File photo – Shay Nolan

The Warriors remain one win clear at the top of the Big 5 softball standings after a 9-0 victory over Arcata in Crescent City on Wednesday.

With the Fortuna Huskies also winning at Eureka on Wednesday, the two conference frontrunners remain on collision course for a big showdown in Crescent City next Wednesday in a game that’s looking more and more like it will be a championship showdown.

For now, however, the Del Norte girls continue to take care of business and they did on Wednesday with some outstanding defense.

“My defense was absolutely clicking on all cylinders today,” Del Norte head coach Aaron Healy said. 

Senior shortstop Khloe Smith continued to set the tone on both sides of the ball.

Smith finished 2-for-4 at the plate and hit another home run, her third in conference play, and she might have been even more impressive in the middle infield.

“She played some outstanding shortstop,” Healy said. “She gets to balls no one gets to.”

The senior standout teamed with second baseman Audrey Phillips to turn a great double play, according to the coach.

“They made it look easy,” he said. “It was very smooth.”

Fellow senior Tsinte Steinruck also impressed at third base, where she is playing as well as anyone in the H-DNL this spring.

According to Healy, Steinruck had a “phenomenal” game.

“She made it look easy, like it was just another day at the park,” Healy said.

Likewise with consistent center fielder Bliss Blackburn, whom Healy believes is one of the best to ever play the position at Del Norte, and a player who just seems to be getting stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

“Her center field play is the best I’ve ever seen at Del Norte in a long time, maybe even ever,” the coach said of the junior, who is comfortably filling the shoes of last year’s senior standout at the position, Reece White.

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“Bliss is doing a phenomenal job out there, and I’ve got her for another year.”

Offensively, Carlee Harper also had a big day for the Big 5 leaders.

“Carlee is doing what she always does when she gets on base, stealing bases and scoring,” the coach said of the 2024 Big 5 MVP and Humboldt Sports Player of the Year. “Once she gets on, it’s almost a guaranteed run.”

Freshman Addi Whitford also impressed for the home team, as she has been doing all season, while senior pitcher Shay Nolan did her job on the way to another win in the circle.

“Shay is a ground ball, fly ball pitcher, and when our defense gets it done we don’t have to score as many runs,” Healy said.

Jenna Renteria and Toni Diaz led the way at the plate for the Arcata girls and both finished 2-for-3.

Submitted photo – Jenna Renteria in action for the Tigers on Wednesday.

Submitted photo – Arcata’s Peyton Miller

Nallia Meyer also had a base hit for the Tigers.

With the loss, the Arcata girls dropped to 2-5 in the Big 5 (5-9 overall), but they remain in contention for third and the conference’s final Charles Lakin tournament berth.

The Warriors are now 7-1 in the Big 5 with four games remaining, while the Huskies are right on their heels with a record of 6-1 and a game in hand.

Del Norte has a bye in conference play this weekend, while the Fortuna girls will play a tricky doubleheader at McKinleyville with the opportunity to re-take the conference lead heading into next week’s big showdown in Crescent City.

The Warriors, who also won a non-conference game against Brookings-Harbor on Monday by a score of 10-0, are 16-2 overall.

“Now we’ll start preparing for Fortuna next Wednesday,” Healy said. “That’s a big one. I’m hoping we continue to play the same defense.”

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