Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – McKinleyville catcher Bailee Box

The Fortuna Huskies and McKinleyville Panthers will face off for the Charles Lakin softball tournament championship on Friday evening after both won their semifinals on Thursday.

The Panthers upset the odds against a short-handed Del Norte Warriors team 12-5 in the first of the two semis, and the Huskies followed that with a 7-3 victory over a competitive South Fork Cubs team later in the evening.

The championship game appearance is the second straight for the Huskies, who are looking for their first tourney title since 2017.

They are tied with Eureka for most all-time tournament titles with three.

The McKinleyville girls will be playing for their second tournament championship, having previously won in 2019.

Fortuna junior pitcher Isabel Sanchez got the win in the circle on Thursday, following up a no-hitter against St. Bernard’s on Tuesday with her second victory in three days.

The impressive Sanchez dominated at times, but also struggled at times against a young but dangerous South Fork lineup that is coming off a first Little 4 championship in 35 years.

Sanchez allowed just five hits and struck out 12, but also walked nine.

Sophia Castillo led the Huskies at the plate and finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Evalynn Little and Sephora Machado each was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Hailee Thompson and Mariah Bravo each added a double in the win, with Thompson also driving in a run.

Olivia Hayes also had a hit and an RBI to round out a nine-hit team performance, while Sanchez and Faith Helms both also drove in a run.

The Little 4 champs, meanwhile, competed well for much of the night as a young team continues to grow in stature.

“I feel this is the best game they played all season,” South Fork head coach Lisa Todd said of her players. “We made a couple of costly errors, but overall I feel they played great.”

The Coleman sisters, Leila and Mackenzie, both played well in their Lakin tournament debuts.

Leila, a freshman, finished 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and also pitched a complete game.

She struck out four and walked just three.

Mackenzie also had a base hit, finishing 1-for-4.

Another freshman, Calleigh Smith, also made some noise at the plate for the L4 school and finished 2-for-5, while Hailey Shepherd added a base hit and two walks.

Aubrey Young also had a base hit and a walk.

With the loss, the Cubs are now 17-6, while the Huskies improved to 21-3.

In the earlier game on Thursday, the Panthers knocked off a Warriors team that was missing six players because of other commitments, including starting pitcher Shay Nolan.

It was a disappointing performance by the Big 5 champs, who lost for just the third time all season.

“Not very good pitching, not very good defense and not enough hitting,” Del Norte head coach Aaron Healy said.

Freshman Addi Whitford, who has enjoyed a very good debut season at the varsity level both at the plate and first base, got the start in the circle.

And Healy believes the experience will benefit the young player moving forward.

“She’s got some work ahead of her, as every pitcher does,” the coach said. “She’s dedicated. She comes to practice and works. She does what she needs to do. She just needs more experience.”

With the entire starting outfield missing the game, junior Madison Dane got the start in left field and made her presence felt at the plate.

Dane had two hard hit balls and finished 1-for-3.

Influential senior Tsinte Steinruck moved from third base to center field and senior Neela Travis took over at third.

“She made a few plays and got the job done,” Healy said of Travis.

Steinruck also adapted comfortably to the new role.

“Nothing bothers that young lady,” Healy said.

Two other seniors also did their best to compensate for the missing players.

Shortstop Khloe Smith, who has been playing at an MVP level all season, led the Warriors at the plate and finished 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

“She had a heck of a day,” Healy said.

Fellow senior Audrey Phillips also impressed and was 2-for-3, while Natasha DeNicholas was 2-for-4.

Whitford also had a base hit in the loss.

No stats were immediately available for the Panthers.

Coaches are encouraged to forward details to Humboldt Sports if they would like their players included in the roundups.

The Panthers improved to 14-12.

The Warriors will now turn their attention towards next week’s North Coast Section playoffs, with the brackets and sets set to be announced on Sunday.

Friday’s Lakin tournament championship game is set for 5 p.m.