YREKA – The Mt. Shasta Lady Bears didn’t win a single game in the Yreka Tournament last week, but that didn’t stop them showing the heart that will likely win them several games over the course of the season.

“Yeah, it was a tough week. I guess that is to be expected with a young team and almost no dirt time, besides games. No excuses though, as this promises to be one intense week of practice,” said Coach Greg Eastman.

The Lady Bears opened up the tournament against the eventual champion and a much larger school, Ashland. The result wasn’t pretty as Mt. Shasta managed only one base-runner for the game, Valerie Hougan on a walk. The final was 16-0.

Their second round game against the Corning Cardinals proved to be quite a bit more competitive. Corning got on the board first, in the second inning with a pair of runs. Then, they added three more in the bottom of the third, to lead 5-0.

The Lady Bears broke the ice in the top of the fifth with two runs, but the Cardinals answered with three in the bottom half, making it 8-2. Neither team scored in the sixth inning, but the Bears came back to life in the top of the seventh inning, putting up three runs to make the final 8-5. Corning went on to finish third, losing their next game to eventual runner-up, Hidden Valley.

Hougan went 2/4 for the Lady Bears, with two runs. Amber Butts also went 2/4, with a run and a double. Kayla Emerson was 1/3 with a run, and Donetta Young went 1/2 with a run. Lauren McCurrey went the distance on the hill (8R, 5ER, 12H, 2K).

The two losses set up a consolation match with the Etna Lady Lions, which had lost to Yreka and Fall River in the first two rounds. Etna dominated most of the game, as the Lady Lions scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second, and nine in the fifth inning. The Lady Bears put a run up on the board in the third inning, and were trailing 16-1, going into their half of the fifth and final inning.

Then, the Lady Bears showed that while you might beat them, you better not think that you have the game won, until the final out. Mt. Shasta staged a furious comeback bid, scoring eight runs in the last inning, to make the final 16-9. The eight runs brought the margin between the teams to less than 10, and would have extended the game another inning, except that the maximum time allowed for the tournament games had been reached. If not, who knows what might have been.

Butts led the Lady Bears’ offensive attack, going 3/3 with three runs, and a walk. Sammy Reed was 2/3, with a run and a walk. Emma Taylor and Jackie Degray each went 2/4, with a run. Young and Cynthia Laiacona were both 1/2 with a run. Amanda Woods pitched a complete game (16R, 6ER, 17H, 4BB, 5K).

Coach Eastman told siskiyouyouth.com that the Lady Bears are, “closer then it might appear” to reaching their potential, and that there are some highlights already this season.

“Emma Taylor is playing great defense as our starting catcher and is hitting .394 for the season. Amber Butts is on fire offensively, hitting .500 in 38 at bats, with three doubles and two triples. Bella Campbell is hitting .440 with five extra base hits,” said Eastman. “The two-out errors are killing us now but that’ll change!”

The Lady Bears are 4-7 this season and are scheduled to play Etna on Friday, March, 21 at 2:00, in a double-header.