Douglas softball falls against McQueen

It only took a couple mistakes to make up the difference in the ball game.

In what was otherwise an evenly matched showdown between two of the Northern 4A's top teams, a three-error third inning was enough to put the Douglas softball team away in a 3-0 loss to McQueen at the Reed Easter Tournament Friday.

Douglas pitcher Kellei Kizer was throwing a perfect game through the first out of the third before hitting a batter to put McQueen's first runner on base.

An error in the Douglas infield, a walk and another error brought home a run. McQueen's Sarah Hunt then singled to bring home two more runs and complete the scoring for the game.

"We made a couple mistakes and when you play a good team, that's all it takes to lose," said Douglas head coach Todd Wilcks.

Kizer struck out nine, allowed two hits and two in taking the loss.

"She did a great job," Wilcks said. "She struggled down at the tournament in Vegas a little bit, and she needed to come out and have a game like that."

Kizer struck out two in each of the first three innings and kept the Lancers guessing throughout the game.

McQueen ace Katie Eshelman also struck out nine and walked one in picking up the win.

"She (Eshelman did a good job of moving the ball around," Wilcks said. "Anytime you get to see a pitcher the second and third time around, you start to get a little more dialed in."

The Tigers collected four hits, two from Brittany Puzey, on Eshelman before the game was called in the sixth inning due to time constraints.

The third inning ended up being the lone blemish on the Tigers' day at the tournament.

Kizer's was one of three stellar performances from the Douglas pitching staff on the day.

Kayla Dunn tossed a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Los Altos, Calif., to open the tournament and Puzey threw a perfect game in a 21-0 win over South Tahoe, striking out five.

"We just throw them (Kizer, Dunn and Puzey) on a rotation, we don't really consider any of them a one, two or three starter," Wilcks said. "We're not afraid to throw anybody out there at them. We like to look at all three as ones, and when their turn comes in the rotation, we expect them all to step up and get the job done."

Puzey went 4-for-5 with a triple, a home run, five RBI and four runs scored against South Tahoe. Stevie Smith also homered and Valerie Smith and Kristin McKinnon each drove in three runs.

Douglas improved to 16-5 on the season, and 6-0 in league.