Warriors win 4 in Yreka

Del Norte High softball coach Tom Moore congratulates Camryn Ridgley after she reaches first base during a Saturday game in Yreka. Photo courtesy of Siskiyou Daily News/Bill Choy

The Warriors defeated Yreka, 7-6, in a nonconference contest and won three of four games organized as the Yreka Tournament. Del Norte defeated Mt. Shasta, Westwood and Weed in tournament play, but fell to Yreka to gain a split with the home team.

“I’m really proud of (the girls),” Warriors coach Tom Moore said. “Good outcome, good tournament for the fans. We had support (in the stands) and I just want to thank the parents who came down.”

On Friday, Del Norte fell behind 6-0 to Yreka in the fourth inning before Keirstyn Anderson’s grand slam fueled a six-run inning and a dramatic comeback. The Warriors also fell behind in their second game against Mt. Shasta, despite not scoring until the fifth inning. An RBI double by Breanna Moore plated Katherine Gustafson and gave Del Norte a 3-2 victory.

In the first of three games Saturday, Ayashe Padon homered and the Warriors racked up 12 hits in a 9-4 victory over Westwood. Seven Del Norte batters were hit by pitches, aiding the offense; the Warriors were hit by pitches 17 times over the five games.

Ridgley struck out 17 batters while pitching two games for the Warriors over the weekend. Photo courtesy of Siskiyou Daily News/Bill Choy

Yreka exacted its revenge from Friday in the middle contest; Chandler Davis’ solo shot was the only run for the Warriors in a 4-1 Yreka victory.

In the fifth and final game of the two days, Del Norte racked up 13 hits in dispatching Weed, 12-2. Davis and Zena Welch each had a double and a triple; Padon added a double and two singles to the hit parade.

The Warriors’ propensity for timely hitting bolstered strong pitching performances by Camryn Ridgley and Davis. Ridgley struck out 17 batters while going 1-1 in her two games, allowing four hits to Mt. Shasta batters. Davis went 3-0 in the two days, notably striking out seven against Westwood and limiting Weed to three hits.

“They both did outstanding,” Moore said of his pitchers. “They threw very big games. We had such a good tournament, it was just unreal. Very big confidence boost.”

Del Norte (6-3 overall) continues its season with a league road contest Wednesday at McKinleyville. The Warriors host Eureka on Saturday.

“I’m expecting them to play as hard as they did in that tournament,” Moore said. “If they played like they did in Yreka, boy, look out. (McKinleyville and Eureka) are in trouble.”

JV wins two out of three

The Warriors’ junior varsity squad won two games and played a four-inning tie, all against Yreka on Friday and Saturday.

Colleen Markussen struck out seven in a complete-game victory as Del Norte won the lone Friday contest 11-6. The two teams tied, 6-6, after four innings in Saturday’s first game, despite Ashton Smedley’s 10-strikeout performance from the rubber.

The Warriors exploded for 17 hits in a 16-1, five-inning blowout in the second game Saturday. Markussen picked up her second win in two days with a four-strikeout performance.

Del Norte’s junior varsity team concludes its season with a 9-3 overall record.

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