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The South Fork girls moved one win clear of the chasing pack in the race for this year’s Little 4 championship in softball with a doubleheader sweep over Ferndale on Thursday.

After splitting a doubleheader at St. Bernard’s a week ago, the Cubs came into Thursday’s games tied with the Crusaders atop the conference standings.

But with the SB girls splitting a twin bill at Hoopa on Thursday, South Fork was able to take advantage.

The Cubs took game one 11-1 in six innings and followed that with a 10-1 win in game two.

With the victories, they improved to 5-1 in the Little 4 and 11-3 overall, and their only two losses in their last 10 games have come against Big 5 leaders Fortuna and St. Bernard’s last week.

They appear to be peaking at an opportune time as they look to end a long conference championship drought that date back at least 24 years since before MaxPreps started keeping records.

And it’s been a remarkable turnaround for a program that didn’t even field a team two years ago.

“The girls played well today,” head coach Lisa Todd said after Thursday’s wins. “We are coming together as a team, finally starting to put everything together.

“The pitchers are doing great at hitting their spots, the whole lineup is starting to get on base. Their hard work is staring to play off.”

And they’re succeeding with a young lineup, suggesting they could be the team to beat in the Little 4 for a few years to come.

Sisters Mackenzie and Leila Coleman got the wins in the circle and held the visiting Wildcats to just 10 hits on the day.

Leila, a freshman, pitched game one and struck out 10 while allowing just four hits.

The young standout showcased her control by not allowing an walks.

And she got plenty of offensive support.

Submitted photos – Action from Thursday’s games.

Sophomore Anora Blackwell led the way at the plate and was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Aubrey Young was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Sophomore Hailey Shepherd provided the highlight play of the day with a home run, while Mackenzie Coleman was 2-for-2 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI.

It was a tough day for the Wildcats, who dropped to 1-5 in the Little 4 and 8-9 overall.

“We just didn’t quite play well enough in any aspect of the game,” Ferndale head coach Jeremy Griffith said. “

Alayna Cooney led the Cats at the plate in game one and was 2-for-3, while teammates Olivia Gossi and Randi Rice each also had a hit.

The Cubs continued to roll in game two, breaking open a two-run game with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and holding on down the stretch.

Mackenzie Coleman gave up just six hits and three walks and struck out eight..

The two Coleman sisters also led the way at the plate, along with junior teammate Molly Perkins.

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Mackenzie was 3-for-3 with a double, two walks and two RBIs, while Leila was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and three RBIs.

Perkins also was 3-for-4 with a walk, while Blackwell was 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.

Olivia Gossi had the hot bat for Ferndale in game two and finished 2-for-4 while also driving in her team’s only run.

Cooney capped a good day with two more hits, while Quinn Stokesberry and Caleigh Griffith each also had a hit.

Gossi pitched both games for the Cats.

Next up, the South Fork girls will travel to play Eureka in a non-conference game on Monday, before hosting Hoopa in a Little 4 doubleheader next Thursday.

The Wildcats will play at St. Bernard’s next Thursday.