POST FALLS — While The North 16U/18U weren't able to prevail in the Summer River Bash championship game, they sent themselves off on an incredibly high note last weekend. 

The North 13, Reapers Hardesty 1 (4) 

POST FALLS — The North got their winning ways started early, with a three-run first inning, and never looked back to open the Summer River Bash on Friday night. 

Despite not recording a hit in the opening inning, The North jumped on the Reapers' starter Kenley Massender, scoring three runs off walks and errors. Priest River High's McKinley Burgess-Duquette grounded out but drove in Arah Stevens for the third run of the inning. 

Hannah Frago was a consistent offensive star for The North during the tournament and recorded the team's first hit of the day in the second inning. Frago finished the game 2-2 with two RBIs and a double. 

The North were very active on the basepaths, taking advantage of five wild pitches and stealing six bases to continue their offensive momentum while the bats cooled off. Both Heather Strumm and Ryelle Short used one of those wild pitches to navigate the basepaths and extend the team's lead yet again. 

Stevens and Frago doubled in the third inning, pouring on the offense until The North led 9-0. The North's 13 runs in this game are the most the team has scored all season and the first time they've scored double-digits since June 13 when they beat the Sundodger White 18U 11-5. 

As they did in the Sluggers and Dingers Tournament, The North split time between Marlee Stevens and Bailey Wilson in the circle. Stevens threw two perfect innings, not allowing a hit or walk and striking out four batters. Wilson battled through one and two-thirds innings and struck out five batters while allowing the Reapers' lone run. 

The North 3 2 4 4 — 13 6 2 

Reapers 0 0 1 0 — 1 3 3  

PITCHING 

TN — M. Stevens: 2.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K. B. Wilson: 1.2IP, 3H, 1R (0ER), 2BB, 5K. RH — Massender: 2.0IP, 3H, 7R (3ER), 2BB, 2K. Lindow: 2.0IP, 3H, 6R (6ER), 6BB, 1K. 

HITTING 

TN — Frago 2, A. Stevens 1, Falck 1, Pierson 1, Stumm 1. 2B — A. Stevens 1, Frago 1. RH — Statkus 1, Massender 1, Rhyne 1. RBIs: TN — Frago 2, A. Stevens 1, Burgess-Duquette 1, Falck 1, Stumm 1. RH — None. 

The North 9, PNW Chaos 18U 2 (5) 

POST FALLS — A three-hit game from Ryelle Short helped propel The North past the PNW Chaos to keep the wins rolling in on Saturday morning. 

Short got The North's first hit of the day in the first inning, igniting another three-run rally to give them an early lead they would never relinquish. She hit her second double of the weekend in the fourth to drive in Hannah Frago and extended The North's lead to 8-1. Short finished the game 3-3 with an RBI, double and was scored four times. 

While Short was the engine of the offense, The North continued to get contributions up and down the lineup. Both Marlee Stevens and Bailey Pierson recorded multi-hit games, with Pierson knocking in two runs thanks to a double to center field in the third inning. 

In addition to their hot bats, Stevens and Short stole three bases apiece, making their own magic on the basepaths.  

Bailey Wilson spent the entire game in the circle for The North, holding the Chaos to two runs on six hits across five innings. Wilson struck out five batters, including working a swinging strikeout in the bottom of the third to shut down a Chaos rally. 

The North 3 0 3 3 0 — 9 12 1 

PNW Chaos 0 0 1 1 0 — 2 6 2 

PITCHING 

TN — B. Wilson: 5.0IP, 6H, 2R (2ER), 2BB, 5K. PNW — Piskel: 5.0IP, 12H, 9R (9ER), 1BB, 5K. 

HITTING 

TN — Short 3, M. Stevens 2, Pierson 2, B. Wilson 1, A. Stevens 1, Burgess-Duquette 1, Arrotta 1, Frago 1. PNW — Halverson 2, Hannum 1, Mourin 1, Morgan 1, Ostrander 1. RBIs: TN — Pierson 2, B. Wilson 1, Short 1, M. Stevens 1, Burgess-Duquette 1. PNW — Ainley 1, Hannum 1. 

The North 5, Red Deer Rage 2 

POST FALLS — A stellar day from Marlee Stevens helped The North secure the top seed in the Summer River Bash tournament playoff on Saturday evening. 

Stevens scorched a double and became the first run to open the game, before hitting a single in the third inning that continued a rally that netted The North four runs. Stevens ended the day 2-2 with a double and an RBI.  

While The North's offense slowed from the first two games, Stevens limited the Red Deer Rage's offense through the five innings to just two runs on five hits. Of the 21 batters that Stevens faced, she struck out three batters, earning the victory. 

