File photo – Del Norte’s Tsinte Steinruck
With their biggest rivals enjoying a weekend bye, the Del Norte Warriors took over top spot in the Big 5 standings in softball on Saturday.
The Del Norte girls welcomed Eureka to Crescent City and swept a doubleheader of conference action, winning 15-5 and 18-4.
With the two victories, the Warriors improved to 6-1 in the Big 5 and 14-2 on the season and they have now won 12 of their last 13 games with their only loss in that span coming in a doubleheader split at Fortuna a week ago.
Fortuna is 5-1 in the Big 5 and 13-2 overall.
The two conference frontrunners, who are a combined 9-0 against the rest of the Big 5, will meet in a pivotal game in Crescent City on April 30 in a showdown that could very well decide this year’s championship.
Saturday’s sweep, however, wasn’t the cleanest of games from the conference leaders and head coach Aaron Healy believes there’s room for improvement.
“Our defense kind of let us down,” he said. “It wasn’t as good as it can be. I would like to have seen a cleaner game defensively from us.”
Despite scoring over 30 runs for the day, the Warriors had just 15 hits over the two games, but they took full advantage of their opportunities and several walks and passed balls.
“We got on base and scored,” Healy added.
A young Eureka team remains winless in conference play, but it’s a team that is showing plenty of improvement, nonetheless.
“Eureka definitely hit the ball better than the first time we played them,” Healy added.
The Loggers out-hit the home team 7-6 in the opener.
Bailey Brown and Jaycee Childress led the visitors at the plate and both players finished 2-for-3, with Childress driving in a run and Brown scoring twice.
Macy Secor, Guiliana Burger and Koko Saulque each was 1-for-3 for Eureka, with the latter also driving in a run.
Freshman Addi Whitford continued to impress for the Warriors and finished 1-for-2 in game one, while senior teammate Audrey Phillips helped set the tone on defense with another strong performance at second base.
Sophomore Natasha DeNicholas had one of the most efficient performances at the plate in the opening win and was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks.
“She’s been coming around, hitting the ball well and doing a lot of things right,” Healy said of the team’s designated player.
The Warriors gave up three runs in the top of the first, but responded with seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to quickly take control.
File photo – The Eureka Loggers
File photo
Center fielder Bliss Blackburn also had a good game on defense for Del Norte and is quickly establishing herself as one of her team’s most reliable gloves on that side of the ball.
“She did her job very well,” the head coach said of the junior standout.
Del Norte senior Shay Nolan got both wins in the circle and looked good again, as she continues to give her team a chance every time she takes the field.
Sophomore Mackenzie Wolff got the start in the circle for Eureka in game one as she continues to build momentum at the varsity level.
In game two, the Warriors took full advantage of their opportunities once again.
Senior team leader Tsinte Steinruck led the way at the plate and was 2-for-3, while fellow senior Neela Travis added a double and sophomore Giana Antonetti finished 1-for-2 after just recently being called up to the varsity level from the JVs.
Maddison Dane also had a hit for the Warriors, while the head coach also praised the play of Deja Travis.
“I saw a lot of good things from the bench,” Healy said. “It’s nice to see those girls come off the bench and be focused and do a good job.”
The experienced Brown continued to impress for Eureka in game two and was 2-for-3 with a double and scored a pair of runs, while Burger capped a good day at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a double.
Saulque added a base hit and also drove in a run, while Wolff and Brown split time in the circle.
Secor also had an RBI and Mallorie Beauchamp scored one of her team’s runs.
Next up, the Warriors will play a non-conference home game against Brookings-Harbor on Monday, before hosting Arcata in Big 5 action two days later.
Eureka will host South Fork in a non-conference game on Monday and Fortuna in a Big 5 showdown on Wednesday.
