Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Saturday’s doubleheader at Arcata High.
The two-time defending Big 5 champions look like the team to beat in conference play once again this year.
On Saturday, the Del Norte Warriors traveled to Arcata High and came away with a doubleheader sweep to open conference play.
The Warriors won game one 15-4 and took game two 10-1.
The sweep stretches Del Norte’s winning streak to seven straight as the Warriors improved to 9-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Big 5.
“It was really a team effort,” Del Norte head coach Aaron Healy said.
Indeed, several players stepped up for the team, including pitcher Shay Nolan and catcher Carlee Harper.
Nolan pitched both wins and was in control for much of the two games, working well with Harper behind the plate.
Nolan also hit a three-run home run in game one to help set the tone at the plate.
“Shay pitched very well in the circle,” Healy said. “She figures things out, her and Carlee behind the plate. They work well together.”
They were far from the only standouts for the defending conference champs.
Tsinte Steinruck also impressed at third base and at the plate, hitting three doubles on the day, while Bella Arriola hit a home run in game two.
Shortstop Khloe Smith, who missed much of last season’s march to the championship because of injury, is a difference maker on defense and her inclusion in the lineup this spring makes the Warriors even more dangerous.
“There’s nothing better than Khloe at 100 percent,” Healy said of the senior standout, who also had a couple of doubles. “She’s smooth and she does her job, and she hit the ball well today. She had a very complete two games.”
Harper also impressed on offense and “ran the bases well,” the coach said, while junior Bliss Blackburn is enjoying the best softball of her young career.
After playing mostly just defense a year ago, Blackburn has established herself as a legitimate threat at the plate as well this season and she had multiple hits over the two games, including a couple of doubles.
“She had a great day at the plate,” Healy added of Blackburn, who also made some nice plays in center field, “She does a lot of things right.”
Freshman first baseman Addi Whitford also impressed her coach and has quickly established herself as a key member of an experienced Del Norte team.
Some of the Arcata players also impressed, with Josie Cunningham and Abby Tyner each hitting a double in the opener.
Tyner finished the game 2-for-3, while teammate Alli Mitchell was 2-for-4.
Kirra Wiley and Riley Houston each added a hit in that loss.
The Tigers added seven hits in game two, led by impressive sophomore Nallia Meyer, who was 2-for-3.
Mitchell, Jenna Renteria, Cunningham, Tyner and Taylor Sutherland each also had a hit for Arcata in game two.
Freshman Sophia Spetzler pitched a complete game for the Tigers in the opener and Houston threw a complete game in game two.
The sweep for the Warriors sets up a pivotal doubleheader at Fortuna next weekend after the Huskies also won their first two Big 5 games on Saturday.
“We still have a little work to do as far as running the bases aggressively,” Healy said. “And we’re still working on consistency, but other than that it was a good day. We got two wins.”
Arcata is now 3-6 on the season.
