File photo – Kira Morris
After a couple of weeks of indoor practices, the Eureka Loggers finally got the new softball season started over the weekend, traveling south for three games.
The Eureka girls opened on Friday with a 6-0 loss at St. Helena, but responded with a much better performance on Saturday when they split a doubleheader at Napa.
The Loggers won game one 11-3 and dropped game two 5-4, with the home team plating what would be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.
“We could have played better, but given the circumstances of not being on the field and being in the gym for two straight weeks, it didn’t help us,” head coach Robin Johnson said. “There’s definitely room for improvement, but we stepped it up from Friday to Saturday. We were much better.”
There were plenty of positives, including the play of senior pitcher Kira Morris and the bats of Maeghan Hampton, Kylee Smith, Mallory Beauchamp and Bailey Brown, among others.
Against St. Helena, Morris struck out 10 batters, while allowing six hits and no walks and just three earned runs.
At the plate, Beauchamp was 2-for-4, while Hampton was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and Brown was 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
Morris continued to impress in the circle in the opening game on Saturday, striking out 11, while allowing four hits, four walks and three earned runs.
The senior standout got plenty of help from her offense, including her own bat.
At the plate, Hampton was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Morris was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.
Brown, a freshman, also continued to impress and added a pair of hits, as did Smith, who was 2-for-4.
Beauchamp and Zia Gee each also had a hit.
The Loggers, however, were unable to carry the winning momentum into game two against Napa, which they barely lost by just one run.
In the circle, Morris allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out five.
She also was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBIs, before the home team began pitching around her.
Hampton showcased just why she will be tough out for the rest of the H-DN this spring with another big performance at the plate and finished 2-for-4 with a triple and a double, while Beauchamp hit successfully for the third straight game in the leadoff spot and finished 1-for-3.
Smith also was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
The Loggers, who are now 1-2, are scheduled to host St. Bernard’s at Washington Elementary School on Thursday at 4 p.m., weather permitting.
