6A DISTRICT 1 SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Lake City's Caan job

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — With two out, the score tied and runners at first and third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Brooklyn Caan’s line drive to right-center field found grass, and the Lake City Timberwolves erupted in joy. 

And cried a little, too. 

Hey, when you’re headed to state for the first time since 2019, you can celebrate any way you want. 

Caan’s base hit scored senior KaeLee Kolden from third base, capping a three-run rally as second-seeded Lake City beat the top-seeded Coeur d’Alene Vikings 9-8 on Monday at Lake City High, sweeping their best-of-3 series for the 6A District 1 title. 

“I just wanted to make contact with the ball, and do it for my team,” Caan said. “I was so scared (coming up).” 

And when the ball landed ... 

“Well, we’re going to state,” Caan said.

Lake City (17-5) advances to state for the first time in seven years, with the 6A tournament May 14-16 at Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high schools. The Timberwolves, ranked fifth by MaxPreps, will learn their first-round opponent this weekend, once all the state-qualifying tournaments have concluded. 

“Honestly, it feels so good; I have no words,” fourth-year Lake City coach Jordyn Hensley said. “This team is just gritty, and they have done really well under pressure. When we’re in situations when we’re down, we’ve done a good job of keeping our heads up, and keeping our composure and just playing our game.” 

Coeur d’Alene (18-2), ranked second by MaxPreps, advances to a state play-in game Saturday at McCall-Donnelly against the fifth-place finisher from the District 3 tournament. 

After winning 5-3 at Coeur d’Alene on Saturday in Game 1, Lake City led 5-2 after three innings on Monday, before Coeur d’Alene scored five runs in the fifth to take the lead. The Vikings led 8-6 heading into the last of the seventh, looking to force a deciding game Wednesday at home. 

Kyla Smith walked leading off the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Macy Waterhouse lined a triple over the center fielder’s head to score courtesy runner Shayne McGowan.  

Coeur d’Alene’s Jenna Davenport struck out the next batter, then KaeLee Kolden was walked intentionally, then stole second. 

“I wanted to hit, but I knew I had people behind me that could hit,” Kolden said.  

Senior Karsyn DeMent hit a fly ball deep enough down the left-field line to score Waterhouse, and Kolden moved up to third on the catch, which was made just into foul territory. 

“I just needed to put the ball in play and move the runners ... I just needed to get it out,” DeMent said.  

Madeline Peterson was intentionally walked, and Caan, the No. 6 hitter, drove a 1-2 pitch up the gap to win the game. 

“I think she was due,” Hensley said. “She’d had some rough at-bats lately, but we just kept telling her, stick with the process, you’ve got a great swing, go up there and get your hacks. She was due, and it was finally time to get ahold of a good one.” 

Coeur d’Alene had swept the four regular-season meetings by a combined score of 37-13.

“It’s crazy; it’s unbelievable,” said Kolden, a four-year varsity starter. “I feel like our team is a solid, competitive team, and we worked together to get these runs, and worked together to play defense. It was just so much fun.” 

“I am just very happy,” Peterson said. “I love my team; they always have my back; even if I give up a couple home runs, they come back and hit a couple home runs for me.” 

DeMent was one of those shedding tears of joy afterward. 

“Because it’s my senior year, it’s my last game on my home field, and we just beat Coeur d’Alene, and it felt great,” DeMent said. 

The lefty swinging Kolden, who has signed with McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, hit a two-run homer to center in the first inning for Lake City.  

Davenport, also a lefty swinger, hit a solo shot to left in the top of the second. 

Kyndal Bridge hit a two-run homer in the fifth to pull Coeur d’Alene within a run, and Ellie Henderson’s RBI single tied the game. Ollie Dudley dropped a single into short left-center field to score two runs and put the Vikings up 7-5.  

After Lake City got a run back, Henderson’s RBI double in the sixth made it 8-6 Vikings.  

“I am really happy with our efforts, even though the result wasn’t in the favor of the Vikings,” Coeur d’Alene coach Bobbi Darretta said. “We came back twice and both teams played a great game; it’s a shame someone had to lose it. ... Who knows, maybe we’ll see the Timberwolves again." 

Coeur d’Alene     011    051    0    —    8    14    1 

Lake City     203    010    3    —    9    11    3 

2 out when winning run scored. 

Savannah Stevens, Jenna Davenport (3) and Ollie Dudley, Abbey Linder (5); Madeline Peterson and Kyla Smith. 

HITS: Cd’A — Nelson 2, Bridge, Stevens 2, Davenport 2, Henderson 3, Wenglikowski 2, Dudley 2. LC — Waterhouse 3, Kolden, DeMent, Caan 2, Lopez, Kesner, Smith 2. 2B — Henderson, Wenglikowski, Dudley. 3B — Waterhouse. HR — Bridge, Davenport, Kolden. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Lake City sophomore Brooklyn Caan (11) races home to celebrate with her teammates after her walk-off single gave her team a 9-8 victory over the Coeur d'Alene Vikings on Monday at Lake City High.