Lady Wolverines drop heartbreaker to Filer at state softball tourney

The Lady Wolverines took the long way around in the Snake River Valley (SRV) Conference District Tournament, but with a stunning and impressive victory over the Payette Pirates in the duel for second and third place, the Wolverines punched their ticket to the 3A Idaho State Softball Tournament at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho.
 By the time the Lady Wolverines headed to Boise on May 21, 2021, Weiser schools had already been released for the summer. Therefore, the usual student body and pep band send off for the softball team was not possible.  
 However, in usual Weiser community support, there was still a decorated bus, and a community send off, complete with a law enforcement escort to the Washington County line.
 The Lady Wolverines started out their tournament facing the first place team from District 4, the Filer Wildcats.
 The Weiser ladies wasted no time getting on the board with a walk for lead off hitter, Hannah Swank that was batted in by a triple to right field by Whitney Cordes.  
 Tobie Noyer was also granted a free base in the top of the first inning, and a sacrifice shot to the pitcher by Macy Maloney brought Cordes in to score.  
 Noyer’s courtesy runner, Rilee Roberts, was left stranded at second, unable to score, but the Wolverines ended their at-bat leading 2-0.  
 Noyer went to work in the circle in the bottom of the first inning for the Lady Wolverines and struck out the first Wildcat batter. The next two were also quickly sent back to the dugout with a flyout to Ivy Morris at third base and a ground out from Maloney at second to Cordes at first.
 The Wolverines suffered two quick outs in the top of the second, but Abby Wilkins hit a fly ball to right field to land on first. Swank received a free base, but the Wolverines were unable to score with a fielder’s choice play off a Cordes hit to second base, tagging Swank out.  
 Despite the scoreless at-bat, the Wolverines kept working and although one Wildcat made it to base on balls, Noyer recorded a trio of strikeouts to keep the Wolverines leading 2-0 after two innings.
 A quick out for the Wolverines to start the third inning was quickly rectified with a long ball over the center field fence by Noyer, putting the Wolverines up 3-0.
 Unfortunately, a pair of walks and a double to left field allowed the Wildcats to bring three runners across the plate and tie the game 3-3.
 A triple to deep right field by Danica Lockett was turned into a run with a bobbled ball, allowing Wilkins to get on base. Wilkins stole two bases to get into scoring position and a sacrifice bunt by Swank scored Wilkins.  
 A change in pitching personnel in the bottom of the fourth inning brought Lockett in, in relief.  One Wildcat made it to base, but the Wolverines halted any scoring attempts with a ground out, a fly out and a strikeout, giving them a 5-3 lead after four innings.
 Noyer was granted a base on balls to start the fifth inning and Maloney hit a shot to left field and made it to base on a fielding error.  
 Lockett ripped a shot to center field for a single and an RBI of Noyer.  
 Maloney was able to score on a wild pitch and Wilkins was granted a walk.  
 Swank was also given a free base being hit by a pitch to load the bases, but a third out by the Wildcats left the Wolverines stranded.  
 Two singles and a trio of walks allowed the Wildcats to score three runs and pull within one at 6-7.
 Morris started the sixth inning with a line-drive single to right field and scored off a sacrifice bunt by Maloney, giving the Wolverines an 8-6 lead.  
 Noyer came in again to pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Wolverines quickly got two outs on the Wildcats with a fly out to Swank in right field and a pop out in foul territory by catcher, Grace Swank.  
 A walk and an error put two Wildcats in scoring position, but a play from Morris at third base to Grace Swank at catcher got the third out and held the Wildcats scoreless in the sixth.
 Leading 8-6, the Wolverines had a rough final inning at-bat with three ups and three outs and needed only to hold out defensively for one more at-bat.  
 Unfortunately, a hit-by-pitch, two errors and a hit resulted in three runs for the Wildcats and an 8-9 loss for the Wolverines.
 Lockett led the Wolverines with two hits and one run, followed by Cordes, Morris, Maloney and Wilkins all recording one hit and one run apiece.
 Noyer had one hit and courtesy runner, Rilee Roberts, had two runs.  Hannah Swank also had one run.  
 Noyer pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, four walks, and six runs and recording four strikeouts.  
 Lockett pitched in relief for two innings and had one strikeout. Lockett allowed four walks, two hits and three runs.
Timberlake
 The 3A Idaho State Softball Tournament is a double elimination set-up, and with the disappointing seventh inning 8-9 loss to the Filer Wildcats in their first game their route to the championship game on Saturday was more daunting.  
 The Lady Wolverines were paired against the 23-5 (season record) Timberlake Tigers, which were also a one loss team. 
 Whitney Cordes started on the rubber for the Wolverines and the first Tiger batter hit a single, but the Wolverines rectified the potential scoring situation with the second batter hitting a line drive into a double play for outs at second and first. Unfortunately, a walk, followed by a pair of hits, allowed the Tigers to take a 2-0 lead before the Wolverines could get the third out.  
 Cordes hit a single down the right field line but was unable to score with the Wolverine at-bat cut short with three outs against them.
 The top of the second inning was rough for the struggling Wolverines.  Timberlake batted through the 13 hitters before the Wolverines could stop the surge. The Tigers scored nine runs off four hits, three walks and two errors.  Sadly, the Lady Wolverines were unable to get any offensive momentum started despite a single to deep left field.
 Leading 11-0, the Tigers went on another scoring run in the top of the third inning, adding an additional six runs.
 The Lady Wolverines were unable to mount a successful comeback in what turned out to be their final at-bat in the third inning, due to mercy rules and with only Mecarte Olsen making it on base with a double to left field, the Lady Wolverines lost the game in three innings 0-17.
 Whitney Cordes, Grace Swank, and Mecarte Olsen each had one hit on the day.