File photos

Pitching was the story of the day as the Fortuna Huskies traveled to play St. Helena in a non-tournament softball showdown on Thursday.

Fortuna’s Isabel Sanchez and St. Helena’s Tahlia Smith served up a pitchers’ duel and gave up just five hits combined in a closely-fought game.

However, it was Smith and the Saints who prevailed, scoring the only runs of the game in the sixth inning on the way to a 2-0 win.

The loss was just the second of the early season for the Huskies, who dropped to 5-2.

Despite the defeat, the coaches were more than happy with the team’s performance, saying they had not seen pitching like that since the days of Hailey Dolcini.

“We play teams like St. Helena to prepare for league play,” head coach Eric Helms said. “Our league is going to be tough this year, as usual.”

Smith held the Huskies to just two hits and one walk and struck out 13.

Sanchez, however, was equally impressive for Fortuna, as she continues her strong start to the new season.

The Huskies sophomore gave up just three hits and held the home team scoreless until the sixth, when a walk, a stolen base, a double and a single produced the only two runs of the game.

Sanchez allowed four walks and struck out 14.

The Huskies had their chances to break the deadlock, but stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the fourth and another at third base in the fifth.

Seniors Kadence Mace and Ashley Jenks each had a base hit for Fortuna.

The Huskies were scheduled to play in the Cloverdale tournament on Friday and Saturday — a tournament they won a year ago — but it has been canceled because of the weather.

File photo – Isabel Sanchez