FV, HB open league with wins
The Sunset League softball season launched Tuesday and Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley won their openers.
The Oilers took on rival Marina and used early and late runs to pull away from the Vikings, 10-3. The Barons routed visiting Newport Harbor, 12-0.
In Huntington’s win at Marina, Anna Kufta had three extra-base hits for the Oilers. The senior homered in the fourth inning, tripled in the sixth and doubled in the seventh. Kufta, Alyssa Horeczko, Callie Saccacio and Jadelyn Allchin combined for nine hits and seven RBIs with Saccacio hitting a pinch-hit three-run home run.
Junior pitcher Ivy Davis improved to 3-0 with a four hits, two runs, one walk, two strikeouts performance in 4 2/3 innings. Horeczko (three hits, one run, two strikeouts) finished on the mound and earned the save.
Marina trailed, 3-0, in the fifth inning where Sage Malvin hit a two-run home run to pull the Vikings within a run. Malvin went two for four and Kayla Pemasa two for three with a double and triple.
Huntington, ranked fourth in CIF Southern Section Division 1, ran its record to 14-1.
“We talked about moving into the third phase of our season which is league play and that every team we play will be up for the games,” Huntington Coach Jeff Forsberg said. “That’s exactly what happened [Tuesday] as Marina came out to play and their energy and determination was higher than ours. But, as we have done all year, we stayed patient, got good pitches to hit, and played as a team and broke open a close game late.
“I was really happy for Anna [Kufta] to see her break out offensively. Having the whole roster ready to contribute in some fashion is our goal and we accomplished that [Tuesday].”
The Vikings dropped to 6-12 overall.
“Huntington is a well-coached team with a lot of talent, and we will continue to learn and grow after every game to get better,” Marina Coach Mandee Farish said.
Huntington started play last week at the Michelle Carew Classic and reached the tournament semifinals. The Oilers took on Whittier California Wednesday but the score wasn’t available at press time. The winner advances to the 7:30 p.m. championship game Saturday.
Edison went to Los Alamitos for a league opener Tuesday and the Chargers were upended by the second-ranked Griffins, 4-1. Danielle Votendahl singled, had a stolen base and scored on an Alex Loomis RBI for the Chargers.
A key hit for Los Alamitos (15-1) was a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning by Mary Iakopo who drove in three runs total.
Edison fell to 9-5 overall.
“We need to play a cleaner game all around to beat a team like Los Alamitos,” Edison Coach Kim Ensey said. “If we execute at key moments, we will give ourselves a chance to win in a couple weeks.”
Sunset teams are back in league action at 3:15 p.m. Thursday. Games that day include Edison hosting Marina, Fountain Valley hosting Los Alamitos, and Huntington traveling to Newport Harbor.
Brethren Christian began its Academy League schedule Tuesday against Crean Lutheran and lost to the Saints, 10-4, at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.
For BC, Sydney Warkentin went two for three with two RBIs and a run scored, Katelynn Jaminez three for four with a double, and Britney Cuevas singled and scored.
The Warriors travel Thursday for a league road game at Downey Calvary Chapel.
Ocean View started its Golden West League season Wednesday against Santa Ana. The score wasn’t available at press time. Ocean View travels Friday for a 3:15 p.m. league game at Westminster.
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CIF Weekly Rankings (released Monday)
Division 1: Huntington Beach, No. 4.
