Krushers win state softball title
Courtesy The Kootenai Krushers, from left, front, Mahalah Wedel, Devon Gallagher, Hannah England; back, Jesamyn Tempel, Brooke Rosling, Dayln Germany, Shyla Stevenson, Staci Regh and Auria Benefield.
The Kootenai Krushers 12-and-Under softball team out of Libby won the Babe Ruth Softball state championship with a 16-5 victory over Forsyth on July 12 in Livingston.
The game opened with first inning fireworks when Forsyth struck for five runs in the top half only to see the Krushers score seven in the bottom half. Libby sent 12 batters to the plate in the first and another 11 to the plate in the third when the Krushers scored another seven runs.
Jesamyn Tempel got the victory with three scoreless innings on the mound. At the plate, Hannah England collected three hits and two RBIs. In all, seven players scored two runs apiece.
“It was really nice to see the girls come back like they did,” Krushers coach Jon England said. “They stayed positive and never got too discouraged. They just had fun – like they did the whole weekend.”
After taking the lead, Libby maintained its momentum in the top of the second with a slick double play on defense. Mahalah Wedel started it by snaring a line drive. Devon Gallagher had a couple of big defensive plays, the coach said, to finish off the game in the fourth.
The Krushers opened the tournament on July 11 with a 9-1 win over the host Livingston Diamond Dolls. Auria Benefield had a pair of hits and scored three runs. England pitched five innings, allowed one run and fanned 13. Tempel relieved in the sixth and struck out the side.
In its closest game of the tournament, Libby rallied twice to beat Forsyth, 7-6, in a second-round contest on July 11. Down 4-2 in the second, the Krushers scored three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Shyla Stevenson got Libby going with two of her three RBIs coming on a triple. Brooke Rosling, Tempel and Gallagher each scored two runs. On the mound, Tempel tossed a four-hitter over four innings with four strikeouts. England relieved to pitch two innings for the save, giving up two runs and striking out three.
In the semifinals on Sunday against Lewistown, the Krushers were led by two hits and two runs from Wedel. Dayln Germany, who was voted the tournament’s defensive Most Valuable Player for her work behind the plate, also contributed in the win with a two-run double. Staci Regh had four defensive gems at first base to cap off a memorable weekend.
England struck out 12 and gave up two runs in the complete-game victory over Lewistown.
The Krushers finished the year winning 11 of 16 games in area tournaments. Joining England as a coach were Jim Germany and Jeff Wedel.