HHS Varsity Softball Team Falls to Sonoma Dragons in SCL Opener

After many rainouts and soggy field cancellations, the Sonoma County League softball opener for the Healdsburg Greyhounds and the Sonoma Dragons took place on a day that was more like the end of July than end of March. 

Hot sun brought out umbrellas and sunscreen. At 4:04 p.m., the game began with Sonoma scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.  Healdsburg responded with two runs of their own, when Savannah Wode-Shura smashed a line drive homerun directly over the centerfield fence. 

After five innings, the Dragon’s held a slim 5-3 lead even though Healdsburg was out hitting the Dragons, 6 hits to 4. 

In the sixth and seventh innings, however, the Dragons exploded with 12 runs and put the game away.  Final stats showed Sonoma with 12 hits and Healdsburg with 9 but too many walks by the Hounds were gifts the Dragons couldn’t resist and the score ended 17 to 3 Sonoma.

There was much to like about the game despite the lopsided score:

Sonoma:

--Sonoma started two juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen and will only get better.

--Every starter for Sonoma had at least one hit with Kendall Ashe, Ashley Vail, and Zoe Garder each getting two hits a piece.

Healdsburg

--Kayla Mancini was 3 for 4 and scored 2 runs.  She continues to have a stellar senior season.

--Junior, Jelly Chesley was 2 for 4 and hit the ball hard all 4 times at bat.

--Senior, Savannah Wode-Shura was the starting pitcher and her homerun came on an 0-1 pitch and had that Buster Posey centerfield rocket shot trajectory.

--Junior, Kim McKernan played both shortstop and second base during the game and played one of her best defensive games.  Also, in the 4^th inning, she got a sharp base hit right over 2^nd base.

--In the sixth inning, sophomore Nellie Lindsey also shot one up the middle for a hit.

--After three groundouts, senior Katie Curry got her first hit of the game also in the sixth inning.

--And finally a major tip of the cap goes to senior catcher, Sam McGee who caught the whole game (unofficial count was 153 pitches) and got on base two times. 

            The Hounds have make-up games next Tuesday, April 5, vs. Ft. Bragg at 4 p.m. at and Wednesday at HHS at 6 p.m. vs. Kelseyville.