Badger softball makes history with district spot

 Bonners Ferry High School has never before earned a spot in the top four district teams to play for the conference title.

The Badgers softball team along with the baseball and track programs converged at Timberlake High School on Friday, May 13 for the beginning of district playoffs.

 The ladies first game was a buy-in game against Kellogg to determine who would compete in district play. 

Bonners plugged away scoring one run in each of the second, third and forth innings, giving them a three to nothing lead at the start of the fifth. 

That was when Chelsea Taggart started the attack with a lead-off single.  The Badgers proceeded to bat around the order with three walks and five more hits, tallying seven runs when all was said and done.

Senior Becca Farrens went three for three, Lindsay Taggart went three for four, Tessa Payne and Aaramie Hoisington both went two for three and Makenzie Carle went two for four, all adding up to the 10-0 win in just five innings. 

Chelsea Taggart didn't give Kellogg much of a chance, banking 11 strike-outs in her history making one hitter.

With this win, the Badgers advanced on to the double elimination tournament facing the Timberlake Tigers who were undefeated within regular season conference play.

Timberlake's Nicole Cameron looked fierce on the mound, holding the Badgers scoreless through the sixth inning. Equally matched, Timberlake eked out a single run until the sixth, when a string of four hits scored two more runs, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. 

The Badgers didn't quit though, starting the seventh inning with Amanda Riley's walk, followed by a base hit from Mattea Bertling. Tessa Payne hit a sacrifice fly, scoring the first RBI of the game in Riley. Aaramie Hoisington got a base hit, scoring Carle to bring the game to a nail bitingly close 2-3 score.

Bonner's couldn't quite clinch the victory though, ending their seventh inning rally with two more outs. 

“Today was the best this team has ever played.” said coach Lauren Bartoe. “I am so proud of these girls for coming together and leaving their hearts on the field. I hope the seniors never forget this season and I can't wait for next year and a chance for these girls to show their talents and love of the game.”

After the loss to Timberlake, Bonners entered into the losers bracket, coming back on Saturday, May 15 to play Priest River.

The Badgers jumped out to a 2-1 lead at the end of the second, combining on a walk from Lindsay Taggart, a double from Aubree Wasmer and a single from Mattea Bertling. 

Priest River added two more runs in the third to flip-flop the lead 3-2 in their favor. 

The Badgers tied it up in the fifth, scoring Jordan Porter after a hit from Chelsea Taggart and a passed ball. Yet the Spartans roared back in the bottom of the fifth, racking up five runs on three errors, three hits and a walk.  They added one more in the sixth, sitting on a comfortable 9-3 lead headed into the seventh inning.

Bonners Ferry was not ready to give up, and showed it with an outstanding seventh inning rally.  Lindsay Taggart started off with a hit, followed by four consecutive hits from her teammates, scoring four runs with no outs.  The next three batters all hit the ball, but the Spartan defense proved too tight for a complete comeback. 

The Badgers fell, 7-9 in a valiant effort, proving a tough end to a very memorable season.