Sam’s rockets smoke Titans

The showdown between the top two fastpitch teams in the Greater Spokane League was tight – for an inning.

Then the bottom half of the Shadle Park lineup came to the plate.

The three runs the Highlanders scored in the second inning – ignited by the seven, eight and nine hitters – would have been plenty for Sam Skillingstad.

As it was, Shadle scored eight more times and routed host University, 11-0, before a packed house in the Valley.

“We have one of the most balanced attacks I’ve seen,” Shadle coach George Lynn said. “All through the lineup, we’re firing on all cylinders right now.”

Though the prime cylinder is catcher Tressa Predisik, the No. 7 hitter. The sophomore broke out a new bat, singled in the second-inning rally, then doubled twice and singled once more. The 4-for-4 day raised her average to .500.

“I needed to do something, I haven’t been hitting the last three games,” she said of her new Easton – and the between-inning cuts she took in her catcher’s gear. “Today I just concentrated on getting my hands through the ball.”

While she was getting her hands through, the Titans (11-2 in the GSL, 11-3 overall) were just swinging through Skillingstad’s offerings.

The sophomore right-hander, who raised her – and Shadle’s record – to 13-0 in league and 14-0 overall, yielded one hit, a Mandy Mikelson two-out grounder up the middle in the fourth that just eluded a diving Heather Jackson.

Otherwise, Skillingstad walked Ashley Fargher in the first. Mikelson grounded out to short in the second, as did Alex Marquard in the sixth. Tonya Schnibbe popped out in the third and Theresa Tveit did the same in the fourth. Riki Schiermeister bunted and reached on an error in the third.

The other 17 hitters who walked to the plate turned around and headed back, strikeout victims.

Skillingstad has yet to yield an earned run this season and has pitched two perfect games and three no-hitters.

“She did a good job today of hitting her spots, especially when they made adjustments at the plate,” Lynn said, giving a nod to Predisik’s ability to notice the adjustments. “They tried to move around in the box and Sam took advantage of it.”

“I feel like I’m improving,” said Skillingstad, who was first-team All-GSL last season. “Today I felt I was able to make the right pitch at the right time.”

And the three second-inning runs didn’t hurt.

“Even one run takes a load off my back,” she said. “I know everyone in our lineup can contribute, and that’s a great feeling.”

Skillingstad, who hits fifth, led off the second with a single to left. Kinzee Powell sacrificed courtesy runner Jessica Berlinger to second, before Predisik singled her to third. But Predisik went back to first before jumping off again and was called out. Krista Zappone made the mistake moot by tripling to right. A walk to No. 9 hitter Jenn Schwartz was followed by a looping double to left by leadoff hitter China Frost.

That was more than enough for Skillingstad, but Shadle added a solo run in the fifth, two more in the sixth and five – thanks to four hits, a walk and an error – in the seventh.

“In other GSL action, Central Valley (10-3) won for the 10th time in the last 11 games, this one 14-4 over host Mead (7-7), to move into third by itself. Catcher Mickenzie Alden raised her average to .512 by going 4 for 4 with six RBIs. Freshman Alyssa Erickson, scattered seven hits in raising her record to 5-2 with a complete game. … Clarkston (9-4, 10-4 overall) strung together five singles for four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 13-12 decision over Rogers. The Bantams moved into a tie for fourth with the Pirates and North Central. Courtney McKeehan had the last of the five singles, driving Zoey Speer in from third. … Kelcie Vallies tossed a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and added a solo home run in the fourth as North Central stopped visiting West Valley (2-11, 2-12) 9-0. Catcher Kim Hare also added a solo shot for the Indians. … Kristina DeMello struck out 14, yielded two hits and a walk in Mt. Spokane’s 4-0 win at East Valley (3-11, 4-11). The Wildcats (9-5) jumped ahead on Angel Urann’s fourth-inning two-run home run. … Lewis and Clark (2-12) rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to a 5-4 win over visiting Cheney (3-11, 3-12). Stefoni Olmstead paced the Tiger attack with three hits. … Molly Anderson hit her fourth home run, a two-run shot, to help Gonzaga Prep (6-9) to a 11-0 six-inning win over visiting Ferris (2-12).