Weiser, Homedale take early exits in state contest

Both of District 3’s 3A representative softball teams in the Idaho State tournament at Blackfoot were out of the hunt by the end of Friday, May 19.

 Homedale defeated Weiser 8-0 in the first game, then took a 12-1 loss to the eventual 3A champion Marsh Valley, followed by a 9-3 loss to Gooding. 

 Weiser’s Lady Wolverine softball team’s hopes for advancing were dashed in their second game when they took an 8-7 loss to Gooding in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Weiser 0, Homedale 8

 Facing the Trojans in their first game, the Wolverines struggled to get a read on Trojan pitcher Dani Sitts. Weiser center fielder Abi Wilkins was the sole Wolverine to record hits on Sitts, the first in the top of the second, sending a hard ground ball to center field, and another on a bunt to Sitts in the top of the seventh. Sitts struck out 19 Weiser batters in seven innings.

 Homedale scored four runs in the second inning on a grand slam by junior Olivia Asumendi, then another four in the fifth on an error, a single and a double.

 Danica Lockett started on the mound for Weiser, pitching two innings, allowing four runs on one hit and striking out three. Paisley Noyer pitched four innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out seven.

Weiser 7, Gooding 8

 Facing Gooding’s Senators in the second go-round, both teams had zero runs after one inning. Weiser was out in the top half after one fly out and two strikeouts. Gooding’s first batter ground out, with a runner going to first on the next at-bat on a single. Weiser’s defense ended the inning with a nifty double-play from a line-out to right fielder Hannah Swank and a throw to second for the tag out.

 Weiser took a short 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a single by Tobie Noyer. Gooding’s first batter in the bottom, M. Durham homered on a line drive to right field to tie the score.

 The Wolverines didn’t gain any ground in the fifth, while the Senators added four runs in the bottom half on walks, an error and a single.

 T. Noyer homered on a single in the top of the sixth to cut the Senators lead to 6-3, then Gooding scored one in the bottom on an error.

 Weiser’s bases were loaded when Lockett doubled on a line drive to center, scoring Ellie Shirts and P. Noyer. T. Noyer then doubled on a hard ground ball, scoring H. Swank and Lockett, and tying the score at seven. A walk and a strikeout ended the half.

 Two outs and three on base in the bottom, a single hard ground ball to center sent one Senator across home plate, giving the 8-7 win to Gooding.

 Congratulations, Lady Wolverines, on a well-played season.