Crabb, Darrah power Bulldogs to championship

SANDPOINT — At the end of the day, one team was able to cash in on a couple of key bases loaded situations, and the other was not, ultimately proving the difference as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 8-6 win over the No. 2 Hawks in the 4A Region 1 championship softball game Thursday at windy Sandpoint Middle School.

Kenzie Crabb and Cheri-lyn Darrah each laced bases-clearing doubles, leading the Bulldogs (13-7) back to state for the first time since 2003, while Bri Baldree struck out seven and pitched out of a couple of bases loaded jams. It marked the fifth straight win over the Hawks (7-16) this season for the Bulldogs, many in tight fashion.

Crabb, who also ended an inning with a running catch deep in right field to save at least two runs, earned high praise from coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams for her clutch double, which helped the Bulldogs erase a 6-3 deficit in a huge five-run fifth inning.

“Kenzie was the hero of the game today,” said Hawkins-Williams, who has done a stellar job at the helm and called the win a rewarding experience. “I watched these girls work so hard to get there, I couldn’t be happier for them. It’s always a proud moment to see a team work together and accomplish a goal.”

The Hawks jumped out to 3-0 and 6-3 leads, and were threatening right down to the bottom of the seventh, when they had runners on second and third with two outs and one of their best hitters up in Katie Kastning, but could not tie the game. Abbey Leon and Kari Prockish each had two hits in defeat.

“It was great competition. Both teams fought to win, but they (Bulldogs) came out ahead. Good for them, it’s been a long time,” said Hawks head coach Colleen Bevacqua, whose team will now travel to Orofino on Saturday for a play-in game against the No. 3 team from District 3. “We just need to come out and play like we have been, and good things will happen.”

If Crabb’s double was the biggest hit of the game, Darrah’s three-run double to tie the game at 6-6 in the fourth was a close second. Bri Barlow and Cody Baldree each picked up three hits to set the table from the top of the order, but the doubles from the bottom of the order might have been the two biggest hits for the Bulldogs in more than a decade, considering the circumstances.

“They were huge. They were the difference in the game, and they were from the bottom of the order,” described Hawkins-Williams, whose batting order is strong from top to bottom. “When you have nine hitters who can hit the ball hard, it makes you tough to beat.”

Crabb’s double came with two outs and her team trailing 8-6 in the fifth, providing a huge energy boost to her team, which recorded the final six outs and is now off to state.

“It was great timing. It was awesome,” said Crabb of the double, which she smoked down the right field line to the fence. “Jeff Johnson has worked with me. When I did make the hit, it was amazing.”

Hawkins-Williams praised the defense of outfielders Crabb, Laurali Barnes and Kaitlan Ward, each of whom made key catches to prevent runs, the type of plays you need to win a title game.

While the bats were clutch when it counted most, so was Baldree, pitched out of several jams to leave Lakeland base runners stranded.

“They were hitting her, but she worked her way out,” said Hawkins-Williams, who will now put her team through some tough practices to get ready for tournament play, and the prospect of three games in three days. “We’ll focus on defense and be really aggressive.”

The Bulldogs will face the No. 2 seed from District IV in the state opener, Friday at 10 a.m. PST in Twin Falls.

Lakeland 002 130 0 — 6 8 2

Sandpoint 000 350 x — 8 13 2

Kari Prockish and MaRynda Pehrson; Bri Baldree and Sam Holland. W — Baldree. L — Prockish.

HITS: LL — Kastning, Leon 2, Prockish 2, Pruitt, Charles, Schwalbach. Spt — Barlow 3, C. Baldree 3, B. Baldree, Holland 2, Calvert, Darah, Crabb 2. 2B — C. Baldree, Darrah, Crabb.