Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com
By Ray Hamill — Nallia Meyer finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, as the hard-hitting Arcata Tigers notched their sixth win of the softball season on Thursday afternoon.
The Tigers welcomed Ferndale to Arcata High for their final pre-conference game and won 10-5.
With the victory, the Arcata girls improved to 6-2 as they look to make some noise in this year’s Big 5, which gets under way next week.
The loss was the first of the year for Ferndale, which dropped to 4-1.
Senior Quinn Stokesberry gave the visitors an early lead after hitting a two-run home run in the top of the first, but the Tigers would respond immediately and took a lead they would not relinquish with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
“Offensively we saw the ball well and worked counts deep,” Arcata head coach Jason Miller said.
Several players enjoy big games for the Tigers, who racked up 11 hits.
Meyer led the way and also had two RBIs, a walk and a run.
Lily D’usseau (2-for-2, a double, two walks, two RBIs and a run) and Riley Houston (2-for-4, a double and an RBI) each also had multiple hits for the home team, which stretched the advantage to six runs in the fifth inning.
Senior Josie Cunningham added a double in the win, finishing 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run.
Sophomore Sophia Spetzler got the victory in the circle, pitching a complete game while giving up nine hits and two walks and striking out 10.
“Sophia did a great job in the circle for us today,” Miler said of the young pitcher who has been impressing for the team early in the season. “She commanded her spots well and battled all game.”
She had to against a Ferndale team that has also started the season in impressive fashion.
However, mistakes proved costly for the Wildcats, who were playing their first game in nine days.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect since we had some time off,” Ferndale head coach Jeremy Griffith said. “We definitely were a little rusty, but Arcata took advantage every time we made a mistake and it cost us runs. I was impressed with them and their aggressiveness.”
Stokesberry finished 1-for-2 with the home run, while freshman Abagail Gossi also had a good day at the plate and finished 2-for-3.
Fallon Bullan also made some noise at the plate, finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Kara Dinsmore (1-for-3) also had a hit.
Olivia Gossi, Madison Gossi, Tinnley Pidgeon and Makenzie Chambers all finished 1-for-4.
Olivia Gossi pitched a complete game for the visitors and struck out six.
Alli Mitchell added a triple for the home ream, finishing 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and two runs in the lead-off spot, while teammates Peyton Miller (1-for-4 with a walk and a run) and Kirra Wiley (1-for-3 with a walk and two runs) each also had a hit.
And it wasn’t just the team offensive that impressed the Arcata coach.
“Defensively we made very few mistakes,” Jason Miller said. “We have a little bit to clean up, but all in all it was a good day.”
The Wildcats will try to bounce back when they host winless Calistoga (0-6) in a doubleheader on Saturday, with game one set for noon.
“It’s still early in the season and we’re making mistakes,” Griffith said. “We just have to keep working to get past them.”
