Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com
The Huskies have put their early-conference struggles behind them with three wins in three games this week.
On Friday, the Fortuna girls traveled to Arcata for a make-up softball game and won comfortably 16-2 in five innings to go to 4-2 in the Big 5 and 15-2 overall.
And they came ready to play, putting up nine runs in the top of the first, before adding seven more in the fifth on the way to ending the game early on the 10-run rule.
Just as impressive, Fortuna won with a balanced team performance, with 10 different players combining for 14 team hits.
And that was more than enough for pitcher Isabel Sanchez, who threw a complete-game two-hitter for the win in the circle and got plenty of help from her defense, which played errorless ball.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 0-4 in conference play and 6-7 on the season.
“We made mistakes defensively early on and were never able to produce offensively to make up for it,” Arcata head coach Jason Miller said. “I know we can get back on track. Hope we can shake this one off and move on.”
Sanchez continued to play at an MVP level for the Huskies, allowing just the two hits and two walks and striking out 13.
The senior standout also finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs in the lead-off spot, while hard-hitting teammate Evalynn Little was 2-for-4 and hit her sixth home run of the season.
Little, who scored twice in the win, has been a nightmare matchup for opponents all spring and is averaging a remarkable .579 at the plate.
Olivia Hayes (2-for-4 with an RBI and a run), Sophia Castillo (2-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and two runs) and Randi Rice (2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run) each also had multiple hits in the win.
Freshman Keeley Baker also had a double and an RBI and scored a run for the visitors, while Sephora Machado (1-for-2 with a run), Addie Collenberg (1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run), Naiya Castillo (1-for-2 with an RBI and a run) and Kaylee Castillo (1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs) rounded out a 14-hit team performance.
Nallia Meyer continued to play well for the Tigers and finished with both of her team’s hits.
The junior standout was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while Peyton Miller added an RBI.
The Tigers will have a quick turnaround as they get for two more games on Saturday, when they host a doubleheader against neighbor and rival McKinleyville.
The Huskies will have a bye in conference play this weekend, before hosting Eureka in a single game on Wednesday.
After playing six straight road games to begin conference, the Fortuna girls will play six straight home games to close out the Big 5.
