File photo – Action from Saturday’s game at Washington Elementary.
The Arcata girls rallied late to beat Eureka on Monday as they moved into third place in the Big 5 softball standings.
In a make-up game that had been pushed back from Saturday because of the weather, the host Loggers led 1-0 heading into the sixth inning.
The visitors, however, would score four unanswered runs over the final two innings to pull out a 4-1 victory and keep them well in the chase for the third and final conference berth for the upcoming Charles Lakin postseason tournament.
The win completed the series sweep over the Loggers, whom they also defeated 9-8 on Saturday.
“This was a hard-earned win for us,” said Arcata head coach Jason Miller, who has his team on the verge of the playoffs in his first season in charge of the program. “Eureka came out with great pitching and good defense.”
The young Tigers have raised the level of their play under the first-year coach and will likely secure a place in this year’s Lakin tournament with a win over McKinleyville in their final regular-season game next week.
The Panthers are 3-5 in the Big 5 with a game in hand, against Eureka on Wednesday.
If the Panthers win that game, they will move into a tie with Arcata for third ahead of challenging doubleheaders for both schools this weekend, when the Tigers host Fortuna and the Panthers travel to Del Norte.
The Arcata girls scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning on Monday, keyed by doubles from Nallia Meyer and Jenna Reneria, a single by Colbie Collins and a sac fly by Peyton Miller.
They added an insurance run in the seventh and were able to hold the Loggers at bay after that.
“We had one big inning and made great defensive stops with very few mistakes,” Jason Miller said.
File photo – The Eureka Loggers
The loss was another close one for a very young Eureka team that has been competitive in most of its games despite remaining winless in conference play.
Sophomore pitcher Makenze Wolff had one of her best games for the Loggers, holding the Arcata bats to just six hits.
Wolff, who continues to improve in the circle, gave up just walks and struck out four.
Kylee Secor led the Eureka bats and finished 2-for-3, while Mallorie Beauchamp and Koko Saulque each also had a base hit in the loss.
Beauchamp also scored a run.
Senior captain Lily Cunningham and Collins each led the Tigers at the plate with two hits apiece, while freshman pitcher Sophia Spetzler continued to build momentum in the circle and struck out five on her way to the victory.
File photo
Defensively, shortstop Josie Cunningham had a good game for the Tigers, as did left fielder Alli Mitchell and Peyton Miller at third base.
The three juniors combined for 10 outs.
“Each game we play our team is getting better and better and we know that we are able to challenge anybody on any given day,” Jason Miller said. “I’m proud of the progress we made this year and hope we can close out strong.”
Next up, on Wednesday the Loggers play at McKinleyville, while on Saturday the Tigers will play a doubleheader at Fortuna.
