Medical Lake shortstop Claire Dormaier avoids a collision with left fielder Sarah Mayer and still makes a catch Saturday against Lakeside.
Movie sequels are rarely ever as good as the original.
The same might be said for last Saturday's softball showdown between upstart Medical Lake and Northeast A League power Lakeside.
Following a gut-wrenching 9-8 loss in 10 innings in their first meeting April 16, there was a lot of anticipation for the rematch at Reinking Field but the undefeated Eagles (15-0 NEA and overall) confirmed they were still queen of the realm with a doubleheader sweep, 5-0 and 8-2.
Medical Lake (10-5, 12-5), entered Saturday's contests having won six straight games since their loss to Lakeside, had won a non-league game 5-4 at Reardan and 8-3 NEA contest - a rescheduled rainout - at Newport.
"That was a tough two to swallow," Medical Lake head coach Tim Blakely said.
In the opener, Madi Naccarato's first inning home run would ultimately stand up to give pitcher Mckensie Brittos the win. Brittos had seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits. The Eagles would get breathing room with a run in the fifth and put it away with a three-run seventh.
"It was a very competitive game, the only thing lacking for us was the hits in a timely fashion," Blakely said.
Nearly equal to the task was the Cardinals' Jordan Soliday who, like Brittos, pitched both games.
Soliday "was real solid for us on the mound," Blakely said. The senior struck out seven in the opener and gave up just six hits.
In the second game Medical Lake trailed 2-0 after three innings but trimmed it with a run in their half of the fourth when Hailey Cheevers walked, eventually advanced to third and scored on a single by Kayla Pruitt.
It stayed that way until the sixth when the Eagles put up five runs. The Cards answered with a run in the bottom of the inning as Hailey Cheevers scored on a double by little sister, Glori.
In Friday's win at Newport Chelsea Hamby went 4-for-4 and Soliday struck out 12 in the win over the Grizzlies (3-12, 3-13).
The Cardinals finish the regular season Saturday with two games at Riverside beginning at 11 a.m.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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