz, Kali Fonnsbeck, Jerome. ROE – Jackson. SB – Finkbeiner; Bausch 2. (Fr26Jul19gm24brkt)

MT Mustangs 5, AZ Hot Shots-Delsante 1

Scoreless after four, a big five run fifth that could have been bigger as the Stangs galloped through their entire order, then stranded runners at the corners.

Mssn Vly 000 050 0 – 5 7 2

Phoenix 000 001 0 – 1 7 2

Jadyn Warren, (3) Allison Weyandt and Catcher. Katelyne Druyvestein (2K), (6) Macao Jackson (1K) and Kallie Finkbeiner.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 1-4, Finkbeiner 2-4, Lexy Orien 0-4, Ashlynn Nixon 0-2, Kobbey Smith 1-4, Jackson 1-3, Anna Vert *0-2, Mossy Kauley 1-1, Azia Umphrey 1-3, Leiv Smith 2-3.

AZ HOTSHOTS-DELSANTE – Weyandt 1-2, Grace Rana 2-3, Sienna Reed 1-3, Ellie Kingston 1-3, Ashlee Kush 2-3, (#7, 3b) Skylar Williams 1-3, Arianna Tammaro 1-3.

2B – Finkbeiner, Ko.Smith, Jackson, Umphrey, L.Smith. RBIs – Druyvestein, Ko.Smith 2, Vert. BB – Nixon 2. SB – Umphrey, L.Smith; Rana, Reed. (Fr26Jul19gm18brkt)

Lexi (lf), Mossy (cf/1b), Liev (rf), Kobbey (3b), Ashlynn (ss), Azia (2b), Macao (1b/p), Katelyne (p/1b)

MT Mustangs 11, WA 16s Menace 2

Azia Umphrey tagged a two bag tater in the fourth, while Kobbey Smith and Macao Jackson smacked doubles.

Tri-Cities 010 10 – 2 6 4*

Mssn Vly 031 52 – 11 12 1

Katelyne Druyvestein, (3) Macao Jackson (1K), Liev Smith and Kallie Finkbeiner. Kaylynn Clark-Coates, (4) Brecelle Nash and catcher.

WA 16 MENACE – Faith Thomas 1-3, Sam Atilano 2-3, Kendra Hart 1-3, Clark-Coates 0-0, Nash 1-1, Reanna Martinez, 2-3, Hailey Grall 1-2.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 1-3, Mossy Kauley 1-1, Finkbeiner 2-4, Lexy Orien 2-4, Ashlynn Nixon 2-3, Kobbey Smith 3-3, Jackson 2-3, Anna Vert 1-3, Azia Umphrey 1-2, Leiv Smith 2-3.

HR – Umphrey. 2B – Martinez, Grall; Ko.Smith, Jackson. RBIs – Grall; Finkbeiner, Orien, Nixon 2, Ko.Smith, Vert, Umphrey 2. BB – Clark-Coates; Umphrey. SB – Thomas; Vert, (Fr26Jul19gm11brkt)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources vary: inning by inning derived from Menace GC, indiv player specs from Mustang book. Numbers will not match due to ROEs not being factored in.

16A bracket gm6 notes:

T1: Finkbeiner doubles, steals third, stranded

T2: Mustangs load bases with no outs on a Kobbey double, Macao walk and Anna single, but Desautel works herself out of a jam as the Stealth escape inning unscathed.

B4: Stealth run through entire order to put game out of reach.

Stealth-Martinez 9, MT Mustangs 1

Mustangs had runners in scoring position the first two innings, but couldn’t capitalize. Had they done so, they would have been able to weather the bottom half of the third that would have changed the complexion of the game.

Polson 001 00 – 1 5 7

Spokane 104 4x – 9 7 1

Rylee Desautel and Brooklyn Brunette. Katelyne Druyvestein (1K), (4) Azia Umphrey (1IP:2K) and Kallie Finkbeiner.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 0-3, Finkbeiner 2-3, Lexy Orien 0-3, Ashlynn Nixon 1-2, Kobbey Smith 1-2, Macao Jackson 0-1, Anna Vert 1-1, Mossy Kauley 0-1, Azia Umphrey 0-2, Liev Smith 0-2.

