By Nick Sinnott

The red hot Heat U-18s softball team traveled to Redding on Wednesday night, July 15 for some double header action, and notched a pair of wins (Slide show was posted a couple of days ago. Scroll down the front page a postings and you’ll find it).

The first game of the evening was against the North Valley Rapids—a very competitive U-16 team. It was in the second inning when things opened up for the Heat. Amber Sinnott led off with a triple to deep left. Mindi Chandler connected on a deep fly ball to center to score Sinnott from third for the first run of the evening.

Bethany Franklin was the starting pitcher and held the North Valley Rapids scoreless for two innings. Kayla Graves, former standout Yreka High pitcher, came in to get some action. The defense was solid again with Sierra “C” Skeen playing at shortstop and Amber Sinnott throwing out base runners from behind the plate.

In the fourth inning, the Rapids got a run to tie the game 1-1.  After that it was a pitching and defensive battle until the seventh inning. Chandler came in to pitch in the sixth inning and allowed no hits. Sarah Jones who had moved to catcher threw out a runner attempting to steal second to keep the Rapids frustrated on the base paths. Kelsie Moser came in to pitch the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alyssa “Super Star” Scala hit a hard drive to center for a single. She then stole second to get into position to score. Lauren Young, another former Yreka High standout, then hit a hard ball to third that the third baseman bobbled allowing Scala to score. Final score: Heat 2, Rapids 1

Game-2 was against the U-18 Trinity Wolverines—a good squad with solid pitching. Again the Heat pitching staff was rotated to get work. Kayla Graves started and kept the Wolverine’s scoreless for the first four innings. Bethany Franklin came in to finish the last three innings and also kept the Wolverine’s scoreless.

In the third, Sarah Jones smashed a double to center and Kelsie Moser drove her home. In the fourth Teal Rimmer got to first on a dropped third strike, stole second and third base, and then scored on an in-field hit by Samantha “Sammy” Reed who also scored later on a throwing error. Amber “Nails” Sinnott hammered a triple to deep left to for two RBI. Adding to the tally, Sierra “C” Skeen then singled to score Sinnott. Michelle Ruppert from Tulelake drove in Skeen with a hard single past third.   Final score: Heat 7, Wolverines 0

Note: the Heat took third over the weekend in the “Cooper the Dog” Tournament in Junction City, Oregon. A story and slide show will be posted soon.