RATHDRUM — Almost right off the bat, Lakeland High faced a six-run deficit against Sandpoint on its own home field on Saturday, in the 4A Region 1 softball championship game.

Two swings changed that.

Hawks senior Shayna Woolley picked a fantastic time to hit her first home run of the season, a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the third inning that cut the lead to 6-4.

Two innings later, Katie Kastning found a huge gap in right-center with two outs to hit a two-RBI triple, scoring the go-ahead runs in the fifth for a 9-7 lead. Sam O’Meara scored the go-ahead run in the inning and she finished 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.

The huge pair of hits allowed the Hawks to win 12-8, to advance to the state 4A softball tournament next week in Coeur d’Alene.

At 11 a.m. on Friday at Ramsey Park, Lakeland (8-15) will open against Middleton (19-4). It will be the sixth time in the last eight years, and seventh overall, the Hawks have reached state under coach Colleen Bevacqua.

“We clicked and got our bats going,” Bevacqua said. “That’s been our biggest thing this season, when we work things out and come together and we make it happen.”

On the Bulldogs’ side, Woolley’s line-drive laser of a grand slam over the fence in straightaway center on a 1-1 count was a damaging blow, even though Sandpoint (12-14) was still ahead by one run after the third, 6-5.

“Its hard to come back when a team hits a grand slam,” Sandpoint coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said. “Momentum is everything and when she hit it, it was our uphill battle to get momentum.”

On her big triple, the left-handed hitting Kastning was able to find a big gap in right-center after Sandpoint’s center fielder shifted over toward left center. She finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored.

“It was my pitch, low and inside,” Kastning said. “It felt really nice to be a part of something big.”

For Woolley, Lakeland’s three-hole hitter, it was the first grand slam she has ever hit in softball, at any level. Woolley went 2 for 4 with five RBIs.

“I was glad to start a rally,” Woolley said. “I was so excited, I feel amazing. It’s my senior year, that’s the way I wanted it to end up.”

Sandpoint nine-hole hitter Alison Calvert hit a two-RBI single in a four-run third. Danika Tomazich went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Sandpoint freshman pitcher Brianna Baldree went 1 for 4 and scored two runs, and the left-hander struck out seven and walked three.

“I tend to think I walk 30 a game,” Baldree said. “When I was down, at the beginning of the year, I’d get a little emotional. My coaches taught me my poker face.”

Lakeland pitcher Kari Prockish also went the distance to pick up the win. The junior right-hander allowed six hits and one run on one hit after the third inning. She struck out three and walked four.

Sandpoint 204 100 0 — 8 6 4

Lakeland 005 142 x — 12 14 1

Brianna Baldree and Sam Holland; Kari Prockish and MaRynda Pehrson. W — Prockish. L — Baldree (7-12).

HITS: Spt — Martin, B. Baldree, C. Baldree, Tomazich 2, Calvert. LL — Kastning 3, Woolley 2, Prockish, Williams 2, Blauvelt, O’Meara 3, Litzko, Pruitt. 2B — Woolley, Williams 2, O’Meara. 3B — Kastning. HR — Woolley (1).