The Battle Mountain High School softball team did all it could last week to keep its playoff hopes alive but more likely it was not enough to get in the postseason tournament.
The Lady Longhorns beat the Incline Highlanders three times (11-7, 17-2 and 18-3) to finish 12-9 in the Northern 2A. However, Battle Mountain needed Silver Stage to lose twice to Yerington this past weekend. The Nighthawks beat the Lions twice to improve to 11-8 with two games left, which were played Monday.
Yerington finished 13-8 in the Northern 2A and still clinched a playoff spot.
Silver Stage played winless North Tahoe on Monday. The Lakers would have to find a way to beat the Nighthawks one time, which would eliminate Silver Stage and Battle Mountain would get in the tournament as the No. 4 seed.
Lady Longhorns take series opener
The series started Thursday in Incline and Battle Mountain wasted little time in jumping out to a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. The Highlanders scored a single run in the bottom of the third inning, only to see the Lady Longhorns score five times in the fifth inning to increase the advantage to 9-1.
Incline plated single runs in the fifth and sixth innings but Battle Mountain bounced back with two runs in the seventh inning. The Highlanders rallied for four runs in the seventh but could not complete the comeback.
Alma Chavira and Sruti Bhakta each had three hits for Battle Mountain. Chavira had a team-high four RBI. Marissa Rogers had two hits and Reagan Buller, Lynzee Develyn, Jenna Leavitt, Carlee Petersen and Sierra Leavitt each had one hit.
Kira Smith earned the win in the circle in the complete-game effort. She allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits. She struck out four and walked six.
BMHS beats Incline in mercy-rule contest
Battle Mountain needed just three innings to beat Incline 17-2 in Friday’s first game. The Lady Longhorns led 3-2 after an inning of play but scored seven runs apiece in the second and third innings to break the game open.
Jenna Leavitt, Chavira, Rogers, Develyn and Bhakta had two hits apiece. Chavira, Rogers and Jenna Leavitt each had two RBI. Petersen had one hit and three RBI.
Smith collected the win in three innings of work. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. She struck out one and walked none.
Lady Longhorns
finish sweep
Battle Mountain found itself in a tight game in the finale, before pulling away in the final two innings. The Lady Longhorns led 3-1 after three innings and 7-3 after four, before scoring 11 runs in the fifth inning to end the game on the mercy rule.
Rogers led Battle Mountain with four hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Bhakta had three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Jenna Leavitt, Jackie LaRiva and Petersen each had two hits.
LaRiva started for the Lady Longhorns and earned the win in four innings of work. She allowed three runs on six hits. She had two strikeouts and one walk. Smith threw the final inning.
Battle Mountain hosted Wells on Tuesday to close out the regular season. Results were not available at press time.
The Northern 2A Regional Championships start Friday and conclude Saturday in Battle Mountain.
Action starts Friday at 11 a.m. with top-seeded Pershing County taking the field. White Pine will play at 1:15 p.m.
The championship is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
