Last modified: Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM PDT Pirate softball team earns state berth By Argus Observer Sports Staff McCall - The Payette softball team received a real scare Thursday, as the Snake River Valley Conference champion Pirates came within just a few outs of missing the state playoffs. The Pirates lost in the district title game to McCall, 7-5, and needed a late rally against Homedale to earn their state berth as they came back and defeated the Trojans in the consolation title game, 5-4, Thursday in McCall. McCall scored seven runs in the first three innings of the title game, taking full advantage of a porous Payette defense, which committed eight errors in the game. “We just didn’t show up ready to play,” Payette head coach Duane Higley said. “I don’t know if we were overeager or overconfident.” Payette put up four runs in the fifth on consecutive RBI singles by Hannah Peterson, Aubrianne Iwasa and Heidi Haas, and an RBI groundout by Jordan Kelley. The Pirates added a seventh-inning run, but failed to finish the comeback. “Once we finally settled down we were fine,” Higley said. “If we had another inning we would’ve made it.” Peterson, Iwasa and Becky Lynch each had two hits for Payette. In the consolation game, Payette took a 3-1 second-inning lead as Lynch, Caylee Bennett and Shelbi King each hit RBI singles. Homedale responded with three runs in the fifth, and had the bases loaded with no one out. Kelley pitched her way out of the jam, not allowing another run to score, and keeping the Pirates in the game. “That showed me the heart that she had, that she wanted to be out there,” Higley, who was planning on pulling Kelley at the time, said. “I kept her in and it paid off.” Lynch scored the tying run in the sixth inning after a bunt by King, and with two outs, Kaitlyn Oxnam scored on a wild pitch to give the Pirates the lead. “They stepped up and got it done like they have all year,” Higley added. Lynch finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, while both her and Oxnam scored twice and King finished with two RBIs. Payette (21-6 overall) advances to the 3A state softball tournament, which begins Thursday in Pocatello. New Plymouth................... 7 Parma ............................... 0 Whitney Hodges threw a three-hit shut out, striking out 15 batters as the New Plymouth softball team defeated Parma 7-0 at the Western Idaho Conference district tournament Thursday in Nampa. The Pilgrims broke a scoreless game open with a four-run third inning. Anna Pittman and Alisha Shipman reached on back-to-back singles. Maddie Cutts and Shianne Edmunson each followed with RBI singles, and two outs later, Jessica Hartzell cracked a two-run single to put New Plymouth ahead 4-0. Hodges did the rest in the circle, as she allowed just two singles and a double and didn’t walk a batter on the afternoon. “Fifteen strikeouts. I think the numbers speak for themselves there,” Pilgrims head coach Troy Knapp said. “She did a wonderful job. Our entire (batting) order contributed in one way or another. Just a really nice outing.” Shipman finished 2-for-4 with an RBI while Edmunson went 4-for-4 at the plate, scored three runs and stole a pair of bases. The Pilgrims (13-9 overall) will face top-seeded Melba this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in Nampa, while Parma will take on either Nampa Christian or Marsing at 1 p.m. McCall ............................ 12 Fruitland .......................... 3 The Fruitland softball team committed six errors and gave up seven runs during the first three innings as the season ended for the Grizzlies with a 12-3 loss to Homedale in the consolation bracket of the Snake River Valley Conference tournament Thursday in McCall. The Trojans scored two runs in the opening inning and added a third in the second before blowing the game wide open with a four-run third inning. Fruitland closed to within 7-3, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and a run in the fourth, but managed nothing more offensively, as the Grizzlies collected just two hits on the afternoon. “Errors have always been a big problem all season,” Fruitland head coach Hank Nawahine said. “For the times we did really well, our errors were minimal. In districts you got to put your best foot forward. It wasn’t to be I guess, but I’m proud of the girls.” Bailey Olson and Alyssa Alvarado collected Fruitland’s only RBIs on the afternoon, while Tara Hutchinson struck out 12 in a losing effort. The Grizzlies end the season with a record of 11-9.