SPOKANE STEALTH-MARTINEZ – Cadence Posey 1-3, Jaden Donohoe 1-3, Jazzy Davis 1-3, Peyton Lindley 2-2, Lauren Ballantyne 1-3, Brunette 1-3, Rachel Rose 1-2

2B – Finkbeiner, Ko.Smith, Nixon; Ballantyne, Brunette. RBIs – Nixon; Donohoe, Jasmine Davis 3, Ballantyne. BB – Jackson; Lindley. ROE – Finkbeiner; Posey 2, Donohoe, Davis, Rose. (Th25Jul19gm6brkt)

Lexi (lf), Anna (cf), Liev (rf), Kobbey (3b), Ashlynn (ss), Azia (2b), Macao (1b)

16A Pool B

MT Mustangs 7, ID Crossfire-Rollins 5

The Mustangs edged eventual tournament champion Crossfire in a very evenly matched skirmish, relying on the productivity of their top and bottom third of the order.

Crossfire (27-5)

Mssn Vly 120 301 – 7 9 1

Eagle ID 020 201 – 5 10 2

Rylee Rovig, (1) Mallory Brown, (4) Taylor Brewer and Madison Dresie. Katelyne Druyvestein (1K), (4) Macao Jackson and Kallie Finkbeiner.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 2-3(RBI,BB), Finkbeiner 1-4, Lexy Orien 3-4(2B,3RBI), Ashlynn Nixon 0-1(2BB), Mossy Kauley 0-3, Kobbey Smith 0-3, Macao Jackson 0-2(BB), Anna Vert 0-3, Azia Umphrey 2-2(2B,BB), Liev Smith 2-2(BB).

CROSSFIRE-ROLLINS – Lex Tovar 2-3, Sydney Groves 1-3, Brooklin Champion 2-3, Brown *2-3(2B,2RBI,ROE), Sydney Pecoraro 1-3(HR,2RBI), Makayla Stoker 1-3, Dresie 1-2, Rovig 1-2.

SB – Druyvestein, Orien 3, L.Smith.

(W24Jul19gmB2pool)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources differ: XfirGC: Brown 3H

population: Eagle, ID (2017: 26,089), Polson (4875), Ronan (2018: 1,991), St. Ignatius (2016: 824)

MT Mustangs 11, WA 16s Menace 3(George Bills)

Kallie Finkbeiner was a menace to the Menace as she tagged a tater as well as clocked a triple, while Katelyne Druyvestein, Lexy Orien and Ashlynn Nixon each smacked doubles.

Tri-Cities 200 10 – 3 8 2*

Mssn Vly 113 33 – 11 14 1*

Brecelle Nash, (4) Kaylynn Clark-Coates and Courtney Martin. Katelyne Druyvestein (1K,2W,1A), (4) Macao Jackson (1K,1H,2A) and Kallie Finkbeiner.

WA 16 MENACE – Faith Thomas 2-2, Sam Atilano 1-2, Martin 2-2(2B,2RBI), Clark-Coates 1-1(BB,RBI), Hailey Grall 1-1(BB), Aracely Perches 1-2.

MT MUSTANGS – Druyvestein 1-2(2B,BB,RBI), Finkbeiner 2-3(3B,HR,2RBI), Lexy Orien 2-3(2B,RBI), Ashlynn Nixon 2-3(2B,RBI,ROE),Mossy Kauley 0-3, Kobbey Smith 2-3(RBI), Jackson 1-2(BB), Anna Vert 1-3, Azia Umphrey 1-3(RBI), Liev Smith 3-3(2RBI). (W24Jul19gmB1pool)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources differ: MenGC (WA:6H/MT:13H,2E)

***—**—*—**—***

14U A Western National (9tms)

2019 USA Laker cumulative pitching: Ashlynn DePoe (9-2-1), Turquoise Pierre (8-4), Nikki Kendall (5-3), Bella Paul (0-3), Alexis Johnson (0-1), 1tie

2019 USA 14A Western National cumulative stats (abridged):

MT AVS-RIES (4-3, 4th pl) – Jerny Crawford 9-20 (2RBI,2BB,SB), Rheid Crawford 8-16 (2x2B,6RBI,4BB)

