DIVISION IV SOFTBALL: Thunderbirds’ rally falls short against Eureka

Indian Springs softball coach Lynn Dale learned Thursday that it’s much easier to dig a hole than it is to climb back out.

The Thunderbirds fell behind early and came up just short with a late rally in losing 7-6 to Eureka in the opening round of the Division IV state tournament at Rancho.

The loss dropped the two-time defending state champions into the losers’ bracket, where they will play Smith Valley at 2 p.m. Friday. Eureka will play
Pahranagat Valley at noon, with the winner advancing to Saturday’s title game.

Dale said her squad played its worst game of the season.

“We feel like we beat ourselves,” said Dale, whose team’s six errors contributed to the loss. “We gave up too much too early.”

Though the Thunderbirds used aggressive baserunning to score a run in the top of the first inning, the Vandals retaliated with four runs on four hits in the second, and three more runs in the third with the help of a two-run triple by C.C. Brown.

“At the time, that lead was really comforting,” said Eureka coach Mary Jane Hodson. “Maybe a little too comforting.”

The Vandals’ bats went cold, and Indian Springs began chipping away at the deficit. The Thunderbirds cut it to 7-3 in the fifth inning, thanks in part to an RBI double by Heather Thormahlen. They added another run on a bases-loaded passed ball in the sixth to make it 7-4.

Two more unearned runs crossed the plate in the seventh before Indian Springs’ Veronica Allen stepped to the plate with two outs. Eureka reliever Katie Porter threw a wild pitch that skipped against the backstop, and Thunderbirds baserunner Kyli Lopez broke for home. When the ball kicked directly back to catcher Melissa Damele, Lopez turned and attempted to sprint back to third base.

“I saw it get past, and I yelled for her to go,” Dale said. “Unfortunately she just couldn’t get back.”

Damele tagged Lopez about three feet from the bag to end the game.

Thormahlen had two of the Thunderbirds’ three hits.

Taylor Anderson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Eureka’s nine-hit attack.

In the other opening-round game, Kennedy Huntsman went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs to help the Panthers roll past the Bulldogs, 12-2, in five innings.

Huntsman also tossed a five-hitter to earn the victory, while teammates Bailee Hosier, Randi Jones and Cheyenne Harris added two hits apiece.