HB tries to finish strong

Huntington Beach High roared to a big home victory and Edison collected an important road win Tuesday in Sunset League softball action as the league season headed into its final two weeks.

Huntington jumped on visiting Newport Harbor early and went on to record a 16-1 mercy rule victory that moved the Oilers, ranked fourth in CIF Southern Section Division 1, to 5-2 in league and 19-3 overall.

Huntington took the upper hand on the Sailors by scoring 12 runs over the first three innings. In the opening inning, Kristina Inouye had a two-run double and RBI sacrifice fly, Anna Kufta an RBI double, Ivy Davis a two-run triple, Madison Germano a two-run home run, and RBI triple by Alyssa Horeczko. Callie Saccacio had a sacrifice fly RBI in the second.

Inouye’s big performance included three hits and six RBIs. Jaelyn Operana had three hits and Kufta, Allee Bunker and Alyssa Horeczko each had two hits.

Horeczko, a senior right-hander, held Newport Harbor hitless, walked one, struck out two and didn’t allow an earned run in three innings for her 10th win. Sophomore right-hander Kendall Henschied closed on the mound.

“Offensively, we were struggling the last couple games so it was nice to come out quick and really swing it [tonight],” Huntington Coach Jeff Forsberg said. “We had some players break out and the whole team was ready to contribute. I love the fact that whole roster contributed and our mindset was really calm while enjoying the game.

“I was very happy with [Madison] Germano and her home run, as she been working hard and it was special night for her and family. For us, being relaxed and enjoying the team from here on out, will only help as we face the challenges of the next four games.”

In other Sunset League games Tuesday, Edison scored a 4-2 win at Marina, and third-ranked and Sunset leader Los Alamitos defeated visiting Fountain Valley, 6-3.

At Marina, Danielle Votendahl went two for four with a home run and two RBIs, Hannah Horton three for four, and freshman right-hander Jenna Bloom (six hits, three walks, six strikeouts) pitched a complete-game victory for Edison (3-4 league, 13-11 overall).

Shayla Thomas had a hit and RBI and Jennifer Herron went two for four for Marina (4-3 league, 10-14 overall).

“We need to get back to the basics of our pitchers throwing strikes early in the count and our hitters being able to be better in situational spots,” Marina Coach Mandee Farish said of her team’s performance Tuesday.

Madeline Domingo went three for three with two doubles and an RBI and Liana Castro had a hit and two RBIs for Fountain Valley (3-4 league, 13-12 overall) in its loss at Los Alamitos (6-1 league, 20-2 overall).

In a league game April 28, Marina picked up a big victory and dropped Huntington from a share of the league lead by handing the host Oilers a 5-3 loss. For the Vikings, Kayla Pemasa went two for four with a home run and two RBIs, Julia Carreon two for four with a double and RBI, Ryan King had a hit, walk and RBI, Ashley Pilatos had a hit and RBI, junior Amber Baldwin (4-3 league, 9-13 overall) pitched five innings and took the win, and Carreon earned a save.

Jadelyn Allchin went two for four with an RBI and stole three bases, and Anna Kufta had a double and RBI for the Oilers.

The Sunset League season continues Thursday. At 3:15 p.m., Fountain Valley hosts Marina. At 6 p.m., Huntington hosts Edison. Teams will play their final two league games next Tuesday and May 12.

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•Ocean View scored a 3-0 Golden West League shutout April 27 of Loara. Freshman Cailey Collado recorded the first hit of the game for the Seahawks, stole a base and scored on an RBI single by Penelope Russ who later drove in the other two runs. Kylie McElliot had a clutch hit, the pitching win went to Alyssa Slater, and Caitlyn Sideris and Lacey Combs had strong defensive performances.

“Alyssa [Slater] showed up to pitch, changed the whole energy of the team,” Ocean View Coach Liberty McCollum said.

Ocean View faced Westminster Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Seahawks travel Friday for a 3:15 p.m. game at Orange.

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•Brethren Christian was in Academy League action Tuesday and fought back from a 7-0 deficit but lost to visiting Downey Calvary Chapel, 10-7.

BC (0-6 league, 6-8 overall) scored put together a seven-run fourth inning to tie the score. In the fourth, Samantha Kobel (three for four) singled and doubled and drove in three runs. Sydney Warkentin (two for four) had a base-loaded two-run single and was followed by Effie Hill (two for four) who singled in a run.

In a league game Monday, BC lost at Irvine Crean Lutheran, 16-1. The lone run was scored by junior Ashley Cashman while Warkentin and junior Amber McKee both singled Ashley Cashman scored the only run for the Warriors.

BC plays its final two league games next week. The Warriors travel Monday to Cerritos Whitney, and end the regular season at home Wednesday against Cypress Oxford Academy.

Greg

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CIF Weekly Rankings (released Monday)

Huntington Beach (No. 4, Division 1).