Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Eureka Loggers hosted Fortuna on Tuesday afternoon.
By Ray Hamill — A young Eureka softball team will likely take its lumps in the Big 5 this year, especially against the conference’s more experienced frontrunners like Del Norte and Fortuna.
But in her second year in charge of the team, head coach Cheyenne King is confident the Loggers will continue to improve and will be a force in the Big 5 once again in the near future.
The team has played just three games this season, including loses to perennial Big 5 powerhouses McKinleyville and Fortuna, but they matched up well against Ukiah and should only continue to evolve as a unit the more games they play together.
“I definitely feel like we’re stronger than last year, offensively and defensively,” King said. “We lost (Kaitlin Giacone from last year), so our pitching’s not as strong, but we’ve got some good young pitchers who are going to keep improving.”
The Loggers also have some key pieces in place and some experience at important positions, including team captains Mallorie Beauchamp and Bailey Brown.
Beauchamp is the only senior on the roster and has been playing for three years with King, who also was an assistant coach with the team in 2022.
The versatile team leader has seen time at shortstop and behind the plate early in the new season and gives her coach some options.
“She’s definitely my team leader. She’s my go-to girl and I’ver worked with her for three years,” The coach said. “It’s been good to have her be able to lead the team.”
Brown also is a versatile player and a key component of the team, leading the way in the circle and also anchoring the team defense in the middle infield when she’s not pitching.
The experienced junior, who plays travel ball, also has been one of her team’s most dangerous bats.
Early in the season, Brown has split time in the circle with talented sophomore Makenze Wolff, another experienced softball player who plays travel ball.
“Both of them are probably my two most competitive girls,” King said of the two pitchers. “They totally have the work ethic and they keep it positive.”
With a tough pre-conference schedule, the Loggers are testing themselves this spring as they build towards the Big 5.
In addition to this week’s 21-1 loss to Fortuna, the Loggers also have lost to McKinleyville (10-0) and tied Ukiah (15-15) in a high-scoring showdown.
And they will be tested again next week when they travel to play two-time defending Big 5 champs Del Norte in a non-conference doubleheader in Crescent City.
But that tough early-season competition will only help the Loggers down the road and several of the younger players are seeing plenty of game time early in their careers.
That group includes junior Jaycee Childress, who has quickly established herself as a key contributor, as well as the four sophomores on the roster and three freshmen who have been added to the squad.
“We brought up the three freshmen to build the program and give them experience,” the coach said. “I feel very confident that in the next two years we’ll be competitive for sure.”
The players seem to be buying into the process and remain optimistic and confident the team will only continue to improve.
“This group I have, they work together well,” King added. “I think they know, too, we’re kind of building our program. They’re not giving up. They know we’re going to face some tough teams but they’re still ready to go out and compete and work together.
“We’re going to find our rhythm. I kow we are.”
