Medical Lake’s Senior Night for softball will not just carry the emotional good byes, but likely a memory every player can cherish for years to come.
In a week where the Cardinals’ season ended with a 9-4 loss May 11 to Colville in the first round of the Northeast A League playoffs, their week began with a most memorable victory.
Medical Lake saddled the league’s regular season champions, Chewelah, with a 2-1 loss at Reinking Field on May 8, the Cougars’ lone setback in league play.
“It was a great game, an awesome game,” head coach Tim Blakely said. “The girls came out and played that night and battled through the whole game.”
Medical Lake (6-8 NEA, 8-11 overall) broke a scoreless tie scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning as Taylor Carpenter drove home both runs with a double.
Chewelah (13-1, 20-2) cut it to 2-1 in the top of the seventh and threatened to tie with two outs when a runner reached third. “We were able to take the ninth batter and pop her up to the shortstop for the win,” Blakely said.
Carpenter not only had a big bat, but a solid arm as well as she scattered six hits and went the distance for the win.
This was especially sweet for Carpenter who, as a junior, was expected to be the No. 1 pitcher last season. But she suffered a season-ending injury while playing basketball and never was able to suit up for softball.
A defensive gem in a usually offensive-minded game — Chewelah won 7-1 earlier when Medical Lake committed five errors — this one had zero miscues. “It was amazing and awesome to watch, “Blakely said.
After a complicated tiebreaking formula, that win earned Medical Lake the No. 5 seed and a date with No. 4 Colville in a loser-out game on the road.
“We battled, (but) we had some errors in that game too,” Blakely said. “That just keeps the momentum going.”
The Cardinals led 1-0 on back-to-back singles by Suzanne Shores and Carpenter. Shores scored on a single from Hannah Petek.
Carpenter’s single in the top of the sixth scored Duncan and Shores. Petek later doubled home Carpenter to close it to 7-4 but the rally died with a ground out and a strikeout. Carpenter and Petek, both seniors, were 2 for 3 and two RBIs apiece.
Colville (7-6, 11-9) scored five times in the second and after Medical Lake closed the gap, added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
“We battled, but Colville’s just a little bit better than we are,” Blakely said.
Medical Lake loses Carpenter, Petek and Shanel Harris but returns the bulk of a young roster for 2019 that will be well seasoned.
While young and inexperienced back in March, the group matured.
“Our kids developed,” Blakely said. “We didn’t start out with a lot of skilled players this year, but we worked hard.” That meant both practice and game time situations. “We showed a lot of progress from start to finish.”
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.
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