Douglas softball stays alive

After stumbling out of the gate a bit to open the Northern 4A tournament Thursday afternoon, the Douglas High softball team managed to piece together enough runs in an elimination game to see another day.

A sixth-inning error with two runners on proved to be all the difference in the world as Reed forced the Lady Tigers into the loser's bracket in a 2-0 contest to open the tournament, but Douglas rebounded to defeat Wooster 3-0 in the evening game to advance.

The Tigers must now face the loser of the Galena/Spanish Springs game at 2 p.m. today at Carson High.

Douglas' Kellei Kizer threw 13 scoreless innings Thursday, but the Tigers were unable to come up with enough offense in game one to wipe out the sixth-inning blemish.

Reed's Heather Higgins reached to open the sixth inning after her fly ball to right field got lost in the sun and dropped safely in three feet in front of the fielder.

A walk and a sacrifice later, Heather Darby's hard-hit grounder caused an error at short, allowing two runs to score.

The inning spoiled what was otherwise a spotless afternoon for Kizer, as she struck out eight against Reed and shut out Wooster in the elimination game.

Douglas outhit the Raiders 7-2 in the loss, and had an outstanding chance to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs, but a grounder back to the pitcher ended that threat.

The Tigers were able to start manufacturing some runs in the second game, as Jessie Kizer tripled in the third inning and later scored on a Valerie Smith drive into the outfield.

In the fourth inning, Felicia Imelli doubled to center and Tisha Luken sacrificed her to third base.

Bridget Maestretti then reached on an error at second base, allowing Imelli to score and give the Tigers some much needed breathing room.

Douglas added an insurance run later in the game and held on for the win.