14A Bracket

championship

NW Sidewinders-Bishop 8, Spokane Sliders 6

3rd place

Spokane Sliders 8, Absolute Blast-Elizondo 1

loser places fourth

Sliders 9, Avs-Ries 6

Avs-Ries (35-19-1), Sliders (27-9-2)

Missoula 033 00 – 6 10 3*

Spokane 800 1x – 9 10 1*

Brook Thompson, (2) Kendra Jacobs and Emma Ries. Chloe Flerchinger and Payton Dressler.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – Jerny Crawford 2-3(RBI), Rheid Crawford 2-3(RBI).

SPOKANE SLIDERS – Emily Schulhauser 4-4(2B,2RBI).

(Sa27Jul19gm14brkt)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources vary: venueGC (Avs:9H,2E/Sldr:11H)

Avs-Ries 14, Lakers 0

The Crawford sisters from Arlee generated four hits at the plate that included a fouble by Rheid as well as accounted for a quartet of RBIs. Lakers (22-13-2), Avs-Ries (35-18-1)

Polson 00( 0 ) 0 – 0 1 5

Missoula 20(12) x – 14 10 2

Brooke Thompson, (4) Kendra Jacobs and Emma Ries. Turquoise Pierre, (3) Ashlynn DePoe, (3) Bella Paul and Mckenna Hanson. W – Thompson. L – Pierre (8-4)

POLSON LAKERS – Nikki Kendall 0-1, Hanson 1-2, DePoe 0-1.

MT AVANANCHE-RIES – Jerny Crawford 2-3, Rheid Crawford 2-3.

2B – Thompson 2, R.Crawford. RBIs – J.Crawford, Haley Wolsky, Thompson 3, R.Crawford 3, Adele Didricksen, Tycelee Bowler 2. SH – A. Didricksen. BB – Kendall; Ries 2, Julia Laea, Chloe Long, Jacobs. ROE – Kendall, DePoe; Thompson, R.Crawford, A.Didricksen. FC – Jacobs. SB – Hanson. CS – DePoe. DP – Paul, Nordberg. (Fr26Jul19gm12brkt)

After three games of languishing under a cloud of offensive anemia, the Lakers reacquired their mojo at the plate to avenge their pride against the same team that had twenty run ruled them the day prior. Turquoise Pierre would help out her cause on the mound by tagging a two run tater in the third.

Polson Lakers 10, PF Blast 0

Lakers (22-12-2), PF Blast (17-20)

Post Falls 000 00 – 0 3 7

Polson 022 6x – 10 3 0*

Turquoise Pierre (4K) and Mckenna Hanson. Emma Warnecke, (3) Haylee Smit and Sophia Solberg. W – Pierre (8-3).

POST FALLS BLAST – Smit 1-2, Alexia McCurdy 1-1, Eden Nye 1-1.

POLSON LAKERS – Nikki Kendall 1-3, Hanson 0-2, Pierre 2-3, Caitlyn Ward 0-1, Alexis Johnson 0-1, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, Reegan Stinger 0-0, Ashlynn DePoe 0-2, Ansley Nordberg 0-2, Trinity Towne 0-2.

HR – Pierre. 2B – McCurdy. RBIs – Pierre 3, Ward, DePoe, Towne 2. SF – Ward. SH – Hanson, *Johnson. BB – JJ Davis; Johnson, Brown. HB – Ward. ROE – Kendall, Hanson, Brown, Towne. FC – DePoe, Nordberg. SB – Smit; Kendall, Brown.

(Fr26Jul19gm8brkt)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternative sources vary: PFBlGC (PL: 4H,1E)

Spokane Sliders 15, Polson Lakers 0

Lakers (21-12-2), Sliders (25-8-2)

Polson 000 – 0 0 1

Spokane 258 – 15 13 0

Bailey Benson and catcher. Bella Paul (1K), (3) Ashlynn DePoe and Mckenna Hanson. W – Benson. L – Paul (0-3)

(Th25Jul19gm3brkt)

NW Sidewinders-Bishop 8, Avs-Ries 2

Sidewinders (42-27-3) Fall+Smr

Puyallup 170 00 – 8 10 2

Missoula 200 00 – 2 5 2

Brooke Thompson, (2) Kendra Jacobs and Emma Ries. Madison Roeseler, (1) Brooke Jett, (3) Georgia Clough and catcher.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – Jerny Crawford 2-2(R), Rheid Crawford 0-0(2BB).

