Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Hoopa players and coaches celebrate their playoff win on Wednesday.

By Ray Hamill — There’s a reason the Hoopa Warriors are the most successful H-DNL team when it comes to North Coast Section softball — they seem to always bring their A game to the playoffs.

That was the case once again on Wednesday, as the Hoopa girls comfortably took care of business in their Division-6 opener, rolling to a 9-1 win over San Domenico at Hoopa in the Division-6 bracket.

The Warriors offense set the tone early and opened up a quick 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and with junior pitcher Monteya Colegrove in commanding form in the circle there was no way back for the Panthers after that.

“They all stayed in high spirits to keep their team up the whole time,” Hoopa head coach Jordan Avery-Colegrove said of her players. “I’m proud to be behind the scenes watching them thrive at the right time.”

Colegrove was hugely influential in the win once again and has played a key role in her team’s late-season surge, which has seen the Warriors win nine of their last 13 games after starting the season 0-9.

The team ace struck out 15 in Wednesday’s win and did not give up a hit until the fourth inning.

“Her strong performance really held a good defensive pace,” the Hoopa coach added.

The Hoopa bats did not overwhelm their opponents, but the players were patient at the plate and found ways to get on base, and once they did they took full advantage.

Particularly junior catcher Kalia Mitchell, who has established herself as one of the best base runners in the H-DNL this spring.

Mitchell, according to Avery-Colegrove, was a “force with her base running” and caused the Panthers defense problems all evening.

“She was fun to watch,” the coach added. “Overall, my Lady Warriors did an awesome job on the bases today, capitalizing at the right time, being aggressive.

“I wish they could have showcased on their hitting more today, but they got the win and did it by awesome base running.”

Several players stood out in the victory, including senior Jewell Moon, who had a couple of big hits, as well as Colegrove, who helped key the big first inning with a double in her first at-bat of the day.

Sophomore Tylie McKinnon also had a big RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to stretch the lead to 7-0, before scoring herself moments later on a passed ball.

The Warriors led 9-0 after four innings and the only question at that stage was would the game go the distance or end early on the 10-run rule.

After their fast start to the game, the Warriors were held scoreless in the second but quickly added to their lead in the bottom of the third.

Moon led off the inning with a single and advanced all the way to third on a pair of passed balls.

With two outs, Mitchell singled to score her to make it 6-0.

The Warriors had a good opportunity to end the game early in the fifth when Kiera Maloney led off the inning with a base hit and rounded her way to third on a pair of stolen bases.

However, they were unable to bring her home for what would have been a walk-off win.

The same thing happened in the sixth when Moon led off with a base hit and rounded her way to third on a pair of passed balls.

But once again the Warriors were unable to bring her home, although it mattered little with the game well in hand at that stage.

The win for the No. 7 seeds sets up a quarterfinal showdown at No. 2 St. Vincent de Paul in Petaluma on Saturday afternoon at 1.

The Mustangs, who are 7-8 on the season, had an opening-round bye.

With Wednesday’s win, Hoopa improved to 10-16.

The San Domenico girls, who were making their first NCS playoff appearance in 20 years closed out the season 10-8.