The Lakeland Hawks took a crucial step towards clinching a state bid. Will they do it?
The Lakeland softball team (10-12) played against the Sandpoint Bulldogs (3-22) on May 7 in a win-or-go-home game with a spot in the district championship on the line. The Hawks won the game 12-1, sending the Bulldogs packing.
Mia Kesner started on the mound and pitched for four innings, allowing only one run off three hits and striking out four.
“I went into the game with the mindset that they will not hit off me and it went well,” Kesner said. “I think we already know what Moscow has so we can work on what we are playing against. Considering we already beat them once we can do it again.”
The Hawks blew the game open in the fifth inning, scoring nine runs, highlighted by a two-run home run and a triple by Deliah Zimmerman.
Zimmerman went three at four at the plate, driving in three runs. She finished the game just a single shy of the cycle. Alexis Hanna was another huge contributor at the plate also going three for four. Katie Dewey reached base with a hit in all three at-bats. Raygen Dutton drove three runs on a double.
“I went up there with the mindset to let the pitches come to me and not give the pitcher any free balls. The home run gave me confidence because it shows that I have more power than I think I do,’’ Zimmerman said. “The loss against Moscow shows us what we need to improve and change our mindset going in.”
The Hawks (10-12, 5-3) also played the Moscow Bears (15-10 7-1) following the Sandpoint game and lost 12-1. Luckily for the Hawks, this is a best-of-three series, so the Hawks have a chance to win districts with two consecutive road wins.
Kaci Kiblen went three for three including a home run, driving in two and scoring four runs for the Bears.
To overcome the regular season champions, the Hawks must not give up as many runs to the Bears. The Hawks also have to get their bats swinging and drive more runners in.
The next game is on May 9 at Moscow High School.
