Lady Tigers drop marathon match to Damonte Ranch

For the second Thursday in a row, Douglas High's Mitzi Olsen turned in an absolute gem in the circle.

Unfortunately, she was on the losing end of it this time, as Damonte Ranch's Amanda Webster turned in an utterly dominating performance in an 11-inning marathon 2-1 win for the Mustangs.

Webster struck out 17 batters and walked four, scattering four hits over 11 innings and allowing just one run, which was unearned.

Olsen, on the other hand, struck out 12 and walked just one, allowing eight hits.

Damonte Ranch scooted the first run of the game across in the top of the sixth inning when designated player Jessica Skaggs singled down the first-base line. Catcher Monica Hibdon sacrificed Skaggs to second and Tamara Stevens reached on an infield single which moved Skaggs to third.

Douglas shortstop Tisha Luken made an impressive diving stop on the single, which saved a run for the time being, but Sam Anderson singled to right on the next pitch, which put the Mustangs up.

The Lady Tigers came back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out walk to Stephanie Harper and a Luken single to put Douglas' first runner in scoring position. A ground out to short ended the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Felicia Imelli drew a one-out walk and then advanced to third on a botched pick-off attempt. Catcher Kayla Moore drew another walk and Angela Stephenson singled on a 2-2 pitch to bring Imelli home.

Moore, who'd stolen second base on the previous pitch, attempted to beat the throw home for the winning run, but was tagged out at the plate.

Luken reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and advanced to second on a throwing error but the threat again ended on a ground out, this time to second.

Douglas again had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth, this time after Imelli again reached on an error.

Moore singled to shallow left and both she and Imelli advanced on a wild pitch to the next batter. A strikeout looking, however, again ended the threat.

Damonte clinched the game in the top of the 11th after Webster doubled to center on a ball that was misplayed in the shallow outfield.

Hibdon sacrificed Webster to third and Stevens sacrificed her home for what would prove to be the winning run.

JV

The Douglas junior varsity team improved its record to 2-0 Thursday afternoon with an impressive 17-0 win over Damonte Ranch at Lampe Park.

Douglas' pitching dominated, holding Damonte Ranch to only one hit. Emmie Frank had six strikeouts in two innings and Danielle Freitas and Dorothy Sliva had two and one strikeouts respectively.

Mackenzie Cauley, Marina Diaz, Tara Paiement, Sliva, Erika Wilson, Megan Michitarian, Freitas and Frank each had one hit in a balanced offensive performance. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.