Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – South Fork’s Mackenzie Coleman reacts during Thursday’s doubleheader.

By Ray Hamill — The race for this year’s Little 4 championship in softball remains in the balance after the two conference frontrunners split a doubleheader in Samoa on Thursday afternoon.

Defending L4 champs St. Bernard’s hosted South Fork in their first true home games of the spring and the two rival schools served up an entertaining twin bill of games.

The visitors led for much of the opening game and carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, but the Crusaders would rally late with three runs to sneak an 8-7 walk-off victory, with freshman Teghan Smith hitting the game-winning base hit.

However, the Cubs would respond with a big performance in game two and rolled to a dominating 22-6 win to salvage a split.

“In the first game, our girls showed a ton of grit coming back from behind,” St. Bernard’s head coach Hailey Wilson said. “And having a freshman, Teghan Smith, step up with a walk-off hit to win the game was a huge moment for her and the team.

“The second game got away from us. Fatigue played a major role, and we just didn’t have the same energy or focus. And it showed.”

After such a disappointing end to game one for them, the South Fork girls seemed determined not to lose game two.

“In game two, we were more patient in the box and cut down on the errors,” South Fork head coach Lisa Todd said. “It was nice to see more of the lineup get on base. 

“We create a lot of mental errors that cost us, and teams will take advantage of that. That’s something we need to work on.”

Oni Orcutt got the win in the circle in game one, throwing a complete game and striking out seven while allowing eight hits and a pair of walks.

And she got plenty of offensive support.

In addition to Smith’s big hit, Kyna Tupua was 2-for-4 with a double, Chloe Grunden was 2-for-4, and Orcutt finished 2-for-3 and also reached base on a hit-by-pitch.

Logan Tallman, Makinsey Lemley and Anna Dorsch each also had a hit in the win.

The Cubs started strong but could not add to their tally after the third inining.

The Coleman sisters, freshman Leila and sophomore Mackenzie, both continued to impress for the visitors.

Mackenzie finished 4-for-4 with an RBI, while her younger sister was 2-for-4 and also had an RBI.

The freshman took the loss in the circle despite impressing.

She allowed four walks and struck out seven, but the team defense let her down at times.

“We made some costly errors,” Todd said.

Molly Perkins also impressed at the plate for South Fork and was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Game two was a different story and the Cubs cruised to the victory to remain tied atop the conference standings.

Both Coleman sisters were once again instrumental and each was 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of walks.

Mackenzie also drove in a run, while Leila had a triple and four RBIs.

Mackenzie also got the win in the circle.

The outstanding sophomore pitched a complete game and gave up two walks while striking out four.

Anora Blackwell also had big game at the plate in the win and was 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Makenzie Brewer finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and three RBIs and Hailey Shepherd and Calleigh Smith each added two hits, including a double and four RBIs by the latter.

Aubrey Young also had a hit, two walks and two RBIs and Kendall Kercher had a base hit and two walks.

Lemley had the hot bat for St. Bernard’s in game two and was 3-for-3 with three doubles, while Grunden and Tupua each continued to impress at the plate and had two hits apiece.

Tallman also had a base hit and a walk in the loss.

Orcutt and Sarah Luna split time in the circle for SB.

“South Fork hit the ball well all day and the Coleman sisters did a great job in the circle. Looking forward to meeting up again towards the end of the season,” Wilson said.

The two schools will play a second doubleheader in Miranda on May 1.