Middleton softball explodes for 4 home runs, 15 hits to capture district title
Middleton softball coach Scott Robertson told his assistant coaches in a meeting earlier this season that Sammy Miller shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The junior showed why Thursday night.
Miller finished 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of home runs as Middleton took down Vallivue 11-4 in the 5A District Three championship at Columbia High School.
“I don’t believe she’s hit two (home runs) in a game this year,” Robertson said. “But am I surprised that she can hit nukes? No. … She is a complete player. She is under the radar. And I said that in one of the coaches’ meetings. She is not one that you take lightly. I’ve seen that girl get into some balls.”
Miller, who bats sixth in the lineup, wasn’t the only Viking with a strong night at the plate. Middleton finished with 15 hits, including four home runs, as center fielder Sydney Qualls tallied three hits, catcher Kenadi Whitlow had two hits and third baseman Kendyl Chronister also had two hits. Whitlow and Addie McPherson had the other two dingers in a six-run fifth inning.
The game was tied at 1-1 after two innings before Middleton plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth, only to see the Falcons answer with two runs in the top of the fifth.
“It was a lot of pressure, definitely, because we just kept going back and forth,” Miller said. “But I think we definitely worked hard. We work hard in practice, and we really earned it.”
Thursday’s district championship is Middleton’s first since 2019 and secures the Vikings (21-5) a spot in next week’s state tournament, which will be played May 14-16 at Post Falls High School. Seeds and first-round matchups will be announced Sunday when the IHSAA releases the tournament brackets.
“We’ve got great girls, great community and good school support,” Robertson said. “Moving forward, they just need reminders to stay in the groove. Don’t change anything. Don’t try and do too much. Just play loose and continue to do your thing.”
While the Middleton bats forced a Vallivue pitching change, sophomore Averi Gustafson earned the complete-game win for the Vikings. She allowed eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four.
“Relying on the lineup when I’m pitching definitely gives me some leeway when I’m on the mound and for sure peace of mind,” Gustafson said. “Our hitters did a great job of adjusting to different speeds and stuff, so I’m super, super proud of them.”
Sophomore center fielder Sophia Kassotis led the charge for Vallivue (20-6) in the loss, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
The Falcons face Skyview — a 5-4 winner over Emmett — in a winner-to-state game at noon Saturday at Columbia.
COLE VALLEY WINS ANOTHER DISTRICT TITLE
The Chargers captured their fourth straight district crown — and second straight at the 4A level — with a 12-6 win over Weiser on Wednesday.
Eight of Cole Valley Christian’s 10 hits went for extra bases. Brinkley Lauderdale went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and four RBIs. And Lauren Colson finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs to lead the onslaught.
Abbie English and Emery Hawkins both added a pair of doubles for the reigning state champs.
Both Cole Valley Christian (21-5) and Weiser (19-4) clinched their state tournament berths by reaching the district championship game. They will learn their seeds and first-round matchups Sunday when the IHSAA releases the tournament brackets.
