Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

South Fork took care of their business in game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Ferndale.

The Cubs came into their final conference games having already clinched at least a share of this year’s Little 4 title and knowing they needed just one win to claim the pennant outright.

And they delivered with a 7-1 victory in game one, before dropping game two 5-4.

With the split, the Cubs closed out 10-2 in the L4 and 15-8 overall, while the Cats closed out 5-7 and 14-8.

The conference championship is the second straight for head coach Lisa Todd and her players, who had waited 35 years for a breakthrough title last spring.

And with a deep and talented roster of 18 players that includes just three seniors, there’s every reason to expect this group to challenge for a third straight title next spring.

But for now, they’ll enjoy this one, as they should.

“I’m proud of these girls,” Todd said, “They worked hard all season.”

With Hoopa sweeping a doubleheader against St. Bernard’s at the Bear River Sports Complex on the same afternoon, the Cubs needed a victory to ensure they would not share the title with the Warriors.

And they came ready to go, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning to take a lead they would not relinquish.

As she has been doing all season long, Hailey Shepherd led the way at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 and hitting her seventh home run of the campaign.

The impressive junior is averaging a remarkable .571 at the plate this spring.

Submitted photo

Molly Perkins also impressed in the win and finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, as did Calleigh Smith, who was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Mackenzie Coleman also made some noise at the plate, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks, while her sister, Leila Coleman, pitched all seven innings for the win in the circle, walking just one batter and striking out seven.

Senior Madison Gossi led a balanced team performance at the plate by the home team.

The influential team leader finished 2-for-3 and also had a home run for her team’s only run of the game.

Fallon Bullan (1-for-2), Quinn Stokesberry (1-for-3), Caleigh Griffith (1-for-3), Makenzie Chambers (1-for-3) and Olivia Gossi (1-for-4) each also had a base hit in the loss.

Olivia Gossi pitched all seven innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out three.

Game two was a different story, as the Cats finished strong to end the Cubs’ 10-game conference winning streak.

Ferndale trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, but would rally with three late runs to take the one-run victory.

Chambers and Bullan drove in a pair of runs in the sixth to tie the game and take the lead.

“I thought overall we played pretty well,” Ferndale head coach Jeremy Griffith said. “Olivia let her defense work behind her and we were pretty solid defensively.

“In the first game we had a few chances, but Leila did a good job getting out of the jams. In the second game we were able to capitalize on the opportunities.”

Eight different Ferndale players hit successfully in the win, led by Tinnley Pidgeon (2-for-3) and Bullan, who capped a good day at the plate by going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Madison Gossi also continued to impress at the plate and finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Olivia Gossi was 1-for-3 with an RBI and also pitched a complete game for the win in the circle, allowing four earned runs and striking out seven.

Abagail Gossi, Stokesberry, Chambers and Caleigh Griffith each finished 1-for-3, with Chambers also driving in a run.

Perkins had the hot bat for the visitors and finished 3-for-4, while Leila Coleman showed that she can be just as effective at the plate as she is in the circle and finished 2-for-4 with a home run, her first of the season.

Shepherd also continued to impress and finished 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk.

Leila Coleman took the loss in the circle, walking one and striking out five.