Tigers' state hopes put on hold

FALLON -- Douglas High's softball team showed its best and worst side at the NIAA 4A zone playoffs Friday afternoon.

The Tigers looked superb in their first game, getting homers from Tasha McCann, Kayla Dunn and Ashley Arneson en route to a 13-4 win over Fallon, which eliminated the Greenwave from the tourney.

Against McQueen, with a trip to Las Vegas on the line, the Tigers led 7-2 after five, only to see the Lancers rally for six runs in their final two at-bats to tie the game at 8 before darkness forced the officials to suspend the game at the end of seven innings.

The teams will convene today at 10 a.m. with the winner earning a trip to Las Vegas, and the losing team being eliminated. The winner of the morning game will face Reed immediately afterwards.

"Defensively we broke down," a disappointed Douglas coach Rick Smith said. "It's a good thing we scored eight runs."

Thanks to solid pitching by Kayla Dunn, and the hitting of Kaycee Wilcks (three hits, three runs), Valerie Smith (three RBIs) and Brittany Puzey (four hits, including a two-run homer) the Tigers enjoyed an 8-2 lead over the much-heralded Katie Ward entering the bottom of the sixth.

Valerie Smith was ejected in the bottom of the second for questioning balls and strikes, and her absence did affect the Tigers both offensively and defensively.

The roof caved in on the Tigers in the sixth.

Douglas committed four errors, had two passed balls and had two wild pitches in the last two innings. Simply put, it wasn't a pretty sight.

After one out in the sixth, Ward was safe on an error by Jessie Kizer. She moved to second on Jenny Drew's single and scored on a wild pitch.

Megan Kaiser's pop-up went off Kizer's glove, allowing Drew to score. Kizer and Wilcks almost collided on the play. A passed ball on Kelly McKinnon allowed the third run to score. Dunn fanned Michon Jeanney to end the threat.

The bobbles continued into the seventh, as an error by Cheryl Nicoll got the Tigers started on the wrong foot. Three walks, one by Dunn and two by reliever Katie Pagen, plus a single by Jenny Drew cut Douglas' lead to 8-7 with two outs.

Jessica Stewart hit a twisting, looping ball to the right of second base. Kizer picked up the ball and tried for the force out at second. Nicoll was unable to handle the hurried flip, allowing Ward to score the tying run. Drew also tried to score, but she was gunned down at the plate.

"It was an instinct play," coach Smith said of the play by Kizer. "The ball was taking her to second base."

Against Fallon, the Tigers batted around in each of the first two innings en route to a 10-1 lead.

Wilcks singled, Puzey was safe when Fallon misplayed her sacrifice bunt and then Dunn hammered a three-run homer to left before the fans had time to settle in their seats. After Valerie Smith grounded out, Ashley Arneson blasted a solo homer. Singles by Stevie Smith and McCann plus a walk to Nicoll loaded the bases for Wilcks, who struck out to end the big inning.

Fallon nicked Dunn for a run in its first at-bat, but Douglas bounced back with six more in the second, three coming on McCann's three-run homer to right. Valerie Smith also contributed a run-scoring double.

McCann, who went 4-for-4, didn't know her hit had cleared the fence.

"That's why I had stopped at second," McCann said. "When I turned around the ball had already been thrown back over the fence. When I found out it was a homer I was so excited. I don't remember if I ever had four hits in a game. If I did, it was a long time ago."

"Everybody came out swinging that first game," coach Smith said. "Tasha swung the bat well."

No doubt coach Smith would like to see his team come out swinging today.