Damonte ends Douglas' softball season

RENO - Damonte Ranch rolled to a quick 5-0 lead and coasted to a 10-6 win over Douglas in an elimination game at the NIAA 4A regional softball tournament.

Douglas, the top-seeded team out of the Sierra League, finished 24-9 overall.

"They wanted it more than we did," Douglas coach Andy Mitchell said. "They came out and jumped all over us.

"Our goal was to win state. I'm extremely disapppointed. It doesn't wipe out what we accomplished this year. We had a fantastic season and a great group of girls."

Damonte scored two in the first and added three more in the second. The Mustangs exploded for five more in the fourth for a commanding 10-0 lead over the stunned Tigers.

Douglas didn't quit, though.

The Tigers got on the board in the fourth when Madison Gilbert singled. She was forced at second by Katrina Morgan , who moved to second on a wild pitch. Morgan Blomstrom doubled home Morgan and Brenna White singled home Blomstrom to make it 10-2.

Douglas added one in the fifth when Emily Weaver doubled and scored on Aaliyah Paxson's infield out to make it 10-3.

After a scoreless sixth, the Tigers added three more in the seventh thanks to a run-scoring single by Morgan and a two-run double by Blomstrom.

Weaver, Blomstrom, Gilbert and White all had two hits each for the Tigers. Blomstrom finished with three RBIs.

DAYTON EDGES FERNLEY

FERNLEY - The Dayton softball team is one win away from advancing to the 3A state tournament after beating Fernley, 2-1, Friday afternoon.

MacKenzie Cole tossed a no-hitter while striking out 16 for the Dust Devils. Dayton scored both of its runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Natasha Wells was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on Cole's infield single. Both runners moved up a base after a sacrifice by Cheyenna Burrows. Both runners scored on Crystal MacGirvin's single.

Fernley would add an unearned run in bottom of the seventh after a Fernley runner reached on a dropped third strike, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored after a Dust Devil and Fernley player collided in the infield.

Fernley must beat Dayton twice today to advance. The first game begins at 10 a.m.

DIVING

LESTER WINS ZONE DIVING

Carson High's Brian Lester won the NIAA 4A regional diving title with a score of 305 points.

The Carson star will be joined at next week's state meet by the Douglas duo of Noah Thew and Michael Darby, who scored 299.40 and 261.40, respectively. Carson's Bryce Collings was fourth at 248.60.

Douglas' Katherine Crow will be the lone female diver from the area advancing. She finished second with a score of 353.45.

3A BASEBALL

DUST DEVILS MAKE STATE

LOWRY - Dayton High knocked off Lowry 3-1 to win the best-of-three series and advance to next week's state tournament.

No other information was provided by the Dayton coaching staff.