Not rain, nor thunder could keep the Lake City Timberwolves from joining elite company on Saturday afternoon.

Even though weather caused havoc on the state 5A softball championship game at Post Falls High, the skies held off long enough for the Timberwolves to remain perfect on their home field.

Following a 57-minute delay, which included the game being moved from Post Falls to Lake City High, sophomore Casey Stangel saved her best for last, a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts as the Timberwolves defeated the Timberline Wolves of Boise 2-0, finishing the season 26-0 - the program's first undefeated season in school history.

"Wow," said Lake City coach Laura Tolzmann of her first state title as a coach, and the school's first softball crown since 2001. "We did it. My heart was racing a little bit in the sixth inning, but I knew we could get it done. I couldn't be prouder of this group of kids."

Becky Short led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and Vanessa Shippy following with a single for Lake City. Short came around to score on a fielder's choice to put Lake City up 1-0.

Just as quickly, the clouds settled over Post Falls High and the light rain at the start of the game had turned into a downpour, causing a delay and making conditions unplayable in the bottom of the second inning. After a quick discussion between the coaches and umpires, the game was moved to Lake City.

“We got to our field and it was dry,” Tolzmann said. “It didn’t feel real when we got here, but we’ve got an amazing group of dads. It was nice we could get it turned around.”

Once they arrived on their home field, they weren’t going to be denied.

“This is home,” Stangel said. “We’re out here every afternoon. This is our place. It’s safe and we know it. I felt focused when we got here.”

Stangel struck out 11 of the 17 batters she faced in Coeur d’Alene as a two-out hit by Kendra Nagy in the seventh inning broke up a no-hit bid. Timberline second baseman Kylie Prough walked, but Stangel battled back to strike out Elaine Sperry to end the game.

“It’s amazing,” said Stangel of the state title. “This was our goal from the start of the season. I never doubted our team. Short got on base in the first inning with a double. When she goes, we go. She really starts it for us at the plate.”

“She’s done a heck of a job for us,” Tolzmann said of Short. “She’s nails for us as a player. She loves this game and I’m very proud of her.”

Short and Avalon Leddy are the only two seniors on this year’s team.

“It’s fantastic,” Short said. “This is a perfect way to end my career. This is what it’s all meant for, to win a state title for your team. This is indescribable. Everyone on this team contributes. It doesn’t matter who it is, everyone led to our success. We have our quirks as a team, but I can’t think of a better team to have.”

Freshman third baseman Hailey Jackson took away hits on three separate occasions in the game for Lake City.

“My coaches tell me to wear the ball,” Jackson said. “Whatever I’ve got to do — knock the ball down and make a play and get in front of it. This means the world to me and feels really good with the hours we’ve put into it. This season felt like a new beginning and I can’t wait until next year to get started.”

Lake City is believed to be only the second 5A fastpitch team in Idaho history to go undefeated. Judy Crandell, who now coaches Mountain View, said one of her teams at Eagle went 27-0 several years ago.

“This is unbelievable,” junior shortstop Katie Rowe said. “To win a state title and go unbeaten is rare. Winning a state title doesn’t happen for everyone. We couldn’t have done this without each of our teammates. This season has had a lot of ups and downs, but we all stuck together and got through it.”

Timberline’s Erin Keen allowed four hits and struck out six, but it was Stangel that dominated on her home field.

“We’ve faced her before and knew she was good,” Timberline coach David Goodwin said. “They were solid defensively. We anticipated a great game, and they didn’t disappoint.”

Timberline faced Lake City twice last year, losing in a spring tournament before coming back to win in the state tournament last year.

“We knocked them out last year,” Goodwin said. “That game we got hits. Today we didn’t.”

Timberline 000 000 0 — 0 1 2

Lake City 100 001 x — 2 4 1

Erin Keen and Kendra Nagy; Casey Stangel and Mariah Linahan. W — Stangel (25-0). L — Keen.

HITS: TL — Nagy. LC — Short, Shippy 2, Stangel. 2B — Short.