- This article will appear in the March 26 print edition of the Daily Bee

ST. MARIES – Kae Brown and Helena White combined for seven of Priest River’s 13 hits on Friday as the Spartans defeated St. Maries 18-10 on the road.

After two innings, the Spartans were out to a healthy 7-1 lead, getting a key single from Makenzie Wardwell in the first during the rally. However, Priest River would give up the lead in the fifth when the Lumberjacks took a 10-9 advantage. The Spartans responded… and in a big way.

Late in the game, the Spartans got hot and finished things out with nine unanswered runs. During the final two innings, Brown hit two RBI singles, Bailey Hansen, Cheyenne Thompson, Rylee Dixon one RBI single each for the Spartans.

Brown finished 3-for-5 with three singles and three RBIs. White finished 4-for-5 with four singles and an RBI. Wardwell and Bailey Hansen also put together multi-hit efforts.

On the mound, Thompson went the full seven innings and struck out seven Lumberjacks to help propel the Spartans to victory.

"Cheyenne keeps improving in the pitching circle and is money at the plate," head coach Ron Kruse said. 

Kruse said it was a solid team win with everyone contributing.

"I'm really proud of how we overcame the adversity," Kruse said. "Abi Sparrow-Lovette had some nice defensive plays, including a double play. Bailey Hansen hit the ball hard and so did Rylee Dixon. Laney Rhine had a highlight clutch defensive play in the bottom of seventh, snagging a hard ground ball to her left and firing to first for the out to kill a potential rally."

Priest River (2-3) will play a doubleheader at Newport on Saturday.

Priest River 342 005 4 – 18 13 5

St. Maries 015 310 0 – 10 5 3

W – Thompson. L – Thomas.

HITS: PR – White 4, Brown 3, B. Hansen 2, Wardwell 2, Thompson 1, Dixon 1. SM – Brebner 1, Turner 1, Elliott 1, Stewart 1, #14 1.

2B – Wardwell, Turner.

RBI: PR – Brown 3, R. Hansen 2, White 1, Thompson 1, Rhine 1, Wardwell 1, Dixon 1, B. Hansen 1. SM – Stoke 2, Turner 2, Elliott 1, #14 1,Brebner 1, Asbury 1.

SB: PR – White 4, Thompson 3, B. Hansen 1, R. Hansen 1. SM – Thomas 4, #14 1, Brebner 1.