Ryelle Short continued her impressive weekend at the plate, earning The North's other two-hit day, going 2-3 and being scored once. Sarah Koskela, Arah Stevens, McKinley Burgess-Duquette, Marlee Stevens and Pierson all drove in runs. 

With the victory, The North completed an undefeated group stage of the tournament and earned the top seed and bye in the final bracket. After the Reapers Softball 18U beat Frost Elite (David) in the first round, The North had their opponent set for a win-or-go-home game on Sunday afternoon. 

The North 1 0 4 0 0 — 5 7 1 

Red Deer 0 0 0 0 2 — 2 5 2 

PITCHING 

TN — M. Stevens: 4.2IP, 5H, 2R (2ER), 1BB, 3K. RDR — Hubl: 3.2IP, 6H, 5R (3ER), 5BB, 6K. Scotvold: 1.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K. 

HITTING 

TN — Short 2, M. Stevens 2, A. Stevens 1, Burgess-Duquette 1, Stumm 1. 2B — M. Stevens 1. RDR — Reschny 2, Scotvold 1, Adams 1, Morris 1. 2B — Scotvold 1. RBIs: TN — M. Stevens 1, A. Stevens 1, Koskela 1, Burgess-Duquette 1, Pierson 1. RDR — Reschny 1, Morris 1. 

The North 6, Reapers Softball 1 (4) 

POST FALLS — Four shutdown innings from Marlee Stevens and the return of The North's offensive firepower lifted them to the tournament finals on Sunday afternoon. 

While the Reapers got to Stevens early in the first, she was not fazed. Stevens only allowed three more hits after the first inning and struck out eight of the 22 batters in the contest. She earned her third victory of the weekend against the Reapers Softball 18U. 

Arah Stevens totaled three hits in her three at-bats, including an RBI, to power The North's offense. Bailey Wilson and Ryelle Short also notched multi-hit days, with both hitting a double. Short's impressive tournament included three doubles in four games. 

The North's aggressive baserunning strategy continued to find terrific success with Sarah Koskela grabbing three bases while Jaydin Falck stole two. Bailey Pierson and Short stole one each for a total of seven stolen bases. 

With the victory, The North advanced to the tournament final against the Spokane Diamonds 18U on Sunday night. 

Reapers 1 0 0 0 — 1 4 2 

The North 0 2 1 3 — 6 9 1 

PITCHING 

TN — M. Stevens: 4.0IP, 4H, 1R (1ER), 6BB, 8K. RS — Laramie: 3.2IP, 9H, 6R (4ER), 1BB, 0K. 

HITTING 

TN — A. Stevens 3, B. Wilson 2, Short 2, Koskela 1, Falck 1. 2B — A. Stevens 1, B. Wilson 1, Short 1. 3B — B. Wilson 1. RS — Myers 2, Olmstead 1, Brebner 1. RBIs: TN — Short 1, A. Stevens 1, Falck 1. RS — Hull 1. 

Spokane 9, The North 5 

POST FALLS — While three-run first innings were enough to lift The North to the championship game, it proved lacking against the Spokane Diamonds in the finale. 

A single from Marlee Stevens set up Bailey Wilson in scoring position for Arah Stevens to slap another double to left field. Bailey Pierson followed up Arah Stevens with a single to score her and give The North an early 3-2 lead. 

However, Spokane wouldn't go away, attacking Wilson in the circle and totaling seven hits across her four innings. The Diamonds slowly added to their lead, using walks to keep momentum.  

Spokane got massive contributions from Bailey Tampien, who hit two doubles, and starting pitcher Mia Martin, who went a perfect 4-4 at the plate. Marlee Steven came in to relieve Wilson after four innings and continued to find strikeouts, fanning six batters, but allowed three more runs in her three innings. 

Despite a three-hit day from Marlee Stevens and a multi-hit day from Wilson, The North's offense went cold until the final inning. There, The North used two walks and a few errors to score two more runs, but the rally was quickly snuffed out by a double play. 

The loss wasn't the result The North wanted, but an impressive tournament run was a high note to go out on. The North finishes the summer season 10-11-2. 

Spokane 2 2 2 0 1 2 0 — 9 9 3 

The North 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 — 5 8 4 

PITCHING 

TN — B. Wilson: 4.0IP, 7H, 6R (5ER), 4BB, 1K. M. Stevens: 3.0IP, 3R (3ER), 3BB, 6K. SD — Martin: 7.0IP, 8H, 5R (3ER), 3BB, 4K. 

HITTING 

TN — M. Stevens 3, B. Wilson 2, Koskela 1, A. Stevens 1, Pierson 1. SD — Martin 4, Westermann 2, Tampien 2, Schneider 1. RBIs: TN — Stevens 3, Koskela 1, Pierson 1. SD — Schneider 2, Westermann 1, Martin 1, Fulkerson 1, Mejie 1.