File photo – Shay Nolan
The return of shortstop Khloe Smith and a pivotal bases-clearing double by Koy McQuillen put the Del Norte Warriors’ back on track in softball on Saturday.
Three days after the Del Norte girls suffered their fifth defeat in six games in their conference opener at Fortuna, they swept a key doubleheader against the Huskies in crescent City, winning 8-3 and 2-1.
With the sweep the Warriors improved to 2-1 in the Big 5 and they are now in a three-way tie atop the standings, along with McKinleyville (4-2) and Arcata (2-1).
“Now that we’re whole with Khloe back in the lineup, they’re starting to feel like a team and working well together,” head coach Aaron Healy said.
The one-two pitching punch of McKenna Curtis and Shay Nolan also is helping, and the two standouts are getting plenty of help from an offense that is beginning to click again and a defense that is making some big plays behind them, including a spectacular diving catch by senior Reece White in center field on Saturday, a play that Healy described as “just awesome.”
A bases-clearing double by McQuillen in the bottom of the fifth inning of game one proved to be decisive and gave the Warriors a five-run lead they would not relinquish.
“That was really huge right there,” Healy said.
So too was the return from injury of Smith, who made some big plays on Saturday.
“Everybody’s in the right spot now, so we’re kind of clicking,” the head coach said.
Curtis got the win in the circle in game one and Nolan followed with the victory in game two, before the latter moved to the outfield in the seventh inning and made a nice catch for the final out of a tight game just as Fortuna was threatening with runners at first and second.
Tsinte Steinruck also made some key plays at third base.
According to Healy, both pitchers played well and the team backed them effectively.
“Defensively we were solid and made some plays, and offensively we put the bat on the ball better than we have in a while, so it was positive,” the coach added.
With the two losses, the Huskies dropped to 3-3 in the Big 5 but remain well in the chase for the championship in what is shaping up to be a very close battle with little to separate the top four teams right now.
File photo – The Fortuna Huskies
Sophomore Isabel Sanchez continued to impress for the Huskies and pitched a six-inning complete-game in Saturday’s opener.
Sanchez allowed just six hits and struck out six, while walking four.
However, the normally reliable Fortuna defense had a rare off day and committed five errors in game one.
The Huskies also were unable to take advantage of some opportunities and stranded eight runners on base.
The second game was closer, although the visitors had less success than in Wednesday’s series opener against Nolan, who had a perfect game going until the top of the fifth, in large part thanks to some stellar defense by her teammates.
Fortuna’s lone run came on a Hailee Thompson’s single that scored Kadence Mace, who had drawn a walk.
Over the next two innings, the Huskies put the barrel of the bat on the ball four times, but each time the Del Norte defenders were able to make a play.
The Warriors now appear poised to make a serious run at defending their conference championship, but Healy and his players know there’s still a long way to go.
“We are not a single standout person team,” he said. “We are a team that performs well when everyone is playing well and wanting the ball.
“Hitting we are still a work in progress. We have work to do and we are continuing to improve. By no means are we where we want to be.”
