The Douglas baseball team clinched at least a share of the Sierra League title Wednesday afternoon, beating North Valleys 12-4 in the Tigers' regular-season home finale.
The win, coupled with Carson's 11-1 defeat of Damonte Ranch Wednesday, put the Tigers two-games up on Damonte Ranch. Heading into Thursday afternoon's doubleheader against North Valleys, Douglas either needed two wins, or a win and a Damonte loss to clinch the title outright.
If the Tigers are able to clinch the title, Douglas' seniors will get to come back home next week for the playoffs.
"It's a huge 'if' right now," Douglas coach John Glover said. "If we win the league, we get home-field advantage for the playoffs.
"For us, the playoffs start tomorrow (Thursday)," Glover said. "We need wins because we have to do what Damonte does."
On Wednesday, Douglas pounded out 14 hits, including a monster home run over the center field scoreboard from Jordan Hadlock on its way to the win.
Wyatt Graham threw an efficient game on the mound, picking up the win while throwing all seven innings.
"We had a decent game and we got a couple of double plays from our defense in some situations that really helped us," Glover said. "North Valleys is a good team, they are blue collar kids and they really scrap out there."
The results of Thursday afternoon's games will be on www.recordcourier.com and in Sunday's edition.
SOFTBALL
Stephanie Harper threw three perfect innings while Douglas pounded out 12 runs in a 12-2 win over North Valleys in Minden Wednesday afternoon.
Dorothy Sliva came on to close out the game in the circle and Lauren Hoppe blasted a home run to right field to spark the Tigers.
Harper struck out three and walked none in three innings of work, improving to 19-7 on the year.
Sliva struck out one in two innings of relief, allowing just one hit.
Hoppe finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs on the afternoon and Tisha Luken and Katrina Morgan each went 2-for-2. Morgan Barone drove in two runs and Luken and Angella Stephenson each drove in a run.
Hoppe now has six home runs and 38 RBIs on the year.
Douglas improved to 20-10 overall and 13-6 in league play with the win. The Lady Tigers took on North Valleys in a doubleheader Thursday afternoon. The results of those games will be online and in Sunday's edition.
