NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals cruise past Columbia Basin in NWAC play

PASCO, Wash. - Sophomore outfielder Tea Parker tripled and drove in a run in the first game and Chloe McIntosh went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second games, leading the North Idaho Cardinals to a 3-1 and 10-0 win in a Northwest Athletic Conference East Region doubleheader against the Columbia Basin Hawks on Saturday.

Maddie Anthony hit a 3-run homer and Lexi Courtney hit a solo shot in the second game for NIC (14-1, 4-0 East Division), which hosts Columbia Basin on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Memorial Field.

Box scores were not available.

This year's season ends on a Sunday, if all the races are settled. Last year, there was the possibility of three tiebreakers going into the last day - none were needed.

"We went to the clubs and said, hey, let's try this this year and then hopefully we'll get lucky with many tight finishes," Petitti said. "When you look it with the addition of wild cards, we can hope that something in that last day will mean something and we want to make sure that we're not taking away from the excitement. The schedule gives us a chance to maximize it."

Turner has the rights to the time slot. Petitti said there has been talk about whether teams out of the race can shift game times, but there's been no decision.

Manfred credited Petitti with the last-day idea.

"He has a production background, did Final Fours, Masters 10 years in a row. He said we don't do anything to encourage that kind of day," Manfred said. "Previously, the late games became meaningless."

Washington ran away with the NL East last season, and is a heavy favorite this year. Still, no telling if that last game against the New York Mets at Citi Field might mean something.

"You've got wild-card scenarios, you've got a lot of teams that are vying for the same thing. So that potentially could get some excitement in that regard," Williams said.