Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

The Fortuna Huskies advanced to the Charles Lakin softball tournament final with a comfortable 8-1 win over St. Bernard’s at the Arcata Sports Complex on Thursday night.

The Huskies quickly took control of the game and opened up a five-run lead after scoring four runs in the bottom of the second inning.

And with sophomore pitcher Isabel Sanchez in commanding form in the circle, after that there was no way back for the Little 4 champions.

The Huskies will play Del Norte for the tournament championship at the Arcata Sports Complex field on Friday evening.

The Warriors, who are this year’s Big 5 champions, also took care of business in the other semifinal earlier in the evening, beating McKinleyville 8-3.

On Thursday, the Fortuna bats out-hit the Crusaders 12-3, with the SB defense also making eight errors.

It was the young players who stepped up for the Crusaders at the plate. 

Freshman Kyna Tupua finished 1-for-2 and scored her team’s only run, while sophomores Makinsey Lelmey and Sahara Tupua each went 1-for-3 with a double.

Another freshman, Oni Orcutt, took the loss in the pitcher’s circle.

Orcutt, who has come a long way in her first season playing at the high school level, has established herself as one of the top pitchers in the Little 4 and has grown in stature as the season has progressed.

The Fortuna bats, however, came to play with a place in the Lakin final on the line, and they would not be denied.

The Huskies added three more runs in the sixth inning to help put the game away.

The victory was the second in tournament play for the Fortuna girls, who also defeated Ferndale on Tuesday.

In two tournament games they have given up just one run.

No final stats were immediately available for the Huskies.

Fortuna won one of three games against Del Norte in Big 5 play.

Friday’s championship game is set for 5 p.m.