Stilly softball minors' season done

KIRKLAND — The Stilly Valley minors bounced back from a tough second-round loss to cream Lake Spokane 13-0.

Pitcher Madeline MacLean threw 16 strikeouts in a no-hitter effort in Stilly Valley's third game in the state all-star tournament July 22 at Everest Park in Kirkland. The offense backed her up, stringing together walks and hits to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.

Leadoff batter Samantha Kyle led the Stilly Valley effort on offense, batting 4-for-5 and getting on base in her fifth at bat thanks to a walk. While none of Kyle's teammates hit with the same efficiency, Stilly Valley's on-base percentage was still high as the players took advantage of Lake Spokane's uneven pitching. The girls' patience at the plate paid off particularly in the third inning where the girls nearly put the game away early. Stilly loaded the bases right away with three walks and right fielder Chenoa Crites batted in two of them — first baseman Samantha MacIntosh and outfielder Shyne McKay — in for runs on a base hit.

Three more Stilly batters would come in as the Arlington-area squad went through their entire lineup in the inning. The girls would add a ninth run in the fifth but fall one run short of 10-running Lake Spokane and bringing the game to an early end. Instead, they got another go on offense, adding four more runs, two off a deep hit by shortstop Hailey Malakowski that threatened to replicate her first-game success against Sedro-Woolley where her seventh-inning home run brought Stilly Valley from behind to win.

Her would-be home run was cut short when Lake Spokane fielded the third out.

The girls fell out of contention for the state championship with their second loss, an 11-4 defeat to Battle Ground two days later.

"Battle Ground did a great job and we just couldn't get it done. Samantha MacIntosh pitched a great game in the loss either way. I'm really proud of the girls for the effort they put forth and I'm sorry we came up short. But we had a great season and a good run in the postseason," said team manager Stuart MacLean. "We learned that getting this far in the playoffs is hard work and if we return next year with this group of 11-year-olds, we'll be in the thick of things then too."

At Everest Park

Stilly Valley 3 0 5 0 1 4 13

Lake Spokane 0 0 0 0 0 0 0