(Fr26Jul19gm10brkt)

Avs-Ries 10, Crossfire FP-Burke 5

Avs-Ries (34-17-1), Crossfire (41-25)

Missoula 801 01 – 10 8 2

Eagle ID 140 00 – 5 6 2

Karadyn Fuller, (1) Kayla Vahlberg, (3) Annabelle Navarrette and Hallie Campbell. Brook Thompson, (3) Kendra Jacobs and Emma Ries.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – Jerny Crawford 2-4(RBI,ROE,SB), Rheid Crawford 1-4(2RBI)

(Th25Jul19gm5brkt)

Avs-Ries 14, Diamonds FP-Nine 0

Avs (33-17-1), Diamonds (13-15)

Missoula 160 7 – 11 14 1

Spokane 000 0 – 0 5 3

Abbie Amend, (3) Sierra Wyatt, (4) Katie #42 and Cassie Zaring. Brook Thompson, (3) Kendra Jacobs and Emma Ries.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – Jerny Crawford 1-4, Rheid Crawford 1-2(2B,2RBI)

(Th25Jul19gm1brkt)

14A Pool A

PF Blast 22, Polson Lakers 2

Lakers (21-11-2)

Post Falls 804 (10) – 22 14 2

Polson 200 ( 0 ) – 2 0 6

Nicki Kendall (1K), (1) Ashlynn DePoe (2K) and Mckenna Hanson. Emma Warnecke, (3) Lexi McCurdy and Jaelei Davis. W – Warnecke. L – Kendall (5-3).

POST FALLS BLAST – Emma Aldrich 4H(3RBI)

(Th25Jul19gmA2pool)

Post Falls Blast (Anthony Walls),

CDA Crush-Cleave 9, Polson Lakers 1

Lakers (21-10-2)

Polson Lakers 000 10 – 1 2 6

Couer d’Alene – 023 4x – 9 5 0

Sophie Nungesses, (4) Matea Docaine and Alyssa Krause. Turquoise Pierre (3K,5H,2W,3HB), (4) Ashlyn DePoe (.67IP:HB) and Mckenna Hanson. L – Pierre (7-3).

POLSON LAKERS – Nikki Kendall 1-2(R), Pierre 1-2(2B,RBI).

CDA CRUSH-CLEAVE – Alexis Blankenship 0-2(HB), Brynn Tolzmann 0-0(2HB,BB), Krause 2-3, Docaine (HR,2Bgr,FC,4RBI), Madi Cleave 0-2(BB,ROE), Kaydence Constable 0-2(HB,2ROE), Catherine Bakken 0-3(ROE), Kristine Schmidt 1-2(SHroe).

(W24Jul19gmA1pool)

14A Pool B

Avs-Ries 8, Crossfire FP-Burke 4

Missoula 011 24 – 8 10 0

Eagle ID 211 00 – 4 7 2

Annabelle Navarrette, (5) Karadyn Fuller and Hallie Campbell. Brook Thompson, (3) Lulia Paea, (3) Kendra Jacobs and Jerny Crawford.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – J.Crawford 0-2(BB), Rheid Crawford 0-1(2BB,2R)

(W24Jul19gmB2pool)

Absolute Blast-Elizondo 10, Avs-Ries 7

Missoula 420 01 – 7 8 5

Lynnwood 401 5x – 10 5 2

Kendra Jacobs, (4) Brook Thompson and Emma Ries. Ava Sylte, (2) RachelTreves, (3) Mia Rogers, (4) Charlotte Collum and Kyra O’Keefe.

MT AVALANCHE-RIES – (ss) Jerny Crawford 0-2(BB), (1b) Rheid Crawford 2-3(2B,2RBI)

(W24Jul19gmB1pool)