MOUNT SHASTA – The Mt. Shasta Lady Bears swept the Fall River Bulldogs, 4-3 and 2-0, on Tuesday to ensure them of at least a share of the Shasta Cascade League softball championship.

Mt. Shasta pitcher Kayla Spini held court from the circle, while Tori Weatherford and Sammy Reed each picked up a game-winning RBI.

The Lady Bears sit on top of the SCL with a record of 9-1 with only a double header against Tulelake remaining. Etna is in second place at 7-3 with double-headers against Modoc and Weed left to play. Either a win by Mt. Shasta or a loss by Etna will give The Lady Bears the outright title. In any case, the worst Mt. Shasta can do is a tie for first place.

The Fall River Lady Bulldogs came out visibly fired up, and took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning of game-one. The Bulldogs converted a bloop double, a hit batter, a single, and a passed ball into the two runs.

It didn’t take Mt. Shasta long to answer. Kayla Emerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a base hit, and then stole second base. Emerson moved to third base on a wild pitch. With two outs, Tori Weatherford singled to drive in Emerson. Weatherford scored on a double by Kayla Spini to tie the game 2-2, after one full inning.

The Lady Bears took the lead in the fourth inning. Spini led off with a single. Natalie Hough pinch ran for Spini. Hough moved to second base on a passed ball and to third base on a wild pitch. With one out, Kismet Prosper walked. Mt. Shasta then manufactured the go-ahead run on a double steal, with Prosper purposely getting caught in a run-down, and Hough scoring from third to make it 3-2.

Fall River took advantage of an error, a sacrifice bunt, and a single off of Spini’s leg to tie the contest 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning.

The Lady Bears won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one down, Makenzie Hanna took a walk. An infield hit by Cynthia Laiacona moved Hanna to second base. A line drive base hit to right field by Weatherford plated Hanna for the game winner, 4-3.

For the Lady Bears, Tori Weatherford went 2/4 with a run and two RBI. Kayla Spini was 1/3, with a run, an RBI, and a double. Kayla Emerson went 1/3 with a run and a walk. Makenzie Hanna walked and scored. Kismet Prosper was 2/2 with a walk. Kayla Spini recorded the complete game win, going seven innings, giving up two earned runs, 4 hits and no walks. She struck out 11 batters—including five “spinifications.” *

Mt. Shasta scored all the runs they needed to win in the bottom of the second inning of game-two. Prosper took a one-out walk. Then, Sammy Reed hammered a double to left-center field, scoring speed-burner Prosper all the way from first base.

Fall River mounted a serious threat in the top of the sixth inning, when the Bulldogs had the bases loaded with one out. However, a perfectly executed 1-2-3 double play by Spini, Weatherford, and Reed got Mt. Shasta out of the inning without giving up a run.

The Lady Bears added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Hanna reached on a bloop single, and advanced to third base on an out and a fielder’s choice. A Spini ground out scored Hanna, making it 2-0.

Spini struck out the Fall River lead off batter looking, in the top of the seventh. Donetta Young made a “web-gem” quality catch of a blooper for the second out. The final Bulldog grounded out to end the game.

Sammy Reed led the Bears at the plate, going 1/2, with an RBI and a double. Makenzie Hanna was 1/3 with a run scored. Donetta Young went 1/2. Kismet Prosper walked and scored a run. Kayla Spini picked up the shutout, going seven innings. She gave up four hits, one walk, and fanned nine.

* A spinification is being struck out on a change up by Kayla Spini. Batters are often unable to swing due to extreme confusion, sometimes accompanied by uncontrollable knee buckling. Verb: spinify. Past tense: spinified.