Freshman-packed softball team wins districts

The Bonners Ferry High School softball team made history Tuesday, taking the Intermountain League 3A District trophy from the Timberlake Tigers at Timberlake High School for the first time.

They won the championship game, 15-4. This marks the team’s first time to compete in State Softball.

Thursday was the last IML game of the regular season and started the Badgers winning streak at home against the Tigers.

It was a week of two grand slams, two home runs and superb hitting, base running, pitching and fielding by the Badgers.

The Badgers went into districts as visiting team in both games. The first game was against Priest River. In league play the Spartans beat the Badgers twice.

That was not to happen. The Badgers, in third place for league play, beat Priest River in the first district game. This set the Badgers up to play game two against the first-place team, the Timberlake Tigers ,who also beat the Badgers twice in league play.

IML LAST GAME Badgers 12 Tigers 7

Thursday’s game with the Tigers was played at the home of the Badgers and led the three streak win for the Badgers while ending the Tiger’s undefeated IML season.

This win lifted the Badgers’ confidence for the upcoming district games which were held Monday and Tuesday in Timberlake.

The game in the first inning brought the Tigers the first run of the game.

Led by top of the line up freshman Kassy Skeen, freshman Kadi Bateman and sophomore Gabby Blackmore all got on base, while fourth batter Trinity Golder brought them home with grand slam over left center fence in the second inning.

Two more runs were brought in by junior Chantelle Coon’s RBI and freshman Rylee Riekena going home, scored a six-run inning, rattling Timberlake early in the game.

The Badgers held the Tigers only allowing two runs in the third, 0 in the fourth, 1 in the fifth and three in the sixth. Badgers answering back with one run in the third and fourth innings, and four runs in the fifth, including a home run by sophomore Nicole Donn.

April 30 vs Timberlake

HITS: BF Kassy Skeen, Jorryn Bennett, Rylee Riekena, Kadi Bateman 2, Trinity Golder 2, Nicole Donn 2, Chantelle Coon 2, Gabby Blackmore 3, Skeen 1B, Bateman 1B, Riekena 1B, Golder 1B, Coon 1B, Blackmore 1B, Bateman 2B, Donn 2B, Coon 3B, Coon RBI, Golder 5 RBI, Donn HR, Golder GS HR.

GAME ONE

Badgers 13,

Spartans 4

Priest River took the lead by the second inning 3-2.

In the third inning Bonners Ferry came back with three runs and held the lead for the rest of the seven inning game.

The Badgers didn’t let another Spartan run home until the fourth inning when Priest River would score their last run of the game.

The Spartans could not get past the a Badgers pitching and fielding abilities to get runs in.

Donn pitched two strike outs in an inning and Bateman came in top of second and pitched seven strikeouts through remainder of game. Pop flies caught by center fielder sophomore Gabby Blackmore and solid infield play by freshman third base Jadyn Bennett kept the Spartans hard hitters off base. Short stop Skeen scooped a line drive at second base, firing it to Coon at first for a beautiful double play.

The Badgers win set them up to play league champions the Timberlake Tigers for the district championship.

May 4 District Game 1

vs. Priest River

HITS: BF Skeen, Bateman, Golder, Coon, Jorryn Bennett 2, Avery Lane 2, Jadyn Bennett 3. Bateman 1B, Lane 1B, Coon 1B, Jadyn Bennett 1B, Skeen 2B, Jadyn Bennett 2B, Golder 3B, Jadyn Bennett 3B, Skeen 2 RBI.

GAME 2

Badgers 15, Tigers 4

The Timberlake Tigers met Badgers one run to one run in the first inning.

In the second and third the Badgers were unable to score.

Tigers scored 1 run in the second inning and 2 runs in the third inning taking the lead over the Badgers 4-1.

All of this changed in the fourth inning with Donn, Riekena and Skeen on base, Bateman at the plate hits a left center over the fence grand slam scoring four runs igniting a two-out rally. Then with Golder and Blackmore on base, freshman Jorryn Bennett rocketed one over left field fence, bringing in three more runs and ending the inning with seven runs.

The Tigers never recovered from the fourth inning and did not score again in the 7 inning championship game.

“I had a good feeling going into this game,” said coach Tomi Bateman. “Our girls have been playing well and the morale is great.”

The history making game is a big deal for this team. the team is made up of seven freshman, two sophomores and two juniors.

Assistant coaches Jed Bateman, Wendy Bertling, Chad Coon, Staci Davy and Chelsea Taggart were also proud are excited of what’s to come with this Badger team

“This was a huge game with a lot of pressure for a very young team,” said Jed Bateman. “I couldn’t be more proud of these girls, they responded to the pressure and played great. They are a fun group to coach,” he said.

Bertling has been a part of the softball program for many years. She too was overwhelmed with excitement and pride in the Badgers.

“The girls played a solid game and I’m very proud of them and very happy to be part of this program,” Bertling said.

Staci Davy the pitching coach said this wasn’t just history being made, but learning to play with heart and how to work together and lift each other up. She said this will carry these girls the rest of their lives.

“Seeing them grow mentally has been a privilege, look out state here we come,”said Davy. “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us,” she added.

Chelsea Taggart, a former Badger softball player, said there were no words to describe the feeling of going to state. She said couldn’t be more proud of the team who have accomplished something every high school athlete strives for.

“It’s been a long time coming, but these girls worked hard and deserve this,” said Taggart.

Coon, who is also excited and proud of the team, pretty much summed it up.

“I’m just a guy behind the scenes, I don’t know what to say, the girls pretty much said it all,” said Coon.

The Badgers head to state May 15 and 16 at Ramsey Park in Coeur d’ Alene. The game times and bracket will be announced later.

May 5 Districts

Game 2 vs Timberlake

HITS: Skeen, Blackmore, Riekena, Jorryn Bennett 2, Lane 2, Coon 2, Bateman 3, Golder 3, Skeen 1B, Golder 1B, Jorryn Bennett 1B, Coon 1B, Riekena 1B. Golder 1 RBI, Jorryn Bennett 3 RBI, Bateman 4 RBI, Jorryn Bennett HR, Bateman GS HR