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The North Idaho College softball team finished runner-up in the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at Delta Park in Portland on Sunday. IN the back row, from left are head coach Shay Chapman, Faith Nichols, Sophia Solberg, Madelynne Hommel, Corine Doran, Emily Schulhauser, Kennedy Hobson, Delaney Gosch, Karaline Pfeifer, Tayler Thomas, Brooklyn Wullenwaber, Summer Makinster, Jaylyn Christensen, Kaylee Vieira, Haydyn Yanaguchi and assistant coach Megan Carver. In the front row are Karli Kostoff, Hayden Rockwell, Kani Korok, Kristine Schmidt, Hailey Hillman and Kennedy Jewell.
The North Idaho College softball team finished runner-up in the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at Delta Park in Portland on Sunday. IN the back row, from left are head coach Shay Chapman, Faith Nichols, Sophia Solberg, Madelynne Hommel, Corine Doran, Emily Schulhauser, Kennedy Hobson, Delaney Gosch, Karaline Pfeifer, Tayler Thomas, Brooklyn Wullenwaber, Summer Makinster, Jaylyn Christensen, Kaylee Vieira, Haydyn Yanaguchi and assistant coach Megan Carver. In the front row are Karli Kostoff, Hayden Rockwell, Kani Korok, Kristine Schmidt, Hailey Hillman and Kennedy Jewell.
Posted: May 19, 2024

NWAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Cardinals fall short in bid for conference title ... NIC second in final season in conference before returning to NJCAA next spring

Box Score

Pitching

Win: Bella Carazo (0-0)
Loss: Kristine Schmidt (0-0)
Batting
North Idaho
2B: none
3B: none
HR: Kaylee Vieira
Mt Hood
2B: Madison Walker
3B: none
HR: Madison Walker; Jasmine Barela; Peyton Foreman
Full stats

PORTLAND — As the final chapter closed on the Northwest Athletic Conference for the North Idaho College softball team Sunday, there was no storybook ending on this day.

Still, it doesn't change the story for the Cardinals season, which included a 37-game win streak.

Madison Walker hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning as second-seeded Mt. Hood took an 8-5 lead.

 
NIC, the tournament's top seed, loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but was unable to score, ending the game on a pop-out to shortstop, giving the Saints of Gresham, Ore., their second conference title in three years.

"It was back and forth all game," fifth-year NIC coach Shay Chapman said. "It was a great game. They just had a few more big hits than we did. We made some great plays and had some great hits. It could have gone either way. It was such a good game."

NIC, which will move back to the NJCAA's Scenic West Athletic Conference for the first time since 2016, finished 44-4. 

The Cardinals were seeking their first NWAC title since winning in 2019 in Spokane, the second of back-to-back titles.

"We're not satisfied, but proud of the season we had," Chapman said. "And our record says a lot about them. As much as we wanted that championship, this group had such a good year. They're a solid group of girls, and can definitely play. They made a name for our school. It didn't end the way we wanted it to, but they accomplished a lot of big things."

The conference did not hold a championship tournament in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19.

NIC opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as sophomore Hayden Rockwell scored on a passed ball. The Cardinals extended the lead to 3-0 on a two-run home run by freshman Kaylee Vieira.

Mt. Hood (46-4) answered in the bottom of the inning on a three-run home run by Jasmine Barela. Peyton Foreman followed with a solo shot to give the Saints a 4-3 lead after the first.

NIC regained the lead on a two-run single by sophomore Karli Kostoff to score freshman Faith Nichols and sophomore Emily Schulhauser in the top of the fourth inning. Foreman had an RBI single in the fifth to tie the game at 5-5 for Mt. Hood.

"I'll miss this team," Chapman said. "They're good people and so much fun to coach. The sophomores left their legacy here, and should feel good about where we left it. I'll miss the NWAC, but I'm happy with the next chapter we're getting into."

Rockwell, Kristine Schmidt, Cori Doran and Kani Korok of NIC were all named to the all-tournament team.

North Idaho    300    200    0    —    5    7    0

Mt. Hood    400    013    x    —     8    9    0

Kristine Schmidt, Jaylyn Christensen (6) and Corine Doran; Sara Martin, Bella Curazo (5) and Izzie Brauckmiller.

HITS: NIC — Hobson 2, Korok, Vieira, Schulhauser, Nichols, Kostoff. MHCC — Carroll, Walker 4, Allen, Barela, Foreman 2. 2B — Walker. HR — Vieira, Walker, Barela, Foreman.

To view the full article, please visit CDA Press at this link.