After going winless a year ago, the Eureka Loggers will be hoping to turn the corner and make some noise in Big 5 softball this spring.
And early indications are that they will be able to do just that.
On Saturday, after three competitive losses to start the season, the Loggers posted their first win in two years in Palo Cedro, defeating University Prep 6-2.
Earlier in the day, they fell 5-1 to Foothill in a game that was tied until the bottom of the sixth inning, just one week after playing defending Big 5 champs Del Norte close in a doubleheader.
Team defense has played a big role for the Loggers early in the new campaign.
“Our defense has been amazing,” new head coach Bob Secor said. “We played so good today.”
Mackenzie Wolff got the win in the circle against U Prep.
The junior has impressed early in the new season and she allowed just one earned run in a complete-game performance against the Panthers.
Wolff gave up five hits and two walks and struck out three.
And she got plenty of help from her defense and catcher Tiffany Harris, who also has impressed early in the season.
The Loggers started fast and scored four runs in the top of the first.
Megan Secor led the way at the plate and finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run, while her sister Macy Secor was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs.
Bailey Brown added a double and a run, while Violla Kingsang had a base hit and scored twice.
Harris also scored a run and had a stolen base, while Jaycee Childress drove in a run.
“In the second game we came out really strong,” Bob Secor said. “We played well and we backed up our pitcher. Both teams put the ball in play, but our defense played really well.”
The earlier game against Foothill was tied 1-1 until the Cougars took control with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Brown (2-for-3, RBI), Macy Secor (2-for-4) and Lola Distefino (2-for-3, run, stolen base) each had a pair of base hits in the win, with Kingsang (1-for-3, stolen base) and Kylee Secor (1-for-3) each also made some noise at the plate.
Wolf pitched complete game and threw well despite the loss.
The junior pitcher gave up two earned runs on seven hits and one walk and struck out two.
The 1-3 Loggers will have a 10-day break between games before traveling to South Fork for a doubleheader on March 24.
