Scheiwiller leads LC to tie for first place

Lewis and Clark is the early surprise in Greater Spokane League softball this season, but don’t tell that to Tigers senior pitcher Sage Scheiwiller.

“We want to show that LC’s better than people think we are,” Scheiwiller said Thursday after she drove in a career-high seven runs and struck out eight during a 12-6 win at Ferris. “We have a good team. We have good girls and we want to win. I think when we put our heart to it, we end up winning.”

Scheiwiller’s big day helped the Tigers (5-1) tie University and Central Valley for first place as the league heads into its spring break.

Scheiwiller scattered five singles over six innings while pitching for the fourth consecutive day. Her biggest contribution, however, came at the plate.

Scheiwiller finished 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk and two runs. Her three-run homer that cleared the fence in left-center capped a four-run fourth and gave LC a 7-1 lead. It was her second homer of the season and sixth of her GSL career.

She also had an RBI double and scored during the Tigers’ three-run third, drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth and pounded a two-run double to right in the seventh.

The New York University recruit played second base for LC during her freshman and sophomore seasons, and part of 2013.

Fellow senior Jess Albinson went 3 for 5 with three runs from the No. 2 spot. Leadoff hitter Sophie Harper, a sophomore, walked three times, reached on a bunt single and scored three runs. Junior Anna Budke, batting ninth, led off the third with a homer to left field and finished 3 for 4 with four runs and three stolen bases.

“We do what we know, which is play well,” Scheiwiller said.

LC dropped a 5-0 decision to U-Hi on Wednesday. The Tigers’ big test will be after the break, when they meet Mead, CV and Mt. Spokane during a four-day spree.

Michele Strauss struck out seven for Ferris (2-4). Jordyn Willis and sisters Katie and Amanda Schnick had one RBI apiece.