Priest River couldn't keep up with Newport
Brodie Hansen takes off from second base and looks to steal third during a doubleheader against Timberlake in 2021.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
The Priest River softball team continues to improve as the season progresses.
The Spartans fell to Newport 16-6 at Priest River High School on Thursday, but its six runs are the most runs it scored all season.
The Grizzlies opened up the game with a 3-1 advantage and continued to pour it on in the third inning, extending its lead to 8-1.
Priest River answered in the bottom of the third with two scores. Lily Freitas hit a single down the second baseline to get things started.
Brodie Hansen made contact and got on base after a Newport error. Once Ona Rose stepped up to bat, Hansen stole second base.
Rose grounded out, but Freitas scored to cut its deficit to 8-2.
Freitas went 2-for-3 at the plate, which accounted for half of Priest River’s hits.
She also started the game on the mound, where she threw 163 pitches resulting in four strikeouts.
“She’s an all-around good player,” Priest River softball coach Ron Kruse said. “She hits well, runs well, and she’s quick.”
She gave up 13 runs on six hits.
Newport’s bats were hot, notching seven hits and managing to get at least one runner home in six out of the seven innings.
Priest River’s best inning came in the bottom of the sixth, where it brought home three runners.
Cazzity Watt advanced from second to third, which led to her scoring on a passed ball to improve Priest River’s deficit to 16-4.
Freitas continued her run for the Spartans with an RBI double into center field to bring home Cheyenne Thompson.
Hansen responded to Freitas' double with an RBI double of her own into left field to cut Newports lead to seven.
“ (Brodie) Hansen is all or nothing,” Kruse said. “She hit it right over third base all the way to the fence. She has a really hard swing.”
Priest River fell to 0-6 overall, and will take a bit of a hiatus for spring break but will be back on the field on Tuesday, April 12 in a doubleheader against Bonners Ferry.
NEWPORT 305 221 3 — 16 7 2
PRIEST RIVER 102 003 0 — 6 4 2
B. Boyd, L. Bojorquez (7), and E. Weiss. Jaylein Zylstra, Lilly Freitas (1), and Ona Rose.
HITS: NP — Borjorquez 2, Boyd 2, Reedy 2, Stutzman. PR — Freitas 2, Hansen, Zylstra. 2B — Bojorquez 2, Boyd, Stutzman, Hansen, Freitas.