STATE 5A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT: Lakeland's luck runs out

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

POST FALLS — Lakeland could have folded trailing 5-0 in a loser-out game to Burley in the fourth inning.

The Hawks were just getting started.

Later, down 9-0, the Hawks fought back again against fourth-seeded Bonneville of Idaho Falls.

This time, they just ran out of innings, falling 9-5 to finish 1-2 at state in the program’s first trip since 2022.

“It’s what I’m most proud of,” Lakeland coach Dwayne Curry said. “From the start of the season to the end of the season, I never once thought they were out of it, or done. I’d never had to ask them if they believed, because they did every time. Coming off the field, they had a belief that they were going to find a way to win. The never-quit attitude is something that I’m most proud of this year.”

Bonneville retired the top of Lakeland’s batting order to preserve the win, ending the Hawks' season at 22-7.

“It was a great game, and it’s only going to build our program,” said Curry, in his fifth year. “It was great competition. I’m really excited for our future. Really excited.”

Bonneville 9, Lakeland 5: The Bees jumped out to a 9-0 lead, keyed by a three-run home run by Alyvia Rudd in the fourth inning.

In the sixth, Lakeland got its bats going as senior Delilah Zimmerman and junior Jaiden Corbey hit two-run home runs, and sophomore Reese Dutton followed Corbey’s shot with a solo home run in a five-run sixth inning for the Hawks.

Junior Abby Helmholz, who injured her right (pitching) arm after being struck by a line drive in Thursday’s game against Blackfoot, returned to the circle against Bonneville, pitching 3 1/3 innings before coming out in the fourth.

“That kid pushed through to give me the innings she did,” Curry said of Helmholz. “She’s in a lot of pain, and pushing through it. Reese getting called on to pitch more than she’s had to this weekend, and stepping up to it and hitting a home run, that’s big for us.”

“I just wanted to come out for my seniors as hard as I could, whatever it took, said Reese Dutton, who struck out seven against Burley. “We’re strong together, and that might have been different last year. But we came together this year and learned to fight for each other.”

Lakeland    000    005    0    —    5    8    3

Bonneville    400    500    x    —    9    6    0

Abby Helmholz, Reese Dutton (4) and Delilah Zimmerman; Gracie Longhurst, Lila Coffman (6), Frankie Spagnolo (6), Longhurst (7) and Evelyn Ryan.

HITS: LL — Blakemore, Zimmerman, Drake, Ra. Dutton, Corbey, Re. Dutton, Nave. Bonn — Longhurst, Rudd 2, Ryan, Brown 2. 2B — Longhurst. HR — Re. Dutton, Zimmerman, Corbey, Rudd.

Lakeland 8, Burley 7: Senior Kiersten Drake admitted to having tears in her eyes on the field after seeing her team fall behind 5-0 in the fourth inning to the seventh-seeded Bobcats in a loser-out game.

By the seventh, those tears were replaced with a new emotion.

Drake hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to spark the Hawks offense, then had an RBI single in the sixth as the Lakeland eliminated the Bobcats.

Drake’s home run cleared the left field fence. Corbey followed later in the inning to cut the deficit to 2-2.

“I was looking to hit a home run there,” Drake said. “It’s my senior year, and I’m not going out like that. I wanted that game so bad, and I was just hoping to hit the ball really hard.”

In the fifth, Drake hit a pop fly just out of the infield, but two Burley players collided, allowing the tying run to score to make it 5-5. Lakeland took its first lead of the game at 6-5 on a bases loaded walk in the fifth. Raygen Dutton made it 8-5 on an RBI single in the sixth for Lakeland, which held off a late rally by stranding the tying run at second base in the top of the seventh.

“They know that we’re good hitters, and we’ve just got to keep putting the bat on the ball, and good things are going to happen for us,” Curry said. “Typically, that’s what happens."

Burley senior Taylin Beck homered twice, hitting a two-run shot to give the Bobcats a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

“I was tearing up on the field watching that home run that the girl hit,” Drake said. “I saw my high school career ending, but I knew that the rest of my teammates were picking me up the entire game.”

Burley        003    200    0    —    7    11    1

Lakeland    000    242    x    —    8    8    1

Lindsey Tarbet, Ady Olmos (5) and Aaliyah Olmos; Reese Dutton and Delilah Zimmerman.

HITS: Bur — Beck 2, Ad. Olmos 3, Robins 2, Lewis 2, Garrett 2. LL — Blakemore 2, Zimmerman, Drake 3, Ra. Dutton, Corbey. 2B — Robins, Ad. Olmos, Blakemore. HR — Drake, Corbey.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Lakeland senior Kiersten Drake swings at a pitch during Friday's loser-out game against Burley in the state 5A softball tournament at Post Falls High.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Lakeland shortstop Reese Vanek flips the ball to second baseman Avah Gonzales to get a force out on Burley runner Ady Olmos during a loser-out game in the state 5A softball tournament at Post Falls High.