Tough outings for Del Norte baseball and softball teams

The Del Norte High baseball and softball squads dropped two games each at McKinleyville over  the weekend.

The Warriors baseball squad, which came in only a game back of Arcata and Eureka in the Big 5 Conference, fell to the Panthers on the road Saturday 9-3, and 4-3 in eight innings.

The Del Norte softball team was soundly defeated 10-0 in five innings, and 10-2.

In baseball, the Warriors took a quick 3-0 first inning lead in game one. 

With Del Norte up 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Panthers went off for eight runs to eventually take the contest.

In the second game, things started off well for Del Norte as they scored three runs, including a home run by Layton O’Reilley.

McKinleyville scored three runs in the bottom of the inning as neither team could score again until extra innings.

In the eighth inning, the Panthers brought in a run to take the game.

Del Norte assistant coach Casey Duncan said that while the results were certainly disappointing, the squad needs to buckle down and  get ready for the next five games of the regular season.

While the losses put the team “in a tough position,” Duncan said that they are certainly in contention to place high in the Big 5 standings and hopefully earn a playoff berth if they can do well in the remaining games.

The Warriors fell to 8-5 for the year and 4-3 in the Big 5.

In the first game, O’Reilley went 1-for-3 with an RBI, as did Nathan Porter. In the second contest, O’Reilley went 2-for-4 with a home run and Aaron Fitch was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

In the softball game, the Panthers dominated from the start in game one and scored six runs in the first inning.

In the second game, McKinleyville had a 9-0 advantage after three innings.

In the second contest, Chandler Davis of Del Norte was 2-for-4 with a home run and a run. Keirstyn Anderson was 3-for-4 and Sarah Weiser went 2-for-3.

Del Norte fell to 2-5 in the Big 5 and 5-12 overall.

On Wednesday, both squads face Eureka at home starting at 4 p.m. On Saturday, the baseball and softball teams will play Arcata in doubleheader action in Crescent City starting at 11 a.m.