Defense Lifts Cv, Rogers

District 8-AAA softball

The defenses rested their cases Thursday at Franklin Park.

Central Valley and Rogers played almost flawlessly in the field as the District 8-AAA softball tournament opened with a pair of loser-out games.

Ferris and Shadle Park struggled in the field, and both absorbed the “loser-out” tag.

“I had a lot of defense behind me,” CV’s Tori Mills said after pitching a two-hitter in a 9-1 win over Ferris.

“We just take (offensive opportunities) as they come and focus on defense,” Rogers shortstop Jaime Christensen said following the Pirates’ 6-1 win over Shadle.

The rest of the tournament, starting with tonight’s games, is for seeding to the Region IVAAA tourney at Moses Lake. CV (12-5) plays Greater Spokane League runner-up Mead (12-4) at 3:45 p.m.; Rogers (10-7) meets GSL champ University (16-0) at 6. The championship and consolation are Tuesday.

Ferris and Shadle both finished 7-10.

Central Valley 9, Ferris 1

CV’s two-run third inning and its seven-run sixth were both set up by Shadle infield errors. Two errors opened the door in the third, then CV’s bats came alive after two more errors in the sixth.

“I had no idea that things would break open like that, but our team has been real streaky all year,” said CV coach Kenny Haynes.

Ferris’ Kylee Curry had limited CV to three hits when Amanda Del Mese and Mills opened the seventh with singles. Before the inning ended, Kellie Heuett had a two-run triple and Del Mese and Mills had another single apiece.

Mills struck out five, walked two and coaxed 12 ground-ball outs. Her shutout ended with Lindsey Tomlin’s one-out sacrifice fly in the seventh.

“(Mills) has had days when she’s more overpowering, but she did her job today and we played solid defense behind her,” said Haynes, whose Bears played errorless ball.

Mills, 3 for 4, moved her batting average toward the .500 mark. Del Mese, who entered the game hitting .426, was 2 for 3.

Ferris 000 000 1 - 1 2 4

Central Valley 002 007 x - 9 10 0

Curry and Ruddell; Mills and Stangland. W-Mills (12-3). L-Curry (7-9).

HITS: Ferris-Domonouski, Blevins. Central Valley-Sackmann, Del Mese 2, Mills 3, Stangland, Shields, Ke.Heuett, Pierce. 3B-Ke.Heuett.

Rogers 6, Shadle Park 1

The hits were even at five apiece, but eight Highlanders errors influenced every Rogers run. Rogers played error-free until a grounder to second base with two outs in the seventh.

“If you’ve ever watched much of what we do, I force (defenses) to make plays,” said Rogers coach Paul Cooley. “We had some hits, but we manufactured three runs… . (The errors) were a result of forcing the action.”

Rogers freshman Jamie Merrill struck out eight and walked one - just her fifth walk in 21 games.

“She’s basically kept us in all the ballgames,” Cooley said of Merrill.

Merrill’s batterymate was Courtney Davis, up from junior varsity. Regular catcher Angie Vulcano missed the game because of a team infraction, but will return today.

Christensen made two fine plays, ranging far to her left and right, to stall Shadle in the second and fifth. Crystal Perry went 2 for 3, and she and Monica Abrahamson scored twice.

Shadle starter Rachelle Stockman struck out four, walked none and allowed no earned runs. Kelly Durgan was 2 for 3 and Dorthea Gooch had an RBI double for the Highlanders.

Shadle Park 000 100 0 - 1 5 8

Rogers 300 111 x - 6 5 1

Stockman and Drake; Merrill and Davis. W-Merrill (10-7). L-Stockman (4-6).

HITS: Shadle Park-Durgan 2, Gooch, Stockman, Mulvey. Rogers-Perry 2, Christensen, Fairbanks, Abrahamson. 2B-Gooch.

, DataTimes